“That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen" (Jonah 4:2-4)

Why would a man prefer to die than see a people spared from destruction? These were the bitter and angry words of Jonah, sent to the city of Nineveh to announce a looming destruction. In fact, he didn’t want to go, to avoid giving them a chance to life. He became devastated that God, seeing the people of Nineveh were repentant, didn’t carry out the predicted destruction (Jonah 3). Beyond Jonah's attitude, we must consider God's posture, which is for us too. Jonah rightly described Him as “a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” God Himself said: “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign LORD. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live” (Ezekiel 18:23).

Are we fleeing from doing good to someone because of how we perceive them or the actions they have done against us or someone we know? A deep question God asked Jonah twice was: "Is it right for you to be angry about this?" In Luke 9:54, Jesus censured His disciples over their desire to see fire destroy a Samaritan village. He said: “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (Luke 9:55-56). Since Jesus is always true and right, oh the grace to be merciful and compassionate.

#goodmorning

BeEncouraged❤ Freely Received. Freely Give