Photo by Ryan Snaadt on Unsplash
By Mike Chaffin
Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:4
While it might not seem like it, this is the most theologically deep question God has asked yet. God asked Jonah this question after the revival in Ninevah. The Ninevites had repented, and God relented from punishing them. Jonah was not happy. He was so angry over the forgiveness God gave them that he had lamented to God,
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” Jonah 4:1-3
Can you imagine telling God to kill you over the salvation of another nation?
God blessed Abraham, telling him he will be a blessing to the nations. Their blessed nation would show other nations the true God. However, that never happened. By Jonah’s time, xenophobia reigned. They feared and hated anyone who was not a Jew.
Fast forward a few hundred years and the situation had gotten much worse. Jesus came to show us the way, the truth, and the light. Jesus called the Pharisees whitewashed tombs. He said they twisted God’s laws so much that no one could follow them. If a non-Jew decided to follow God, they were called God fearers but excluded from inner temple worship even though they served the same God. Pharisees who won a proselyte turned their newfound faith into legalism.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Matthew 23:15
Peter was called to go preach to a group of gentiles who were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. However, Christ believing Jews who were so indoctrinated into legalism accused him of eating and worshipping with the unclean. Ironically, the same criticism the unbelieving Pharisees laid on Jesus. They demanded gentile believers follow the law. Peter, through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, made them acknowledge the law, as it had become, couldn’t even be followed to the letter by those raised into it. How could they make those saved by faith, follow strict laws. The Apostles decided,
But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.” Acts 21:25
The trouble with the Jews, whether Christ followers or not, didn’t stop there. Many were still angry with the Apostles preaching to the Gentiles. In Acts chapter 22 Paul has returned to Jerusalem from his successful missionary trip. When he is found outside the temple the Jews want to stone him for preaching to the gentiles and dishonoring the temple. After the Roman soldiers rescue Paul from the mob he asks to speak to the mob. After telling them of his conversion on the Damascus Road he tells them what Jesus told him to do,
21 Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’” 22 And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!” 23 Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air, Acts 22:21-23
The Jews still didn’t understand God loved the entire world and never wants any to perish. From Jonah to Jesus’ day the Jews were unwilling to let others in. Maybe that is why, when they asked Jesus for a sign, He said the only sign they will get is from Jonah. Jesus had come to not only call Jews into repentance, but bring in everyone who will believe.
What we learn from this question is we don’t have the right to exclude anyone from hearing the gospel. We should tell anyone who is willing to listen the good news of Jesus Christ, be they stranger, enemy or friend.
Contemplation: Is there anyone, or any nation, I don’t want to see won for Christ? Do I discourage missionaries from going where they are called?
