True forgiveness

Why didn't Jonah want to go to Nineveh?

I always thought he was scared or lazy but the real reason was because he didn't want God to forgive the Ninevites.

Jonah 3:6-10 NIV
When Jonah's warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 

This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
"By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." 

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

So at this point you 'd think Jonah would be happy. He preached the word the people listened and repented and God showed grace and compasssion.

Nope. Jonah became angry.

Wait... What?

Sure, take a look...

Jonah 4:1-3 NIV
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."

I've often introspected how I forgive. If someone does me wrong. there is a temptation to hold a grudge. To get back at that person but instead I forgive and smile a little bit when I think "Vengeance is mine, I (God) will repay" and then I am able to move on and turn that person over to the vengeance of God.

Kind of like when someone tailgates you then burns by you and gives you a dirty look or worse and speeds off into the distance. That dark place we don't like to talk about hopes that we will see lights around the next corner and that same speeder being patted down on the hood of his car by an officer of the law.

That would be AWESOME!

But that's not forgiveness. We need to forgive as Jesus Christ forgave. When someone hurts us we need to pray for them. To pray that God would forgive them for their sin against us and bless them. This is easy to say and hard to do because we know that God is a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Luke 6:27-28 NIV
"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

This is the cure for the root of bitterness.