LENTEN DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13

Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God, "God, I knew it -- when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That's why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness." (Jonah 4:1-2 from The Message)

When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah had refused to accept the mission.

Perhaps Jonah ran the other way because he thought he was not equal to the task. Maybe he did not believe that God's help would be there at every turn. He did not imagine that the sailors would do all they could to avoid throwing him overboard; that the great fish would shelter him from the fearful depths, finally returning him to dry land for another chance. (God's answer to his prayer of thanksgiving for God's gift of the relative safety of the fish's belly, and Jonah's promise, at last, to go to Nineveh).

Nor had Jonah foreseen that the King of Nineveh would "see the light" and lead the people (and animals) to repent. Jonah did not want to believe that God would change God's mind and save Nineveh. He was angry that God's steadfast love was not reserved for the faithful, but extended to all, even those judged to be wicked. This is a hard lesson to learn, but the story of Jonah teaches that God is bigger than we can imagine. It is not for us to decide who is "in" and who is "out." Thanks be to God.

Thank you, God, for your steadfast love and tender mercy. Thanks for those who manifest your love and care in many ways, large and small. Help us to show mercy and forgiveness, even when it is very hard. Amen.

Ginnie Spurr