Obadiah and Jonah

September 30

Obadiah and Jonah

Jonah was a man who ran from God. As long as God gave him desirable tasks all was good. But God wanted Jonah to proclaim God’s word, God’s judgment, to Nineveh, so Jonah ran. But God used Jonah in spite of his disobedience. Jonah jumped on a ship headed away from Nineveh, so God brought a storm to keep Jonah from getting too far. God calmed the storm when the sailors threw Jonah in the sea, at Jonah’s request. The sailors turned to God and worshiped Him. God revealed himself to the sailors in the midst of Jonah’s rebellion.

God provided a fish to swallow and save Jonah. While in the belly of the fish Jonah realized God’s grace for him. Though he had run from God, God did not strike him dead, but instead saved him. Jonah prayed; "“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.”" (Jonah 2:8-9, NIV) Jonah turned from his sin and turned to God and God extended grace.

Jonah proclaimed God’s judgment on Nineveh and the people turned from their sin and turned to God and God extended grace. Jonah welcomed God’s grace extended to him, but was angry that God extended grace to the people of Nineveh. Jonah prayed again;  “O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." (Jonah 4:2, NIV)

Who are we to judge who God saves. We are not better, nor are we any worse than other people. God extends grace to us, but He also calls us to proclaim His grace and to extend grace to others. He does not tell us to just love those who are like us, but to love our enemies. God demonstrated this love when Jesus came and died on the cross while we were still His enemy. God is a God of grace.