You are driving along and someone speeds past you at an easy 100 miles per hour. You reach your next curve and around the corner, sits the driver with a patrol car behind him, lights on. You raise a smirk and are ready to enjoy the justice you feel you deserve. Then you see the driver and the patrol office laughing together and taking a selfie. You realize quickly there is no ticket and not consequence for such terrible behavior. They will get away with it after all.
If you feel the sting of that you are not alone. In fact, not only are you not alone, but you have a biblical prophet who understands...his name is Jonah.
Jonah was told by God himself to go to Ninevah and proclaim God's name so that they will repent from their evil and wickedness. Ninevah was. great enemy of Israel and it was not uncommon for an Israelite to wish them the worst. Jonah knew God better than some other prophets recorded in our Bible. He knew God would have him go there and instead of retribution there would be forgiveness and mercy. So Jonah takes off the other way. The ship he is on is tossed back and forth to the point of breaking into pieces. Before that can occur Jonah makes a deal with the others onboard (not Israelites) and the throw him in the water. A large fish comes and swallows Jonah. Three days and Three nights he is in the belly of the fish, giving him time to repent and cry out to God. The fish vomits Jonah onto dry land. Jonah is called by God a second time to go to Ninevah. Jonah makes the trip this time. He does as God has asked him and just like he thought, the people repent and God spares them the destruction they deserved. But the story of Jonah isn't over yet. He goes and sits away from the city to stew. Jonah is upset that Ninevah is not receiving what they deserve. Jonah is not the prophet who brings retribution. God grows a leafy plant over Jonah to give him shade in the heat. Then God provides a worm to eat up that plant and takes the shade away. God shows Jonah the gaps in his heart. God shows Jonah that God is love, and with love comes grace, mercy, hope, and light. God shows Jonah that His justice doesn't look the same as ours might.
As the people of God, we must quit desiring our own retribution which looks like war, violence, imprisonment, poverty, loss of basic human rights, isolation, defamation of character, revenge, suffering, and even death. The retribution God may want to deliver very well could be love, hope, grace, mercy, joy, and reconciliation.
Be careful not to make God out of the desires, values, and expectations you hold. Instead...
Always choose God...even if you are not in favor of His outcomes!
If you feel the sting of that you are not alone. In fact, not only are you not alone, but you have a biblical prophet who understands...his name is Jonah.
Jonah was told by God himself to go to Ninevah and proclaim God's name so that they will repent from their evil and wickedness. Ninevah was. great enemy of Israel and it was not uncommon for an Israelite to wish them the worst. Jonah knew God better than some other prophets recorded in our Bible. He knew God would have him go there and instead of retribution there would be forgiveness and mercy. So Jonah takes off the other way. The ship he is on is tossed back and forth to the point of breaking into pieces. Before that can occur Jonah makes a deal with the others onboard (not Israelites) and the throw him in the water. A large fish comes and swallows Jonah. Three days and Three nights he is in the belly of the fish, giving him time to repent and cry out to God. The fish vomits Jonah onto dry land. Jonah is called by God a second time to go to Ninevah. Jonah makes the trip this time. He does as God has asked him and just like he thought, the people repent and God spares them the destruction they deserved. But the story of Jonah isn't over yet. He goes and sits away from the city to stew. Jonah is upset that Ninevah is not receiving what they deserve. Jonah is not the prophet who brings retribution. God grows a leafy plant over Jonah to give him shade in the heat. Then God provides a worm to eat up that plant and takes the shade away. God shows Jonah the gaps in his heart. God shows Jonah that God is love, and with love comes grace, mercy, hope, and light. God shows Jonah that His justice doesn't look the same as ours might.
As the people of God, we must quit desiring our own retribution which looks like war, violence, imprisonment, poverty, loss of basic human rights, isolation, defamation of character, revenge, suffering, and even death. The retribution God may want to deliver very well could be love, hope, grace, mercy, joy, and reconciliation.
Be careful not to make God out of the desires, values, and expectations you hold. Instead...
Always choose God...even if you are not in favor of His outcomes!
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