It's Not Fair?

Jonah is a man that hardly anyone can forget. Mainly known for being swallowed by a fish, Jonah is not a fish tale story. No, this story is about God's unfailing love and compassion for all mankind. Jonahs a man who threw one heck of a temper tantrum. I often wonder how he fared out in the end after all was said and done. Did he ever grasp the unfailing and infinite love of God? Did he ever come to learn that God's ways are not our ways? Did he ever learn that God owes no one any explanation?

Jonah, like so many, had more concern over a plant that was eaten away by a worm than he had for the people that God himself had called him to minister to. Not to mention that God, himself, grew the plant to shade Jonah from the heat of the sun. Even though Jonah threw a tantrum worthy of a 4 year-old, God's compassion and love for Jonah is evident. He posed a question to Jonah, "Why are you so angry?"

We all have a little of Jonah. At times its hard to see through our anger and our judgment, but it's there. Stamping our feet, flinging our hands in the air saying, "Do you not know what they did to me? They don't deserve any mercy!" And like the Father that God is, he simply replies "Why are you so angry?"

God's love is limitless. It is our ways that are not fair. I would have liked to known if Jonah ever came to this realization and saw just how skewed his view was? He saw the city repent and just never got it. I'm the first one to raise my hand and tell you I didn't get it either. In all honesty, its a little harder to have compassion, or love for anyone that's hurt you or done things to you that you'd never speak to another soul. In my minds eye I'd say impossible, without God. They've sown the wind and they will reap the whirlwind. Yet, mercy and compassion, and forgiveness is not limited, God freely gives to all who ask and repent.

God's mercy, unfailing love, and compassion is for all , even the one's we've written off!