Loving Our Enemies

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that He had said He would do to them, and He did not do it.

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that You are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the LORD said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

Jonah 3:10-4:4

How can someone be displeased when God displays His generous mercy? How can a prophet of God, who was literally kept alive for three days in a giant fish and then vomited onto dry land, be displeased with God’s generous mercy – the very mercy he has experienced?! That is Jonah in this passage. In a sermon from John 18 this summer, Pastor Robby Higginbottom explained to us that Judas lived close to Jesus but didn’t know Him, and Peter knew Jesus, but didn’t understand or know Jesus’ mission. Apparently, Jonah knew God’s character really well and was not happy with God’s mission of mercy. According to Jonah 4:2, “I knew that You are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” In fact, Jonah knew it so well and hated it so much when God applied His loving mercy and grace to a repentant Nineveh – Jonah’s enemies. Because he knew God so well, Jonah claims that knowledge is what made him get on the ship at Tarshish. Jonah flat-out wanted those Ninevites to get what they deserved. He forgot he didn’t get what his sins deserved from God. The Israelites, God’s chosen people, did not repent, despite all the prophets God sent to them, yet these Ninevites do.

Have you ever wanted someone to get what they deserve? Have you withheld forgiveness or love? Have you held back mercy and wished “calamity” on someone? Oh, the incredible love of God! Even though we were God’s enemies (Romans 5:10), He has not withheld His grace and mercy but lavishes them on all who repent and believe in Him. 

Jesus told a parable in Matthew 20 of a landowner who paid those who worked all day the same amount as those who only worked one hour. He reminds us not to be envious or resentful of God’s generosity of mercy. Maybe you and I aren’t angry at God for being merciful, but do we keep it for ourselves? Are we sharing this grace and goodness of God with the lost or with those who are His enemies, just as we used to be?

Oh, Lord! Stir up in us Your compassion for those in need of Your mercy! Give us the love You’ve commanded us to love You with – all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and give us love for our neighbor just as You have loved us. Thank You for Your infinite and incredible love and grace for us in Jesus Christ. Help us to know You and love Your mission!