Jonah: God's Relentless GraceSample

God who is compassionate 

The passage reveals God’s compassion not just toward Nineveh but also toward Jonah. God patiently deals with His prophet who is angry because God decided to relent from judging Nineveh. 

Jonah’s compassion toward the plant is out of selfish reasons. His compassion is masked by his underlying comfort and he gets angry when the plant dies because it inconveniences him. We often behave like Jonah. Even our best intentions are tainted by sin and selfishness. 

Jonah’s love is misplaced. Jonah’s love is for himself and anything that comes in-between faces his extreme displeasure. His love for himself even blinds him to God’s tremendous act of grace towards Nineveh. 

But even when Jonah is angry with God, we see God gently dealing with him out of compassion. In the gospels we see the compassion of Jesus upon the multitude, upon those afflicted and oppressed, upon those who were lost and upon the city of Jerusalem. It was because of Jesus, that we, who were objects of wrath before a holy God, became objects of compassion. It was out of compassion that Christ did not let us suffer in our sins and be separated from God eternally. Instead He made possible a new covenant with the Father on our behalf by which we can be secure and be co-heirs with Christ. 

As we experience God’s compassion and love, may our hearts be moved with compassion for others. As we meditate on His love for us, may our hearts be inspired to love those around us. As Jesus served us with compassion, may we serve this city with the compassion of Christ.