Thursday, September 7, 2017

Swallowed by Grace

Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God , “God ! I knew it—when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That’s why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!

“So, God , if you won’t kill them, kill me! I’m better off dead!”

Jonah 4:1‭-‬3 MSG

The book of Jonah is not just a story about a whale as we were so regularly taught about as children in Sunday school. Furthermore, the story's underlying message of obedience to God is simply a sidebar.

The real message of Jonah is Gods incredible grace! Additionally, it is a question of how we will choose to response when God lavishes that grace upon those that we consider undeserving. 

For the uninitiated, Jonah was told by God to go to the rebellious, sinful city of Nineveh and warn them of Gods coming judgment and wrath. As God so often does He was extending a last ditch effort of grace and delaying punishment to give His creation another chance to change their "wicked" ways.

Jonah knowing full well that God would forgive them if the city repented and because he felt they didn't deserve such grace, ran in the other direction.

The story of Jonah is very similar to the parable Jesus told about the prodigal son. In that story, the faithful brother of the prodigal son was dismayed and angered that his father so quickly and readily forgave and restored the rebellious son who had left the family and squandered his inheritance on "sex, drugs and Rock n' Roll".

He wasn't able to celebtrate that his brother had humbly returned and was restored to the family, he could only focuse on the unfulfilled justice and punishment.

It is a powerful and humbling message of the lengths God will go to get our attention and restore relationship with us. Even when we have done nothing to deserve it.

Much like the account of the prodigal son, the narrative of Jonah is a warning to us as believers/Christians to be merciful. To not be so consumed by justice or by what we believe to be the right way to handle such situations and "sinners".

The tale of Jonah is a lesson in extending grace, mercy and understanding. To see the potential in people instead of focusing solely on their flaws.

God sees that potential in all his creation. He understands the obstacles, the deception and the temptations that get us ensnared. He is slow to anger and quick in love! He knows that ultimately it is love and grace that leads people to him, not a message of judgement, punishment and damnation.

So often we want to see a bit of the latter. We want to see justice, rules and law prevail. We want to see "evil-doers" sweat a little bit and pay their dues for crimes committed and wrong done.

That is exactly what Jonah wanted to see, it is also what the "good" brother of the prodigal son wanted as well.

Jonah lashes out at God in anger spewing bitterly "I knew this was going to happen! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!"

It seems a ridiculous accusation to make of God, "hey God, you love too much! You forgive too much! Don't forget about the laws, commands and justice!"

But I see Christians who do the same thing and delve out their own interpretations of justice all too often! "Hey, we are extending too much grace to these people! We need them to obey the laws, we need them to be truly sorrowful for their actions!"

Just like Jonah we believe that God is too easy on people. Too quick to forgive and too eager to gather them in his arms.

But if we are honest isn't that what He has already done for us? He has looked past our self-righteousness, our pride, our graceless hearts and our lack of compassion and He has forgiven us.

Look at the world around us and therevis much to judge, much to frown at and so much to be sorrowful for.

But there is even a greater lack of love, grace, mercy, understanding and compassion in our world!

The Bible says, "where sin increased, grace increased all the more."

We are conduits of Gods grace and love, but we also have the ability to selfishly hinder it!

Choose grace, empathy and love! The attributes of God!

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