Compassion: A Study in Jonahنموونە

What does it say? 

Jonah became angry at God’s compassion toward Nineveh. The Lord provided a vine to give Jonah shade, but then sent a worm to chew the vine, causing it to wither.  

What does it mean? 

God has the right to show mercy to anyone He chooses. God chose to show kindness to the Assyrians in Nineveh by forgiving them. He explained His mercy to Jonah in a poignant way by comparing Jonah’s anger over the destruction of the vine to his lack of compassion for Nineveh. God owes no one mercy or grace; all people have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and deserve to be punished (Rom. 6:23). Mercy is an underserved pardon from the penalty of sin, and grace is an undeserved gift of God’s kindness. God is both righteous and merciful without any contradiction. 

How should I respond? 

Since God is both righteous and merciful, shouldn’t we, who are made in His image, also live righteously and mercifully? Someone will likely offend you today by something that is said or done. It might be a slight offense or a great one. On the one hand, you are right to be offended because you recognize, as does God, that sin is wrong, and it hurts. You also have the obligation, as one who has been forgiven, to forgive those who offend you. Will you “turn the other cheek” today and offer forgiveness (Matt. 5:38-41)?