HAVE YOU EVER...written a paper?

When I was a freshman in college, one of the first nonmusic classes that I walked into was Old Testament History.  I had had some issues with my enrollment the recent spring and so I was stuck in a class with all ministry majors.  My dean signed me into the class; I am sure breaking some fancy rules, because I DID NOT belong in this class.  Everyone around me was mainly male and much smarter than me.  It was one of my all time favorite classes EVER!

Dr. Bing Bayer was one of the most amazing teachers of God’s word that I have ever heard.  I never missed a class and he is one of the reasons I am obsessed with the Old Testament.  Our final was to write an exegetical paper.  I still don’t know what that means.  It was supposed to be like 25 pages long.  In an essence you were creating your own commentary on a scripture passage.  These smart boys chose 1 verse or something like Proverbs 31.  I chose the ENTIRE book of Jonah.

Everyone knows the story of Jonah.  The exciting miracle of God allowing Jonah to live after being swallowed by a whale is what most people would remember.  Not me.  What stands out most to me is that Jonah did not do what God asked him to do.  Yes, God used him to show a miracle to the people in the boat.  We all have experienced the miracles of this story because it made it into the Bible.  And we see God’s mercy to the Ninevites.

That is why Jonah said no.  God’s mercy. 

He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home?  That is why I was so quick to flee 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.”  Jonah 4:2

Jonah was God’s prophet for 50 years.  He knew of God’s great compassion for all mankind.  He had already judged the Ninevites and did not want God to forgive them.  Yikes!

I hear kids say, “I hate you” to other kids all of the time.  We have seen too many “hate crimes” in our word today.  People are stepping up to be a judge and jury of things they are very ignorant about.  We need to examine our hearts more and share God’s love with everyone.  At least, try to be an example for our own kids. 

You don’t have to go to a foreign country that you “hate” to show God’s compassion.  Just open your eyes before making a hasty judgment.  God always has a plan, even when you say no.

HAVE YOU EVER…shown God’s compassion to others?

Isaiah 49:13; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4