A Relenting God

JonahEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 20, 2015

 Scripture Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.  — Jonah 3:10

The verse above gives me great hope that God not only forgives but may alleviate some of the suffering we bring upon ourselves. The interesting thing is the rest of the story, not included in our scripture today. Jonah was angry at God for relenting. Jonah had told the people of Nineveh to expect calamity and calamity they should get. He says, O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.’ (Jonah 4:2-3) Jonah thought God made Jonah look bad.

In Deuteronomy 32:25 the Lord is quoted as saying: Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; because the day of their calamity is at hand, their doom comes swiftly. And Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-3 ‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?

I don’t believe God has a ranking of God’s followers, which is best left to sports. We too should celebrate when anyone turns around and finds his or her path to wholeness. Our celebration in such situations is a reflection of our own wholeness in God.

Prayer: O God who Relents, open my heart to rejoice in those who have found a better way and let their example be a stepping stone toward my growing relationship with you. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.