And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Jonah 2:10 NIV

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
Jonah 3:1-5 NIV

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.
Jonah 3:10 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.
Jonah 4:1-3 NIV

Why is Jonah angry?

When Nineveh repented, Jonah lost his excuse to hate his enemies.

“Us” vs. “Them” makes the world feel simpler.

“Us” vs. “Them” promises identity and belonging.

Jonah wanted God to punish, not forgive.

But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
Exodus 21:23-25 NIV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also[.] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Matthew 5:38-39, 43-44 NIV

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’
Matthew 9:12-13 NIV

“Jesus’ death reveals a God whose love includes even those who oppose him. It is in the cross that God demonstrates how enemies are to be loved, not punished.”
N.T. Wright, Simply Jesus

Nineveh’s repentance upended Jonah’s world. Suddenly the line between “us” vs. “them” became a lot harder to define. What are some examples of this “us” vs. “them” mentality in the Church today? What do we learn from Jonah to help us overcome it?

Jonah is angry that God has shown mercy to his sworn enemies. Are there enemies (people or groups) in your life that you struggle to love? How does that impact you?