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Do you view any people or nation(s) as Jonah viewed the Assyrians? If so, how might you adjust your feelings toward them in light of the teachings of the book of Jonah?
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This is something I try to guard against and make a topic of my prayers. I do have to battle to keep my attitudes and feelings about extreme radical Muslims in line with Christ’s teaching.This is especially true in the last few weeks in light of the atrocities inflicted upon Israel by the Hamas regime. My natural inclination is to see harm come to those who desire to harm the United States, Israel and their allies. By prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit I will be able to think about each radical Muslim the way Christ would and see them as the lost that need salvation.
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My country is cosmopolitan with a high emphasis on mutual respect in her politics, and the inter-racial riots of 7 or more decades are but a dim memory. I do not consciously view any race the way Jonah viewed the Assyrians, but I wonder whether subconsciously I might still have prejudice against darker-skinned people by being less patient towards them? Jonah is a good book for me to reflect on the compassion of God for all peoples. (In fact, I have done a word study on the Hebrew word rahum, translated either as compassion or mercy in Jonah 4:2 and elsewhere in Scripture, to understand this aspect of God.)
#Jonah
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While still in South Africa there were many times in my life that I had similar sentiments for nations to the north. Over time, that feeling and despise disappeared, since I relied more and more on the Grace and Mercy of God to forgive and forget, and be grateful that I was still alive as was my family. I knew then in my heart of hearts that God would be the judge, it was not my problem anymore.
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Honestly I don’t feel hatred toward any particular country or people, not like Jonah did according to his story. But I don’t understand people who harbor hate towards gays, transgender people, Muslims, and other groups who are different from us. In the New Testament, Jesus taught (as did the Apostles) that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, take care of the less fortunate, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit in prisons to bring His light to all, and leave the judgment work to God, the Father. Judging others is WAY above MY paygrade, so I try to just follow His example. He lived with and loved sinners – those in true need of redemption – and taught them God’s Word, He even washed the feet of JUDAS who soon thereafter betrayed Him. I hope I never harbor the feelings that Jonah had – and if I ever do, guess I’ll need 3 days in a whale’s belly to get my act back together, too.
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My thoughts go immediately not to a people group but to the proponents of the current trend of pushing trans-genderism in schools and classrooms. I know that this type of preying on young and innocent hearts and minds is something that must anger God and it angers me as well. I feel a justifiable wrath against people who would seek to confuse children about their most basic identity markers. These people and Satan know that if we consume children with confusion about this most basic truth, then they will not even attempt to wrestle with finding their identify in Christ. This lesson reminds me that my job is not to be angry or vengeful. God will do that in his timing. And if these people are saved and repent, all the better. My job is to love them, to love the children whose lives they have devastated with their lies and to uphold the truth of God’s word concerning our identity. When God’s wrath does finally come, it will be perfect and it will be complete.
I am also constantly reminded in this day and age that for ideas like this to be this pervasive, Satan is being allowed to have his way. God is at work even now. He is setting up all the pieces. I will trust him as he sees the unseeable and knows the unknowable.