But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4: 1-4 NIV
God told Jonah to preach to Nineveh about their wickedness and their coming destruction. At first Jonah did not listen and he fled to Tarshish. He was on a boat and a storm arose and he was tossed into the sea and swallowed by a giant fish. Jonah finally obeyed God and went to Nineveh to tell them about their wickedness and their destruction. But Nineveh decided to turn from their wickedness, and repent of their sins. Even the King entered a decree that the people give up their evil ways and turn to God. So when God saw what Nineveh did, He relented and decided not to bring judgment on Nineveh. This angered Jonah and he went away with that anger still in him.
There are many Christians who are upset at the direction our nation is going and based on this week’s election results many have concluded that are nation is headed to destruction. We have fasted and prayed yet God has said to us “go and make disciples.” For decades we have said and done this. When the nation took out bibles and prayer in schools we said destruction would come we prayed and God told us to disciple the nation. But we just stayed in our pulpits and pews and pronounced the nation was headed in the wrong direction. When sexual immorality became the norm in our society; we fasted and we prayed and God told us to disciple the nation but we returned to our churches grumbling and complaining.
As more and more officials were elected and brought more liberal ideas and policies, we griped and complained but we still didn’t heed the voice of God who told us to go and make disciples of this nation. Instead we seem content to just tell the people because of their wickedness this nation is headed for destruction.
Are we like Jonah? Do we fear that if we preach the Good news, disciple the people that God will relent and save this nation? Because deep down we know that God is slow to anger and abounding in love. When will we as Christians rise up and repent of our disobedience to the great commission given to us by Jesus to go and make disciples of all nations especially our own; baptizing them, healing them of all their diseases and loving them instead of condemning them to destruction.
Jonah was angry that God relented. He thought the people of Nineveh deserved to be destroyed because they were so wicked. He questioned in the bitterness of his soul – Why should they be given another chance for God’s mercy? Jonah didn’t want to see Nineveh repent. Are we like Jonah?
God’s response to Jonah was “And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” Jonah 4:11
God has great concern for the United States of America He wants to heal our land and change it for good. He has directed His people to go and disciple the people of the nation. When we do this they will turn to God and desire the things of God. They will no longer seek those things out that are evil but call upon the Lord for salvation. If the people change so will our government and their hearts will be turned to God.
The law cannot save. We cannot expect our government to enact laws that will cause this nation to turn back to God. Instead we have to humble ourselves and do what God has commissioned us to do. We must remember that the Holy Spirit will convict men of their sin and turn them to Jesus. We must be that light and proclaim the word of God in our towns and cities throughout this nation. One man was able to speak a word from God and the entire city repented and turned to God. How much more can the people of God do today under the power of the Holy Spirit?
So let’s not focus on the law or grumble about the state of our government. Instead let’s save the people and heal their broken hearts. They are longing for the truth and the light of God. Everything we do we must do out of love and not judgment and pride. We must deem them higher than we deem ourselves.
Reflections 