Then God saw their actions — that they had turned from their evil ways — so God relented from the disaster He had threatened to do to them. And He did not do it. But Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious.
There is a form of God’ grace and His eternal forgiveness that seems almost unfair or unjust. These people deserved wrath and condemnation. They deserved the death that they had dished out on others, especially the evil dished out on the innocent. Yet, God in His mercy always responds to true repentance with true forgiveness and grace. It is often offensive. It is fully within His prerogative to do so. Thanks be to God the Merciful Judge for we could not even stand up and be offended by it if we were not daily receiving it. Our anger at God’s grace only convicts us of our evil selfish hearts.
Give us strength and humility to celebrate your gracious, forgiving, favor Lord.
