The God of Unmatched Compassion

A phrase has become quite common in several professions: “compassion fatigue”. Pastors or counsellors or nurses are reporting “compassion fatigue” in staggering numbers. The term means that a person has run out of emotional energy for the needs they encounter. Their “gas tank” is running on empty in terms of empathy. The book of Jonah reveals, however, that God is a God of unmatched compassion. Jonah 3:10 states, “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.”

If you are a person in need of the Lord’s compassion today, but you fear that you’re too far away from him – too deep into sin and too guilty to qualify for his mercy –then the story of God’s dealings with Ninevah invites you to think again. Ninevah was a sinful city well off the radar of most respectable Israelites. “Ninevah, what does anyone care about Ninevah?” But, you see, the people of Ninevah weren’t off God’s radar. He sent his prophet all the way there to bring his compassion to an undeserving and guilty people. And in Jesus one greater than Jonah is here. As Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of that fish, so Jesus spent three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. And having risen again he proclaims to the world the message, yes of a judgment to come, but he proclaims as well the compassionate mercy of God. This is the unmatched compassion of God that sends not only a prophet to warn – but his Son to die.

So one key question is this: Have you responded personally to this compassionate God? Do you believe that his compassion in Jesus is not only for others – but is for you? The God of compassion will deal with you compassionately, if you come to him in humility and repentance and faith – even as the Ninevites did.

Another key application is this: there is an urgency for each one of us to share God’s heart of compassion. This is what Jonah struggled with, of course. This is where he fell down. You might have thought he got past this in the belly of that fish. But, actually, the struggle was still there in his heart – even after he’s had that dramatic experience. As we read in chapter 4, Jonah isn’t just a little disapproving of the Lord’s compassion, he is actually scandalized by it. He is furious. When we read in verse 1 that “Jonah was greatly displeased” – in the original language it literally says, ‘It was evil to Jonah a great evil’. We must be careful to guard our hearts against resenting or begrudging the compassion that God longs to extend to others.

With whom can you share God’s compassion today? God’s compassion is unmatched, and He longs to extend it to you, and to those around you, today.