admin
Joseph Waruiru
A few years ago, a friend of mine got into an argument with his neighbour over a boundary dispute.
What started as a small disagreement over a fence line escalated into an all-out feud. Frustrated, my friend turned to prayer—not for resolution, but for God to teach his neighbour a lesson.
What happens when God does not meet our expectations?
“I prayed that God would strike him with bad luck, that he would realise he was messing with the wrong person,” my friend admitted later.
“But nothing happened. In fact, the neighbour seemed to thrive. And I struggled. So, I kept asking God, ‘Whose side are you on?'”
My friend’s story is familiar because it’s one we’ve all lived in some form. Whether it’s at work, in relationships, or with life’s challenges, we often want to use God as a weapon to destroy our enemies.
It’s a way of trying to enlist him to serve our agendas. In doing so, we reduce the Lord and Creator of the universe to a petty instrument in our own revenge.
But what happens when God does not meet our expectations? When he shows mercy to those, we think deserve punishment?
That’s the question Jonah wrestled with when Nineveh was spared; it’s one we still grapple with today.
Jonah’s story: Running from God’s agenda
Jonah’s story begins with God’s command to preach against the city of Nineveh (Jonah 1:2). But instead, Jonah flees to Tarshish, running away from his calling.
He didn’t want to warn Nineveh of judgment, believing they didn’t deserve mercy of any kind, especially not God’s (Jonah 4:2).
We struggle to accept God’s compassionate character towards our enemies.
God interrupts Jonah’s plans with a violent storm (Jonah 1:4), leading the sailors to throw him into the sea (Jonah 1:15), where he is mercifully swallowed by a sea monster (Jonah 1:17).
For three days and nights, Jonah remained in the belly of the creature—a place of darkness, reflection, and repentance (Jonah 2:8-9). From within the depths, Jonah prayed, acknowledging the Lord’s power and mercy.
Or did he?
In an act of divine intervention, the Lord sent the sea monster to vomit Jonah onto dry land (Jonah 2:10). This time, Jonah obeyed and preached in Nineveh (Jonah 3:4).
Then, to his sheer dismay, the people repented; God, in his mercy, spared the city (Jonah 3:10). Though Jonah’s mission succeeded, his anger revealed the contrast between God’s boundless compassion and Jonah’s narrow, resistant heart.
We’re just like Jonah. Like my friend with his neighbour, we struggle to accept God’s compassionate character towards our enemies. Like Jonah, we often resist his plans; struggle to trust his provision; and grapple with extending mercy to those we think don’t deserve it.
We run from God’s agenda
When God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah chose to flee to Tarshish instead. He resisted the call because it conflicted with his own desires and prejudices. Similarly, we often run from God’s plans when they challenge our comfort or confront our biases. This is seen when God: calls us to forgive someone who wronged us, we may avoid the confrontation, holding on to bitterness, instead, and asks us to step into uncomfortable situations, we often distract ourselves, ignoring his voice.
Like Jonah, we believe that our agendas and plans are better than his.
We build our own “shelters”
We often rely on our own efforts instead of trusting God’s provision.
After reluctantly delivering God’s message, Jonah built a tent outside Nineveh, hoping to witness the city’s destruction. God, however, provided a better shelter—a plant that gave Jonah shade and made him glad.
To demonstrate his sovereignty, God sent a worm to destroy the plant and a scorching wind to expose Jonah’s discomfort, revealing Jonah’s inability to provide true shelter for himself.
We often build similar “shelters,” relying on our own efforts, instead of trusting God’s provision:
Emotional shelters; clinging to pride or anger to protect ourselves from vulnerability
Physical shelters; seeking security in money, possessions, or status
Spiritual shelters; performing rituals or works, hoping they will substitute for a surrendered heart.
But like Jonah’s tent, these shelters are fragile. When the scorching sun comes—life’s challenges, disappointments, or failures—they fail to protect us. God’s tent is a reminder for us to trust in his provision and care (Psalm 121:5-6). God’s mercy is not for us to control.
Jonah’s greatest struggle was accepting God’s mercy for Nineveh. — TGC Africa.
Online Reporter