"AND SHOULD I NOT PITY NINEVEH, that great city, IN WHICH ARE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND PERSONS who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”
Jonah 4:11 (NKJV)
Comment: Jonah would not want God to change the destruction He had purposed to bring on Nineveh (Jonah 4:1-4).
At times a believer or a minister could be resentful or vengeful, because of what someone or a group of people had done to them, they have ill-will or animosity towards such person or people. They would not want God to have mercy on the person or people, however, God does not think that way. God sees from the view point that the people of Nineveh are His people though they did not know Him nor worship Him, but, they are still His creations; thus, God would not want them to perish.
Someone who made or built a thing would not want it to be destroyed. No one would want the work of his or her hand be destroyed. Likewise, God would not want those He created to perish or be destroyed eternally.
The people of Nineveh who were about one hundred and twenty thousand persons, God would not want such a number of people to perish without giving them the opportunity to change or repent from their evil ways. These are the people who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and their many livestock (Jonah 4:11).
The believers who are forgiven by God, who enjoyed God's unmerited favour and mercy, should emulate Him in having compassion towards those who are perishing. The love of God is demonstrated when He gave His only Son, Christ Jesus as a sacrifice: "BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE TOWARDS US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US" (Romans 5:8 NKJV). READ: John 3:16
a. His Son was made a sacrifice or propitiation or appeasement for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1,2).
b. Jesus' love is also demonstrated when He chose to lay His life down (John 10:17,18; 15:13).
The Admonition is, be compassionate or softhearted with others: SO, AS GOD'S OWN CHOSEN PEOPLE, WHO ARE HOLY [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] AND WELL-BELOVED [by God Himself], PUT ON A HEART [bowel] OF COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, AND PATIENCE [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]" (Colossians 3:12 Amps).
A believer should not be vengeful. Do you know that It might be difficult for the person or people you hold in your heart to be saved or born-again?
Peace.