Out of a Gracious Heart

from Jonah 4:4-6

Have you experienced receiving a blessing or a gift from somebody whom you are mad at? This is a giving out of a gracious heart. In spite of what we did to that someone, s/he still gets to give us a present. It is a common scenario where people give something to those whom they have sinned against. That something is a form of peace offering. But it is rare that someone whom we have sinned against is the one who will give something to us.

This is what God did to Jonah. Remember that in previous verses, Jonah got mad at God because He forgave the Nenivites and He relented from destroying them because of their sins. Despite the sins they committed against Him and against His chosen people, the Israelites, God forgave them and spare them from His destruction. Because of this, Jonah was so angry with God to the point that he just wanted to die (Jonah 4:9).

But despite this reaction, God provided Jonah with a leafy plant (v. 6) to provide him with shade and comfort. Indeed, he was so delighted.

This is an act out of a gracious heart. This is God's heart, filled with immeasurable, unfathomable, glorious grace. According to Romans 5:8, Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. What does this mean? As sinners, we are enemies of God. We are bound for destruction in hell. Our normal reaction to our enemies is to retaliate or plan to destroy them. That's normal human behavior. But this is not the case of God. Instead of leaving us behind for His destruction, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us while we were still sinners, i.e. while we were still His enemies. Jesus' death brings forgiveness for us, and reconciliation with Him. You see. It is God Himself who made a way for our reconciliation with Him, in spite the fact that we are the ones who sinned against God. How glorious is His grace for us!

But this forgiveness and reconciliation will only come to us when we believe in Jesus Christ, accept that we are a sinner, repent from our sins, and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Without which, there will be no forgiveness and reconciliation.


Useful Links

Reconciled to God by John Macarthur

Sovereign Grace by D.L. Moody

Limited Understanding

from Jonah 4:1-3

Sometimes, some people tend to believe that they knew everything. When this happens, it is difficult for them to listen to others. They tend to believe that nobody can teach them something, especially for the things that they knew already.

Unfortunately, man's mind is very limited. In fact, it is so limited that it can only see based on what it can comprehend. The common saying can best exemplify it: "To see is to believe." For things beyond its comprehension, the human mind has difficulty of making sense of them.

This is what Jonah experienced in these verses. When God forgave the Nenivites, he could not believe it. Despite the evil deeds these people had done to God's chosen people, the Israelites, God still relented from destroying them. This created an anger inside Jonah's heart. He could not comprehend why God has to do it.

If you try to look at his argument in verses 1 and 2, we can see a very limited perspective of the situation, and of the plans of God. In fact, it shows a self-centered perspective that tries to demean God with His characters of being compassionate and gracious. What Jonah could not understand is that God has relented from destroying the people who did a great havoc among His chosen people. This perspective shows a revengeful spirit.

But God's mind is not like ours'. His thoughts are far beyond our comprehension. We have a very limited understanding of His character, of His thoughts, of His plans, and of His heart. When He does things that are beyond our understanding, we tend to disagree with Him. Worst, we tend to get mad at Him as what Jonah did, instead of just trusting His wisdom.

That is why, people could not believe that salvation is by faith alone. Many people wanted to add more to this by making sacrifices, doing good works, or even crucifying themselves in a cross in order to lessen or reduce their sins. But this is not what God designed for His salvation. His salvation is a free gift (Romans 6: 23), and could only be attained through faith in Jesus Christ, which is a grace from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). What does this mean? It simply means that you don't do anything to gain it; you just believe, trust, and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. In the process, you accept that you are a sinner, and need to a Savior. You repent from your sins, and confess in your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord. This is the only way; you don't need to beat your body or bring lots of offerings in order to obtain salvation.

Though as simple as this is the salvation of God, many people complicate it. Why? Because of their limited understanding of God's character and His salvation.


Useful Links

How to be Saved

The Greatest Thing in the World is to be Saved by John Pipe

Once Genuinely Saved Always Saved by Carmelo Caparros