The Jerk.

"But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD and said, 'O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.'"

(Jonah 4:1-2)

Jonah's such a jerk. He gets a ton of PR because of the whale encounter (actually, the Bible says it was a "great fish"). But he wasn't a compassionate guy at all. Nothing we should be emulating, that's for sure. Allow me to refresh your memory...

God called Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach against their wickedness (they were THE SIN CITY of the ancient world!). Instead of heading East to Nineveh, Jonah bought passage on a ship sailing West to Tarshish (basically the equivalent of "the end of the world" as far as they knew back then). So God "hurls" a great storm that results in Jonah being thrown overboard (with his permission, and much to the reluctant horror of the crew!). Then the "great fish" incident ensues.

After Jonah repents, God causes the fish to "spew" him out. And he finally goes to Nineveh to do what he's been asked. He fulfill's God's command to preach (an 8-word sermon of doom!), and then... miracle of miracles... the king of Nineveh calls for a city-wide fast and repentance program. God, filled with compassion, forgives them and decides NOT to destroy them after all.

Awesome, right? Nope. Jonah's pissed.

He complains to God that God is too gracious and merciful. That's why he originally tried fleeing to Tarshish. He knew God would forgive them... and he didn't want to see it happen.

Come on, everyone... join me in RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION! What a jerk he is, right?!? (And then I hear the voice of my seminary professor saying that if we want to get the true power of the Bible, we must put ourselves in the role of the "least likable characters" in what we read. Dang.)

So how am I like Jonah? I LOVE grace, mercy & forgiveness... for me (and the people I love!). But what about for those people I'd rather not have God forgive? The ones who've hurt me (or who've hurt those close to me)? What about enemies of our country?

Nope. The message of the book of Jonah is clear. God's love, mercy & forgiveness is for everyone. Period.

So there.