Reluctant Prophets

To all the reluctant prophets of a God that pursues reconciliation with His enemies.

Reluctant prophets are we

Inner Jonah exercising

Gatekeepers of mercy

Playing Judge and Jury

Finding rest in the midst

Of rebellion and tempest

Waves meant to shake our stupor

Serving only to deepen our slumber

Awakened by a pagan

Calling out the rebellion

Better to drown in the tempest made for me

Than to go to Nineveh willingly

Nineveh our enemy

Reveling in idolatry

Worshipping individuality

Undeserving of Your mercy

Second chance provided by Sovereignty

Sitting in the stench of our nationality

Three days in darkness

To shine light on our reality

Spat out forcibly

Off to Nineveh begrudgingly

Speaking of judgment impending

Expecting no receptivity

An enemy repentant

Mourning cemented

A judgment relented

Mercy extended

Our frustration aired

The Enemy is spared

Roles reversed

Blessed not cursed

Just kill me now

Better for me to die than live

When my enemy has the blessing

That is Yours to give

We have known You to be mercy

Known it experientially

But now our enemy

Their cries turning into rejoicing

We leave raging

Watch and waiting

Wrath anticipating

But love abounding

Sitting in the heat to stew

Refusing to face the truth

Before Nineveh was Nineveh

It was you

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

And the LORD said, “Do you do well to be angry?” — Jonah 4:1–4