The Mind of Christ

Jonah 4:9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.”

The book of Jonah is so cool, probably a story that even non believers have heard. Jonah who was swallowed by a giant fish for not listening to God, repents (turns) to the Lord for mercy and is granted repentance and mercy. However it doesn’t end there. Jonah was tasked with preaching the word of God to Nineveh, which is part of the Assyrian Empire. God had foretold that the Assyrian Empire would rule one day and how He would use them to repent his chosen people, in other books of the Bible. Therefore Jonah did not want to preach to an empire that was oppressive. We are told in verses 2-3 that Jonah, talking to God, says “I know that You are a gracious and merciful God” Jonah understood that God would be willing to forgive the Ninevites but Jonah didn’t think it was just to forgive “those kind of sinner.”

So we now get to the focus verse and Jonah is continuing the conversation with God. God asked Jonah a question, ” Do you do well.to be angry?” This is not usual for God to ask questions. · Where are you? Who told you that you were naked? What is this you have done? (Genesis 3:9-13)

· Where is Abel your brother? What have you done? (Genesis 4)
· What have you done? (1 Samuel 13:11)
· Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? (2 Samuel 12:9)
· Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us? (Isaiah 6:8)
· Who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16:15)
· What do you want Me to do for you? (Matthew 20:32)
· Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? (Luke 22:48)
· Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? (Acts 9:4)

God often wants us to reason out what He is doing in our lives, this is exactly what he is doing with Jonah. Effectively Jonah felt like he had “righteousness” anger and His desire was to only save the “good ones” from their sin or oppression. Jonah later is made to understand that God only has the power and authority to grant repentance and the city of Nineveh is saved.

Psalm 4:4-5 says, “Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Offer the right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.”  Later Paul echoes this verse in Ephesians 4! So what going on here is the same idea that God is explaining to Jonah. The fact is we will get angry and oftentimes we will feel like it is righteous anger. However what God is trying to get across to us is that only He is the one to decide who he takes vengeance on and who to show mercy to. Romans 9:15-16 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. This, however, is only the surface level lesson we can learn from Jonah. This broader picture we can take away is the fact that the message of forgiveness and mercy that God provides, through Jesus Christ, is for all people.

Jonah, who is a Jew and one of God’s chosen people, God makes a way for Gentiles too. This has been and ALWAYS has been the plan before the foundation of the world.

Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” God is giving this promise to Abraham that from him he will not only bring about the promised Messiah but also bring about a “a people of His own possession” God’s love is not limited to only the Jews but to the Gentiles too. This is great news for me and you!!! Jesus subsequent death, burial and resurrection is enough…rest in the finished work of Christ!!!