Zvamungada kuziva pa Chirongwa ichi

Unfair GraceChikamu

ZUVA 11 REMAZUVA 11

No one in the bible has had success like that. A whole city turned. Not Moses, not Joshua, Elijah, Jeremiah…the list goes on. Then verse 1 happens, and we wonder where it all went wrong. Come on, Jonah. Seriously? Were you insane? The whole city had just been saved, but you weren't happy. In fact, you were angry? To give him some credit, he went to God with his problem in the following verse. It was ironic that he knew God and believed in God, but he was so far away from God’s heart. He’s so out of tune with God!

In his anger, he started to justify his running away by saying he knew God would relent. Then he goes on to pray the most selfish prayer. I’ve had enough, God; I call it quits now. Is it okay to be angry? Yes, God made the emotion. Is it okay to be angry with God? Yes, but are you angry about the right thing? There are times when we have questions and doubts about how God can forgive certain people. Think of the people who persecute Christians. How do we feel when God’s grace (which seems unfair) is extended to them? Mercy is possible when we see that others are more valuable than their offense, when we’re willing to let go of what that person has done because they are more valuable as they are made in the image and likeness of God.

Even in our rebelling, God still provides. As we saw with Jonah, God conversed with him. When he stormed out of the room, God provided a plant for him to provide relief from his own misery. Even in our silent treatment, pouting mood, God is like that caring mother who doesn’t give up on the bratty child. He still provided for him. God again was giving him chances to come back to him. But sometimes we need to be pricked a bit for Him to get our attention. So, God took away the plant. We get angry when things that were loaned to us are taken away, so shouldn’t God care for all of his creation as well? He will not tolerate our sinful behavior for long because He will still continue to bless us like the mother to the bratty child. We might tend to think everything is fine in our relationship, but it’s not. So, we must learn how to deal with anger. Many times, we are warned about how anger can lead to sin.

Points To Meditate On:

1. God understands that we don’t think like Him.

a. Is 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord."

2. God provides even when we are rebelling.

a. 2 Tim 2:13: “If we are faithless, he remains faithful - For he cannot deny himself."

3. God will not tolerate sinful behavior for long.

a. Hebrews 12:10: "For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”

4. God patiently counsels us with a perfect understanding of our weaknesses.

a. Psalm 103:14: "For he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust."

5. God wants us to know his heart of mercy.

God wants to remind us that even when we were sinners, Jesus died for us. So, when his mercy and grace extend to us all, it’s “unfair” for all of us! On the first day, we saw the purpose of preaching was to tell the world about God’s hatred for sin and an invitation to accept His mercy! Ensure we are preaching the whole gospel! Praise God for His mercy! Grace, unfair all the time!