FORGIVING GOD

 

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

FORGIVING GOD

Jonah 3:10-4:3

…and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.

2 And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore, I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

3 Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

KJV

 

           We are always asking God to forgive us, but have you ever thought to forgive God? Oh, this is not blasphemy because I know that God does no wrong. However, I know many people who live lives of misery because they have been disappointed at something God has allowed and they have not forgiven Him for it.

 

           So, it was with Jonah. He hated the Ninevites and fled from the charge to offer them redemption from a loving God. Even after a long weekend in the belly of a great fish, Jonah had only eight words of condemnation for Nineveh. “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed.” It was news he was happy to tell.

 

           Those who have a grudge against God never get along well with other people. You can find them complaining even the hallways of the church. If you are unfortunate enough to listen, you will eventually hear some tale of their encounter with an unfair God. Someone has stolen their candy and they have developed a pouting spirit.

 

           We are sinners. God is not. We are sometimes cruel. God is not. We seldom see things clearly. God is Omniscient. He sees and knows all. His actions spring from his character which is kind and benevolent – even when those actions appear to be hurtful or distasteful to us. We need to cut God some slack.

 

           When our bodies experience pain, if we can’t thank God then, at least, do not condemn Him. God knows what we cannot know. When we are confused by His actions, we must trust His heart. It is easy to praise God for additions but not so easy to thank Him for the subtractions.

 

Dear all-knowing and loving God, help us blind sinners to praise you in the dark times of pain and need. AMEN