Grace for Everyone

After venting his frustration regarding God’s response to Nineveh, Jonah has gone out and sat down east of the city, and from there, he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade, and waited to see what God would do to the city. Then the Lord provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort. Jonah was very happy about the plant, but at dawn the next day, God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. After this, God provided a scorching east wind and the sun blazed on Jonah's head, so that he grew faint and he wanted to die.

So, God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” After all, Jonah didn't do anything to have or earn the shade while he had it. It just was there by God's provision. And yet he felt entitled to be angry with God; the God who brought that good thing into his life. Jonah feels it's fair for him to be angry that the good thing is no longer present in his life. We see this root of bitterness and selfishness that has turned into entitlement. The Lord said to Jonah, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

Surprisingly, that’s how the book of Jonah ends. Jonah is angry and bitter because he wants God's grace for himself, but he doesn't want to give it to other people. If you've been blinded by bitterness, there's probably a part of you that wants to hold onto your anger and resentment. You may think by letting go that you're letting the other person get away with it. You might think by extending forgiveness that you're justifying or minimizing what was done to you. But because of Jesus, we have been forgiven and washed clean. And so, because of what we've received from him, we have it freely to give to others. 

DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTION: Is there someone in your life that seems impossible to extend forgiveness to? Why do you think this is? After spending some time in prayer to think about the sins that you have been forgiven of by God, does that change your perspective?