OCTOBER 24: HYPOCRISY OF JONAH

Hypocrisy is an art of claiming to have a higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case. Biblical definition is the failure to practise what you preach. As parents, we tell our children to behave in certain ways, but our own lives are far from the standards we set and we think that pushing or commanding will do the magic. Our children will learn from our own life examples more than our instructions.

Jonah is considered in our study of today to be hypocritical because as a prophet of God, the repentance of a sinner should be his goal, but sadly, in his case, Jonah was angry that the people of Nineveh repented of their wicked ways. Jonah took it personally because the people of Nineveh had committed very grievous acts against Israel in time past, they attacked Israel and killed people, and an account mentioned that they skinned people alive.

As far as Jonah was concerned, such a set of people deserved judgement and not forgiveness, so he was fighting for justice for his people, which was why he was reluctant to preach to them. He became the judge and the jury condemning the people of Nineveh. He forgot that the love of God transcends human understanding.

The lesson to us is that God is gracious and abounding in mercy. If he were to deal with us according to our behaviour, where would we all be? Many times, we are quick to judge others while we are equally guilty of the same errors. Our waking and rising every day is just by the mercy of God, we should never forget that we are a product of his mercy, and we should likewise be merciful to others.

We are also guilty when we hold on to the hurts against people that have wronged us or about people that are persecuting Christians, or we pay evil for evil and justify it as fighting for our rights. God is calling on us to be the light today and leave judgement to him.

While justice is not in itself wrong, the proper channels should be explored to seek justice whenever an illegality is established. However, from the experiences of people that I have read, the judgement passed maybe correct but that does not take away the hurt, the injustice and losses that may have been experienced, what takes it away is forgiveness.

We can learn from Jonah’s mistakes. We are not to view ourselves as better than those who are different from us – instead, we are to see others as God sees them: sinners in need of a Saviour, just like us. We should be eager to share His Gospel with others that they too, may understand God’s power and mercy.

That will be more pleasing to God than justice and will bring glory to his name in the long run. A popular preacher in the city of Ibadan narrated her encounter with God. Her only child was killed by armed robbers who went away with her newly purchased Peugeot salon car. While she was in a revival, one young man came out weeping and accepted Christ as his Lord and Saviour and later confessed that he was amongst the gang that killed her son.

The story goes that the young man now serves in the church of the evangelist as a committed follower of Christ. The walk of faith takes us through very strange paths. May we recognise his leading at every point in life in Jesus’ name.

Prayer: Today, I let go of un-forgiveness, condemnation and self-righteousness. I declare that I am alive only by your mercy. Let your mercy prevail over judgement in my life. I ask that Lord, you will purge me of all hypocrisy today, Amen