Rerouted: 30 Days Through the Book of JonahSample

God’s Mercy and Grace Do Not Depend on Us

Nichole Stern

Jonah 4:2-3

My stomach churned as I thought about the unfairness of it all. I watched for years as others enjoyed the blessings I had desperately prayed for. Didn’t I deserve them too?

But the truth is none of us deserves blessing. When we get lost in our desires and forget that God's sun rises on the just and unjust alike (Matthew 5:45), we can be tempted to think we can earn God’s goodness. But more than any earthly blessing, we need His mercy and grace, and these are gifts not based on our merit or our muscle. He gives them to us as an expression of His love.

In today’s passage, Jonah expressed frustration over God’s mercy toward the Ninevites, believing they didn’t deserve it. Jonah was so adamant about this that he ran away when God first instructed him to go to Nineveh (Jonah 1:3) — but when he later obeyed, the Ninevites repented, their hearts broken over their sin. Instead of rejoicing in this, Jonah was enraged. He resented that "a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger" would extend such mercy to Nineveh (Jonah 4:2).

As troubling as Jonah’s response is, how often do we forget the wretchedness of our own souls that desperately need God's mercy? While I cringe at Jonah’s anger, I also understand his emotional prayer in Jonah 4:3. Jonah’s desire for vengeance overshadowed God’s desire for repentance, driving him to wish for death: "O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."

Even as Jonah complained about God's mercy toward Nineveh, he needed that same mercy to save him from his own dangerous thinking. And thankfully, God gave Jonah grace. The One who is “abounding in steadfast love” (Jonah 4:2) did not take Jonah’s life.

And ultimately, we see this merciful attitude most clearly in Jesus. His disciples were surprised when He spoke to a Samaritan woman in John 4:1-24, believing she was unworthy of His mercy. Yet Jesus offered her eternal life and forgiveness of sins. And God’s mercy toward us, too, triumphs over our sin and pride. He “shows no partiality” and accepts anyone who fears Him and does what is right (Acts 10:34-35).

Let’s celebrate His goodness and share in the joy of repentance and salvation (Luke 15:10)!