One of the things that we see in the book of Jonah, that Jonah didn’t like, was that he knew God was a merciful and forgiving God.

He knew that God would forgive those that turned from their sin and turned to God.

He knew that was God’s character and God’s desire.

Which, sounds like a good thing. Until Jonah through about it.  We read in chapter 3:

O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.

He knew God would forgive the people of Nineveh.  He knew that.  But here was the problem in that.

Jonah really, really, really, really, really, didn’t like those people.

They were his enemies. They were the enemies of his people. They had harmed Israel time after time.

Jonah didn’t like them. He didn’t want God to save them.  He didn’t want God to forgive them. He didn’t want them saved.

He wanted God to judge them.

He didn’t want God to show them mercy.

He wanted God to show them judgment.

Who, in our lives, do we not want God to forgive?  Who do we want God to judge?

Sometimes in our lives, we want Grace for us and Judgement for them.

We want God to forgive us our sins, but judge them (whoever they are) for their sins.

Grace for us, Judgement for them.

That’s what Jonah wanted. That’s what he wanted God to do.

Is that what we want as well?

God is a God of grace.  He gives us grace, after grace, after grace.

We want that for ourselves. We don’t want judgment for ourselves.

Just like God shows us grace, He will show it to others.  May we understand that.  And, may we show grace to others, just as God has.

And may we see to love, forgive, and give grace.  In the same manner it has been shown us.