Not Fair
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
Jonah 4:1–3
+
Not Fair
The Bible is full of accounts of people being upset with God because of the mercy He shows others. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard, the parable of the prodigal son, and here in Jonah. We want to be forgiven for our trespasses yet find it unbearable when God forgives those whom we deem to be unforgivable. In our sinful natures, we gloat in the knowledge that we are forgiven while others have rejected God’s grace. They will see, we tell ourselves. They’ll be sorry. This was the case for Jonah. He hated to see Nineveh come to repentance because he hated them. They had done so much harm and lorded their power over God’s people for so long. In Jonah’s mind, they did not deserve forgiveness. The truth is Jonah was right, they did not deserve forgiveness, nor did Jonah, or us for that matter. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We deserve death. Yet God in His infinite love and mercy sent His only Son to reconcile us to Himself. We have what we do not deserve, we have a loving Father who forgives us for the sake of His Son. The wrath which should have been Nineveh’s, Jonah’s, and ours, was poured out on Christ as He hung nailed to the cross. We give thanks to our good God that we have His forgiveness and are included among His children.
Jonah 4:1–3
+
Not Fair
The Bible is full of accounts of people being upset with God because of the mercy He shows others. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard, the parable of the prodigal son, and here in Jonah. We want to be forgiven for our trespasses yet find it unbearable when God forgives those whom we deem to be unforgivable. In our sinful natures, we gloat in the knowledge that we are forgiven while others have rejected God’s grace. They will see, we tell ourselves. They’ll be sorry. This was the case for Jonah. He hated to see Nineveh come to repentance because he hated them. They had done so much harm and lorded their power over God’s people for so long. In Jonah’s mind, they did not deserve forgiveness. The truth is Jonah was right, they did not deserve forgiveness, nor did Jonah, or us for that matter. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We deserve death. Yet God in His infinite love and mercy sent His only Son to reconcile us to Himself. We have what we do not deserve, we have a loving Father who forgives us for the sake of His Son. The wrath which should have been Nineveh’s, Jonah’s, and ours, was poured out on Christ as He hung nailed to the cross. We give thanks to our good God that we have His forgiveness and are included among His children.
Recent
Archive
2023
January
Responding to GodLamentationSeek GodThe Day of the LordA Matter of FaithThe Secure and the ComplacentThe Pride of the PeopleFrom Depths of WoeVisions of FireA Plumb LineAmaziahSummer FruitA Final VisionA Word of HopeA VisionHumiliationDisplacedStanding AloofHouse of FireRestorationHeeding God’s CallOverboardInside the Great FishFor a Second TimeMessage ReceivedNot FairA Lesson on MercyWho Is Like the Lord?O Earth!Then and NowLament
February
Courtroom DramaEnemies of GodThe Lord GathersFalse ProphetsZionRestorationWise MenIn, But Not OfGod’s ReproachSurvey the CrossLook to the LordVindicationThe Lord’s DeliveranceA Merciful HymnBack AgainLord’s Wrath and CareDoom and DeliveranceThe Enemies of GodOur ConquerorWoe to the City of BloodshedNo Other God’sAre You Better?Prophecy FulfilledThe Prophet SawHow Long?God in the MidstJustice ServedThe God of History
March
Waiting for an AnswerA Dire SituationA Twisting of the TruthIn His Image and In His LikenessThe Lord’s NameThe Sin of ManFear, Love, and TrustThe Day of SalvationThe Word of the LordThe Lord’s JudgmentClear and to the PointBe SilentThe Day of WrathSeek the LordGardensRunning After Other GodsSwordsThe Kingdoms of this WorldWhere is Your Trust?The Lord’s RemnantThe Truth of His WordThe Human HeartA Song of VictoryRebuildingObedience