GOD’S WAYS DIFFER FROM MAN’S WAYS
Jonah 4: 1-10
A lot of times, we want to put God in a strait jacket. We want him to do things our way. But our ways are not God’s ways. They differ. Jonah preached to Nineveh. But he was not thinking they would repent and God would have compassion on the city. In his heart of hearts, he just delivered the message of destruction. He was not expecting the city-wide repentance that followed. He would have loved the city to be destroyed. When God had compassion on the city, Jonah was angry:
He prayed to the LORD, O’ LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish, I know that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live. Jonah 4:2-3
He was angry because God decided not to punish the people again. How many times do we feel like this? We would want God to descend on so called sinners with the hammer as if we ourselves are perfect. But if God would ask the perfect among us to cast the first stone, how many would volunteer? See the way God used an ordinary vine tree to illustrate his compassion. Jonah did not want the juniper tree to die yet he would have wanted a whole city destroyed!
But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. . . But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people. . .should I not be concerned about that great city?” Jonah 4:10-11
Indeed, God’s ways are not our ways. His compassion is beyond human comprehension though we enjoyed it everyday. Jonah enjoyed forgiveness and received a second chance. Yet he was angry that the Ninevites were given the same privilege. Beloved, learn to show compassion. Stop being judgmental. See people as God sees them. The so called sinners are people of God too. Only they are yet to come to the saving knowledge of God in Christ Jesus. It is only a matter of time.
Are you aware that some people put up Jonah’s attitude at other people’s breakthrough? Should it be him again? Is she the only person? Why not me? All these pass through their minds like Jonah. Purge your `hearts today. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Be excited at other people’s testimonies. Don’t be a Jonah. Or else the “Juniper tree” over your life will dry up.
MEDITATION. Rejoice with those who rejoice
