Running from Truth ~ Jonah Juice
Jonah would rather die than see others get mercy.
Greetings Dear Reader,
I promised you all and my friend Bill that I would get to Jonah. In case you do not know the story, it is about a guy called by God to go to Nineveh and tell them to repent. It is worth the read but there are spoilers ahead. Stop and give it a read if you wish but please return.
You see Jonah runs the other way. He tries to flee from God because he does not want to go to Nineveh. God has him swallowed by a great fish (not a whale) until he repents and agrees to go to Nineveh. He is greatly successful and the people of the city listen to him. We find Jonah sitting outside the city, mad at God for not destroying it.
Jonah did not run out of fear. He knew that God is merciful and loving. He wants Nineveh destroyed. He is running from the truths of grace and mercy. Here is where I have to examine my own heart. Are there people I wish to see destroyed or judged by God? I have to wish for everyone to see their need for the Father’s love. My heart must be one that wishes for nobody to perish.
Let us look then at the application of that. It is uncomfortable. It means that the people who have hurt you, the ones who have betrayed you, lied to you, or been abusive to you are all in need of seeing the Father’s love for them. The politicians you hate need this as well. Anyone that we think is undeserving of God’s mercy needs to be a reminder that we too are undeserving. Comparing sin is an exercise in running from the truth.
Whoever springs to mind when we ponder those undeserving of the Father’s forgiveness, we must pray for them to find it. I have to remind myself that the greatest revenge is that others see their need for God and run to him. He will deal with their wrongdoing. I get the privilege of forgiving. I am allowed to revel in recalling my own reclamation and journey of redemption.
The end of Jonah’s story is a sad one. Jonah is chided by God for his poor attitude. He is still running from the truths of grace and mercy. Sometimes we do as well. I must see everyone as someone who I want to find the truth of the Gospel. I want them to see their need for Christ and embrace him. I will fail and so will you, Dear Reader. The beauty of it is that we can realize our failure and recover from it. That is the other side of the story of Jonah. The entire city realized their need for God and embraced him. That is the happy ending of this sad tale.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, “That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”
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Every human story is part of the great story that leads to the Father getting everything back to Good.
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Jonah would rather die than see others get mercy.