After all that Jonah had gone through in running away from God, finding himself in the belly of a great fish, witnessing the repentance of the people of Ninevah, and God’s grace shown toward them, he still thought he knew a better way. He angrily confronted God, telling God that he knew God would have mercy on the people.
It is interesting here that the very characteristic that draws us as human beings toward God is the characteristic that angered Jonah the most. The New Century Version translates chapter three, verse 2a as follows; "When I was still in my own country this is what I said would happen, and that is why I quickly ran away to Tarshish. I knew that you are a God who is kind and shows mercy.”
Most of us desire kindness and mercy. In the midst of our failures, grace is greatly appreciated. However, we are not always willing to extend that kindness, mercy, and grace to others, and we are not sure, like Jonah, that we want God to extend it to them either.
The angels came first to the lowly, to shepherds, to tell them the good news of Jesus’ birth. Few would have thought them deserving of such a gift and responsibility. The angels told them that this great news was for all people. That, you see, is the message of Christmas…God loving the world so much that he gave a son. Praise God this message isn’t just for a few…it isn’t just for those we, or anyone else, might deem worthy. God would choose not to cause harm. God would choose to love, forgive, and restore.
Prayer: Thank you God for choosing to love, forgive, and restore through the gift of Christmas, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Jim Abernathy
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