By (Christ) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8.

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8.

Our chapter, Jonah 4, is the final chapter of this book and just as impactful for us to understand. Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, saw that the people of Nineveh repented and He did not bring on them the destruction He had sent Jonah to warn them against. And Jonah’s response? Do we respond like Jonah? But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” v. 1-3. Wow. To Jonah this seemed very wrong…That is what I tried to forestall…I knew…I catch myself in prayer many times saying “I know” when in reality I have no idea because I don’t hold all things together. And God’s heart? But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” v. 4. Do we forget that we are children of Almighty Creator God – and not just us but the nations of people who don’t yet know God? Do we truly believe God is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love? Do we understand He doesn’t want to send calamity? Jonah leaves again. Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left – and also many animals?” v. 5-11. That’s it. The final verse in this book.

As we read about Jonah and go deep, we can’t help but find ourselves. Jonah was angry and judgmental. Does that not describe all of us today? What are we so angry about? Things we have no control over. So we get angry with God for not doing what we think He should do. We want cities of bad people destroyed just as in the best action movies. Is that where God’s heart is? Our granddaughter said yesterday with great conviction what she has heard others say…”Some will go to heaven and some will go to hell!” End of story. And I can’t help but hear Creator God talking to Jonah, “Should I not have concern for the great cities in which there are people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and also many animals?” God was compassionate with not only the people of Nineveh but also with Jonah. Did Jonah repent? Did he understand God’s heart? Did he see, from God’s perspective, that his own heart couldn’t tell his right hand from his left? Will we be just as upset and angry with Creator God when He shows compassion for people we judge unworthy? And if any of this makes your head hurt and start spinning, be glad and rejoice! We aren’t in charge. Creator God is. When we realize we don’t have all the answers or even know all the questions, we can then begin to turn to the One who does; and in turning to Him, we begin a journey of trust in and with our Creator God that He leads faithfully. And, oh, how we need Him for true understanding! Jonah was ready to write-off a whole city! Are we like Jonah? Or, are we willing to listen to Creator God and be shown a better way with Him? Listen to what the Apostle Paul’s love for God’s heart led him to understand about listening to Creator God…During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:9-10. “Help us“. Isn’t that what we all need? We may not be tasked to powerfully carry the gospel as was Paul, but we are tasked to love and trust Creator God because we are all His children and His heart is for each of us, and He is the One who holds all things together, including each of us. Are we willing to begin that journey with God? Remember, He’s here, and we don’t walk this journey without Him. Trust Him to lead you faithfully. He knows the way.