Job’s suffering - Job 1:1 - 22 -[sermon]

#earlwoodanglican #brendanmclaughlin #job1
From the minister . . .
Angry at God
Last week we concluded our Outreach October sermon series on the meaning
behind the story of Jonah and the whale, which is best summarised as ‘judgment
and grace.
The judgment begins with the word of the Lord coming to Jonah in chapter 1 about
the wickedness of the city of Nineveh. Jonah is told to preach against this city,
which he does most sternly with the words ’40 more days, Nineveh overturned’
(Jonah 3:4). The book of Jonah declares in no uncertain terms that God does not
tolerate Sin and will one day bring the wicked to justice for their Sin.
This is what Jonah looks forward to in chapter 4. When the Ninevites repented in
chapter 3, God relented from sending destruction upon the city. Jonah 4:1
says this turn of events was ‘evil, a great evil’ to Jonah, who becomes angry at God
for not destroying Nineveh. He finds himself in a ‘front-row’ seat, hoping God will
change his mind and nuke his enemies (Jonah 4:5).
While it is important for a righteous God to judge Sin, Jonah has forgotten one tiny
detail in his anger. God’s grace. Jonah too had sinned against God by running
from Him in chapter 1 and had been shown incredible grace by God saving Jonah
in the great fish. Jonah’s actions betray a lack of compassion for God’s creatures.
While Jonah feared the salvation of Nineveh and longed for its destruction, God
feared the destruction of Nineveh and longed for its salvation.
While Christians don’t want the non-Christians of their city to be nuked, we often
find ourselves sitting alongside Jonah waiting for the destruction of non-Christians
in our city. Like Jonah, we’re more concerned with our comfort than the salvation
of others. So may we step out of our comfort zone and show compassion to the
lost, just like Jesus showed compassion to us.
Brendan McLaughlin