Do you love the Ninevites?

Do you love them like Jonah? Most people weather they attend church or not have some recollection of the story of Jonah and the Whale. Time and time again, we have heard the story as a example of a rebellious man running from God. There is a underlying theme that is often missed in the historical account of Jonah and his trip from the belly of a sea creature to Nineveh. In fact it is quite simple and runs throughout the story, God loved the people of Nineveh and Jonah did not. Jonah was not running from God as much as he was running from God's direction. Why would Jonah want to run from God and His direction? Nineveh was one of Israel's enemies, they had conflicting theological, cultural and religious tensions. Nineveh would not have been a Jewish prophets first choice for a weekend getaway. The journey for Jonah would be a long and difficult, he would be the only voice for God in an opposing culture. Jonah feared that he would not be welcomed and would be persecuted by the wicked Ninevites.

I can understand Jonah's fears and thoughts. What will happen to me? What if I am rejected? My enemies do not deserve God's love? What of my nemesis understands my message; loves God and comes to my church; and sits in my pew? Although we may not admit it, many of us are like Jonah. God is our God, we have fenced him in our churches and in our lives, we often make it our responsibility to decide who deserves God's unconditional love. Jonah had a fear that the people would repent. What if they did? 1 John 1:9 If we repent and confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive.....God would be faithful and deliver them, this was difficult for Jonah to accept.
Did Jonah love the Ninevites? Jonah could not imagine that God could love the people of Nineveh,. He loved them just as He loves the unbelievers of today. Often we act more like Jonah, despising the lost world, rather than loving them as God does.
Even after Jonah reaches the Ninevites he is discontented that God may show mercy upon the people of Nineveh. Deflated, dejected and depressed Jonah retreats to a hillside to see what will happen to the people of Nineveh- Jonah 4; God reminds Jonah that He is God (Elohim); God the creator and that Jonah is just the messenger. Do we ever forget that we are the messengers of God. It is not our duty to decide who should hear about God's love, it is only our duty to love our God with all our heart, mind and soul; to be obedient ministers of the gospel loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.