This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” [Jonah 4.1-3]
What an interesting dialog!
Jonah completely went brain-dead to his role in God's mercy and compassion being given to Nineveh. He was more interested that his prediction of doom be fulfilled than that it inspire repentance in the people.
The root of this problem lay in the fact that Jonah's fulfillment was in himself instead of in God. Jonah's self-worth was tied up in the accuracy of his predictions more than in the good character of God. It's right there in the text, Jonah knew God was merciful and compassionate, but instead of wanting people to see that, he wanted them to see that he was right!
This brings up a revealing question. Am I willing to look like a complete unreliable fool in order that God's character or mercy and compassion might be seen?
We should all ask ourselves the question above. Who are we truly "in it" for?
Father, we as a society have become so self-aware that, like Jonah, we have lost sight of the fact that the earth is Yours, and we are Yours, and that it all exists for Your plans and pleasure, ...not ours. May we see our own self-centeredness in Jonah and take Jesus' words to heart that we must take of up our cross (the instrument of death) and follow Him and His agenda. So be it.
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