Have you ever been watching a TV show or movie and found yourself saying, “Man, I hope they get what they deserve!”  Even in real life we watch someone do something to another person that really reeks.  My first reaction is “I hope they don’t get away with that.  I hope the hammer comes down on him or her.”  I have even found myself reading a book and almost jumping to the end to see if vengeance is meted out…in spades if possible.

I DON’T LIKE THAT ABOUT MYSELF. 

After all, as a Christ-follower, I should be over those kinds of feelings.  Shouldn’t I?  Those aren’t “Christian” feelings are they?  I don’t know about “Christian,” but they certainly aren’t Christ-like, that’s for sure.  The desire for even-handed treatment is strong in many of us.   Okay… let me put it another way: the desire for vengeance is strong in many of us.  There…no beating around the bush.

Jonah shows us that despite being a prophet of God, he was also capable of pulling some real bonehead moves.  Trying to run away from God is just one example.  Chapter 4 shows us another side of this man.  “Successful” in his preaching of gloom and doom, the people of Nineveh did exactly what he was afraid of.  But worse yet!  God did exactly what he was afraid of.  The people repented. God relented.  The people respond with humility and repentance in sackcloth and ashes, while God responds with forgiveness and grace.

OH, HOW I WISH I COULD RESPOND THAT WAY!

Funny part is…God was just  being God. He was keeping His word.   “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”  Is.55:6-7.   Those words show God’s heart of grace and forgiveness.  Even when mine is so far away.  Even when Jonah’s was nowhere close to that.   Nineveh’s repentance was not what Jonah had in mind!  Wipeout is more like it.   Ironically, Jonah’s words in 4:2 are rather revealing: “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.”  Right on the tick Jonah!!

How do you react when someone doesn’t get what is coming to them?  Just curious.  No judgment.  How can I?  What do you do when you begin to feel this way?  I’d like to hear your thoughts.  And if you have a little bit of time, I wouldn’t mind it if you would pray for me/us for Sunday.  Thanks to Dan for the banner for this month.