Feeling Like Jonah

Rebellion and pride were at the heart of Jonah’s problem. Can I be as honest about my own heart to identify my anger, reluctance to pray for those I have a hard time loving, and pride? It hurts me to say so but I am just as guilty as Jonah. He is a Biblical character I have identified with since a child.

Justice for me has always meant that those who do wrong will pay for it. I think Jonah thought the same thing. But there was one small problem; God asked him to warn the unrighteous, evil people of Nineveh that death and destruction would befall them if they did not repent of their actions and turn their hearts toward God. Jonah was supposed to offer them a chance at redemption and forgiveness. What did he expect was going to happen?

I think he expected they would continue along their wicked ways. When they didn’t he wallowed in misery about it. He wanted Nineveh to get what was coming to them. Justice would be served. They weren’t supposed to be let off the hook!

“But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2) He prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home?” That is why I was quick to flee Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3) Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:1-3.

First, Jonah ran from God. Then, he reluctantly consented to God’s request to take His message of compassion and forgiveness to the corrupt culture of Nineveh. Then Jonah wished his own death rather than witness that regeneration of a fallen people. Why? No doubt pride had something to do with it.

Sometimes, we, too, can become so possessive of the gift of mercy and forgiveness given so freely to us that we use personal feelings towards someone to impact how we pray for them, if we even pray for them at all. We puff ourselves up for our righteousness, a gift freely given to us. Since we didn’t do anything to earn it we have no right to exalt ourselves for it. Pride is the culprit just as it was for the Jews who believed God’s love was for them alone and not for those who didn’t “deserve” it, i.e. the Assyrians. Judging the Assyrians for their wrong doing led Jonah to fall victim to the sin of pride and self importance which led to anger.

C.S. Lewis said that pride was a cancer. I agree. Pride leads open the door to other sin if we are honest. If we are not, it’s like feeding a tumor more malignant cells. Before you know it, it will have spawned other tumors and infected all areas of your mind, heart and spirit.

“Before a downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.” Proverbs 18:12.

God’s love and compassion are for all people, not those we think worthy. If God used that litmus test with us none of us would have ever experienced the redemptive love of Christ expressed through His death on the cross.

“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Let’s be careful to watch our hearts and allow the Lord to search and correct them when we are in error.

Is pride keeping you from praying for someone? Is pride keeping you from forgiving someone?

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24) See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:24

Say this: Christ set me free. I will not stand in the way of others experiencing the freedom and joy that I know through Christ.