I don't know of anyone who wakes up in the morning conveying their desire for a horrible and miserable day. Yet in his narrow minded fashion, the notion of misery became Jonah's expressed enthusiasm for the Ninevites.
After running away from God, residing for a few days in the belly of a fish, and being spewed out on land, Jonah finally surrendered to God's request to warn the Ninevites.
“Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” (Jonah 3:2)
Even though he was still reluctant that the people would even listen to him let alone change their ways, Jonah did as he was told. He began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown." (Jonah 3:4)
Cynical in his ways, Jonah wished no mercy to be shown to these people. He longed for destruction, damage with no remorse, to be flung upon the sinful beings. He believed the unruly people deserved what God was going to dole out if they refused to turn away from their horrendous choices, and secretly he desired to view their demise so much that God gave him a box seat to watch the show. However, "The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.” (Jonah 3:5-6)
In his perfect observatory, Jonah still couldn't believe God as he waited for their total failure and for God to somehow punish these people for all of the wrong that they had done, but instead, God grew Jonah some shade from the desolate sun to observe the lesson he was about to teach. All he needed was a bag of popcorn, a carbonated beverage, and a box of candy and he would be set. He listened. He watched. He waited. Nothing happened. He watched and waited some more, for he knew that at any given moment, God was going to rain fire and brimstone upon the people just like he had done with Sodom and Gomorrah. Yet he didn't. Instead, God revealed His grace and mercy to Jonah, but he didn't want to believe that God would be so quick to forgive. He refused to see the real issue at hand. God is merciful and his gift of grace is free to anyone willing to open the gift.
There are days in which we may wish to see the demise of someone who annoys, frustrates, or is mean to us, but that is not what God desires from us. Instead, we are to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19). Jesus didn't go to the cross so we could judge who deserves redemption. Only God gets that position, and he says that anyone who confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God has raised them from the dead then they will be saved (Romans 10:9)
After running away from God, residing for a few days in the belly of a fish, and being spewed out on land, Jonah finally surrendered to God's request to warn the Ninevites.
“Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” (Jonah 3:2)
Even though he was still reluctant that the people would even listen to him let alone change their ways, Jonah did as he was told. He began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown." (Jonah 3:4)
Cynical in his ways, Jonah wished no mercy to be shown to these people. He longed for destruction, damage with no remorse, to be flung upon the sinful beings. He believed the unruly people deserved what God was going to dole out if they refused to turn away from their horrendous choices, and secretly he desired to view their demise so much that God gave him a box seat to watch the show. However, "The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.” (Jonah 3:5-6)
In his perfect observatory, Jonah still couldn't believe God as he waited for their total failure and for God to somehow punish these people for all of the wrong that they had done, but instead, God grew Jonah some shade from the desolate sun to observe the lesson he was about to teach. All he needed was a bag of popcorn, a carbonated beverage, and a box of candy and he would be set. He listened. He watched. He waited. Nothing happened. He watched and waited some more, for he knew that at any given moment, God was going to rain fire and brimstone upon the people just like he had done with Sodom and Gomorrah. Yet he didn't. Instead, God revealed His grace and mercy to Jonah, but he didn't want to believe that God would be so quick to forgive. He refused to see the real issue at hand. God is merciful and his gift of grace is free to anyone willing to open the gift.
There are days in which we may wish to see the demise of someone who annoys, frustrates, or is mean to us, but that is not what God desires from us. Instead, we are to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19). Jesus didn't go to the cross so we could judge who deserves redemption. Only God gets that position, and he says that anyone who confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God has raised them from the dead then they will be saved (Romans 10:9)