Driven: Compelled to Missions by Christ’s LoveSample

Concern for Oppressors

How do we react when good things happen to bad people? 

When Jonah finally listened to the word of the Lord, he took that message of repentance and reconciliation to the Ninevites. Amazingly, these fierce people followed their king and repented, hoping for God’s compassion. God, even more incredibly, relented and didn’t pay the Assyrians back for the destruction and untold misery they had caused for Israel and other nations. Was this justice? 

Jonah had feared that the Lord might not serve Nineveh its just desserts. The prophet flew into a rage at the God whom Jonah knew was “gracious and compassionate” and was so “abounding in love” that He would relent “from sending calamity.” This reluctant missionary to the Assyrians wanted God’s righteous retribution against them for all the harm they’d done. God had not even let them twist in the wind for a while before forgiving them. 

How do we feel when a group we distrust—maybe even hate for the pain they’ve inflicted on others—receives some unexpected and undeserved blessing? Have you ever felt that a believer who’s reaching out to a group you despise is wasting everyone’s time? Jonah resented God’s grace toward Israel’s oppressors.

God sees what we don’t. He could look at an Assyrian superpower and, instead of hating them for their sins against humanity, love them despite their ignorance of Him. Can we join Him in showing grace toward people whose values clash with ours?