My friends in my Bible discussion group chuckled when I shared how I was trying to avoid God. I smiled, but it was no joke. His promptings to overlook my demands for justice and extend grace filled me with resentment. I felt like shaking my fist (as the prophet Jonah might have done) and screaming, “You want me to go where, and do what?!”
Assyria was Israel’s bitter enemy—a wicked nation that delighted in unspeakable acts of cruelty. No one was more deserving of judgment. When God sent Jonah to preach in the Assyrian city of Nineveh, he took off for Tarshish instead—away from the presence of the Lord (Jonah 1:3). The prophet would have benefited from my friends’ counsel. “You can’t run away from God,” they told me. “He knows how to find you.”
They were right.
God pursued Jonah with a raging tempest—subsiding only when he was thrown into the sea. Then God provided a fish’s belly in which the prophet would cool his fleeing heels (Jonah 1:17). Finally, Jonah did obey God’s voice. But the indignation he had felt at the call bubbled over when the Ninevites actually repented (Jonah 3:6-10). Filled with rage, Jonah declared that he’d “rather be dead” than see his enemies saved (Jonah 4:1-3). But God didn’t see vile, wicked people. He saw lost souls in need of salvation (Jonah 4:11).
Like Jonah, I found myself pursued by God’s grace and mercy. Everywhere I turned, images and messages of the cross were waiting to confront me. My demands for justice paled when compared to those of God’s holiness in light of my sin. His grace compelled me to humbly face the accusations flung at me, for Jesus made the ultimate exchange—His righteousness for my lack thereof. Rejoicing in that truth, I heard Him whisper, “Go and do the same” (Luke 10:37).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Esther 6:1–7:10
More:
Read Luke 15:25-32 and think about how the prodigal son’s older brother reacted to his return.
Next:
Is there a person or situation in your life that has caused you great pain? What does the reality of God’s grace contribute to your response or reaction?
Gary Shultz on May 7, 2016 at 3:15 am
Hi Remi: God knows each of us so well. It may not be big fish and boat rides, but God will put His finger on weak spots in our faith. It will make a reaction! …..We may be nice, relatively easy going people, but bending the metal will show weakness. It will also take us from the easy going and place us in front of a train. To do what human nature screams against, to do the impossible. Who says miracles don’t still happen? The other thing you have made clear is this is not one of those things we say “let go and let God”, this is a deal where God expressly tells us to do something. God also wants our heart in the matter, Jonah obeyed under protest, God wants us to join Him in what He wants to do, with a humble and gracious heart. It will be a designer plan, designed just for us to honor God, blessing us. Thanks Remi, have fun with that!!!
remioyedele2015 on May 7, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Thank you, Gary, for this poetically apt analysis!! It certainly shines a spotlight on the fact that the Christian walk cannot be maintained with human strength – we need God’s enabling grace. May we be open to receive and then go forth to walk 🙂
gagirllive on May 7, 2016 at 7:52 am
Remi! I’ve been waiting to hear something from you again! I just love your writing voice. 🙂 You’ve brought up what I call one of the “respectable sins”—Resentment! Both Jonah and the older prodigal son (yes, I think he was as much a prodigal, too), wore that like a badge. In truth, the root of resentment is really pride. I find in my own life that this “respectable sin” (resentment) rears it’s ugly head when I feel entitled to something that I think others are not. I believe that to be the case in both of these biblical accounts as well. Jonah and the older brother didn’t think the “bad guys” were worthy of a second chance—worthy of grace (which no one is or it wouldn’t be grace!). God has to remind me that because of His grace, I live an exchanged life—I have and enjoy freely what I did not earn: Righteousness! I love how the father responded to the older son about his bad attitude regarding his brother’s pardon and restoration —“Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.” (Luke 15: 31) Likewise, our Father has graciously given us His all—His Son. Do we dare withhold that grace from another? Only when we forget, don’t we? Lord help us to live in constant awareness! Thank you, Remi, for exhorting us to remember that this is a compelling grace. We can’t keep it to ourselves. Grace and peace to you, dear sister!
gagirllive on May 7, 2016 at 8:23 am
Remi, for some reason, the rest of my comments disappeared above!!…so here goes, again! I was making the point that you brought up what I call one of the “respectable sins”: Resentment. Both Jonah and the older prodigal son ( yes, I believe him to be as much a prodigal, too), wore this like a badge. I have found in my own life that resentment rears its ugly head when I feel entitled to something that I think others are not. (Pride!) This was the issue with Jonah and the older brother, too. God shows me my sin—that I have forgotten grace, that I have forgotten that I live an exchanged life. I freely possess and enjoy that which I did not earn, namely, righteousness. That’s what my Bible friends didn’t want to witness—the goodness, grace, and restoration of God toward those whom they deemed “unworthy”. I love how the father responded to the older brother in Luke 15: 31…”Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.” What a gentle rebuke to awaken his son to the reality of his sonship! Lord, help us remember that all that You have is ours, too. In doing so, we will be compelled by this grace to share with others what we have been so freely and abundantly given. Thanks for this encouragement today, Remi! Grace and peace, dear sister.
remioyedele2015 on May 7, 2016 at 2:20 pm
Thank you, Gagirl – you’re too sweet!! 🙂 You are so correct – resentment and bitterness are only too quick to enter in through the back door of our pain and take up residence without us ever knowing. Ironically, they transform us from the offended to the offender, as we attempt to take God’s rightful place of judge in the resulting pride. May Gid help us to be vigilant and trust Him to always make us whole in the end without our interference.
clb1984 on May 7, 2016 at 4:33 pm
Just 5 mins before logging on I just asked God to Serve Justice on a loved on who is struggling with addiction!! Then I read this and God puts me in my place so to speak!! I need to pray for her salvation and prayers of love……. I am sure I would not be so quick to pray for justice if somebody was looking over my every fault!!!! God please help those who struggle with addiction on a daily basis and help me no to be so judgmental!! AMEN
gagirllive on May 7, 2016 at 5:09 pm
clb1984, what a timely word for you today! Isn’t it great how God speaks to us in the very moments we need to hear a word? I can understand how anxious you are to see God’s correction in your loved one’s life as she deals with addiction. God, however, is never in a hurry like we are. He is soooo patient and long-suffering! We are concerned about time—How long? When?— while He is all about timing. In both Jonah and the older prodigal brother’s story, they demanded justice when God was trying to teach them grace. Great lesson for all of us to remember, I’d say. Prayers for you and your loved one, friend. Thanks for stopping by to share with us today!