Were we to continue with this issue/matter of emotion(s), it would serve us well to consider Jonah.
I trust we all know the story of how, after stiff resistance (one might even chuckle to say it) he was “made willing” to carry out the Lord’s instructions to him, finally preaching coming judgments upon the city of Nineveh. It was to be overthrown in 40 days.
But the people took heed to the prophet’s dire prediction and made such repentance before the Lord that He stayed His hand and showed them mercy. But Jonah did not like this, no not at all.
We then read of Jonah presenting his reasons and reasonings of the “why” he didn’t want to come and preach. Almost like a “See? I told you so!” to God.
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
In fact the scriptures state he was so consumed with anger he even asked the Lord to take his life, as disgruntled as he was:
Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
Have you known this…ever? A being so marinated in frustration and anger you plead to die? Enough is enough! I just can’t take anymore!
But…how funny(?)…ridiculous(?)…self undercutting is this? O! but we may be so foolish at times…especially those times when we do not even know our pleas are, indirectly (to us) for God to be “less merciful”. It is a strange place, no? “I know you are a merciful God…but I cannot bear you being merciful to a “them” or _________.(Fill in the blank with whatever enemy you would prefer to see judgment fall upon) Almost, if not entirely, forgetting that it is only God’s mercy He is known to any of us. Jonah didn’t eschew mercy when in the belly of the great fish…did he? Do we?
But before it seems I am singling out Jonah as a type unfamiliar to myself (as though I could never be like that) suffice it so say “Hey, Lord! hey Jonah! I “get it”. We men do not see every well at all…help! And when our anger is having the better of us…we may not even know what we ask…when we ask. And to remain in it does not daunt the Lord….only our own souls. For the Lord is not done yet.
(And thanks be to God for the many “yets” He has ministered to me in His mercy! And I hope in no less mercy “ahead”.)
And the Lord is undaunted by Jonah’s anger. For the event continues with Jonah sitting outside the city to see what would happen to it. Perhaps he still held out some hope for lightning bolts, or gaping holes to consume, or whatever calamity would “lift his mood”. God knows.
I am persuaded that in one sense (at least) Jonah, not being “done” with the Lord’s dealings, and the Lord not unwilling to even heap to him more displeasure, finds himself first in some relief (by a gourd) to only be further tormented by the Lord’s preparing of worm to destroy that shade giving gourd Jonah appreciated. God’s showing much providence in his particular preparations for Jonah…first a great fish, then a gourd, and now a worm…and next to be such vehement heat and wind (prepared)…that again Jonah wishes himself…dead.
Sun beating down unrelentingly so that he fainted in its unbearableness…and wishing for death…but then…
The Lord spoke to him. God…seeking to now reason with His divine wisdom and reason with one who has presented his pleas, made his full anger known at his estate, even as one not so disposed to God’s disposition to be, and show Himself…merciful.
But, God speaks.
And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. (This fellow certainly seems to hold fast to his “reasons” in being unrelenting in his clutching of anger…Yes…”I do well to be angry, even unto death”)
“I do well”?
Does God love the stubborn? Would He continue to speak to such?
(I am persuaded my salvation rests upon such patience only God shows)
Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
Is this not God setting the record straight in His reason and reasoning with a man? (Come, let us reason together) Even showing the flimsiness/foolishness’/corruption of anything that would, upon its own reason, present any justification by which to bind God. Or seem “reasonable”.
None of this is, nor ever has been any of your doing…as engaged as you may feel to it and with it. (emotions often reinforce the notion that something of “all” is happening exclusively to ourselves…again because we “feel” them so)
And so, as far as the scriptures speak in this account, the Lord’s final appeal is to a man to consider the many souls he neither intended nor formed, and up to this point has shown no regard for.
And this man is unashamedly called of God as a prophet. Jesus no less referring to him in his stature when walking amongst us. A someone called of God, even knowing of His mercy as he declared. Yet shown furiously holding to an anger God sought to reason him out from.
It is strange in many ways to consider whether this mission was as much for him, and not any less than it was to preach to the Ninevites. God’s economy is perfect.
And, who learns from this? And who is, perhaps not unlike any who do not know their right hand from left till enlightened, very much like any “other” man?
And if need be, God is not reluctant to mention even the beasts of the field.
What might be left for us to let go of certain things, to better see, and understand mercy?
May we not be found despising the very matter that has made Christ Jesus Himself, life to us.
israelx7wordpresscom 