What if they AREN'T worthy?

 Let me introduce you to some ancient pirates. They were called the Ninevites. These sea-faring baddies were the enemies of the Israelites. A group of people that were really different than the rest of the countries around them. The Israelites were so different, that they were often challenged to war by the surrounding neighbors. Sometimes, the Israelites won, sometimes they lost. When they did lose, their enemies plundered and pillaged the Israelite settlements with great delight and malicious abandon. You can see that the two people groups, Ninevites and Israelites, were not friends. 

Enter the prophet Jonah. He was a prophet during a time that the Israelites were no longer following God's plan. They were so far from God's plan that they had been invaded by the Ninevites. But when Israel repented, God showed back up for Israel. Jonah was busy spreading his message for Israel to repent when all of a sudden, he was called to share God's message of salvation with the one people group Jonah (and all the Israelites) despised more than any other. That's right, he was called to the Ninevites home land of Nineveh. 

Jonah balked, to put it mildly. He threw a temper tantrum so epic, he ended up being thrown in the ocean, swallowed by a giant fish and then spat out on the coast line of his enemy. Begrudgingly Jonah walked into Nineveh and started telling the inhabitants to repent and turn to the God of the Hebrews. The one true God instead of the pantheon the Assyrian people worshipped. Jonah did his job, but it was with a grumbling spirit. Convinced that this mission was a waste of both his and God's time. Jonah climbed up a hill, sat under a shady tree and then leaned back with the proverbial popcorn. Waiting for the city to burn for it's sins. 

Instead, the citizens of Nineveh heartily accepted the invitation to follow the Hebrew God. 

The city was so enthusiastic that even the livestock repented! Can you imagine? Chickens and goats bowing in worship to their Creator? Kind of farcical. But Jonah, watching for divine retribution is so upset at his belief system and self-righteousness being challenged, starts yelling at God for saving these awful humans and basically stomps his foot. Because Jonah so tremendously misses the point, God washes his hand of the prophet. And that is the last we hear about Jonah. 

Jonah's tale is one of caution for us. Jonah is so convinced he knows what's best for his enemies, he misses out on the blessing of obedience. Jonah puts himself, a shipload of sailors and the Ninevites themselves in danger. Jonah doesn't think his enemies deserve the love and compassion he has walked
in his entire life. We do the same thing. We are Jonah. 

Sometimes, I have had situations where someone hurt me so painfully, so deeply that I cannot imagine they deserve God's grace. That somehow their sin is so much bigger than mine. That I alone deserve and have the monopoly on mercy from God. That the work of Jesus on the cross was only for me and the ones I determine are worthy of that sacrifice. What a burden that is! I have come to realize that I don't want that kind of burden. I don't want to be the one that decides who gets grace and who gets condemnation. At some point, I have to relinquish control over my need for judgement. Because there is only one worthy of that role. God in heaven.