The Companionate Creator

From: Jonah and Balaam By: William Woldridge Fereday

• 7 min. read • grade level: 8

The last verse of the Book of Jonah should be carefully considered, for it gives us a delightful insight into the heart of God as Creator. His love and compassion for perishing sinners is happily familiar to us. It has reached us in the Gospel message. The cross of Christ tells out, as nothing else could, God's earnest desire for the salvation of men, and His unwillingness that any should perish eternally. But Jonah 4:11¹¹And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? (Jonah 4:11) is not quite as John 3:16¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). In the latter passage we hear the voice of the Son of God speaking on earth; but in the former it is the Creator who is speaking and that in terms of remonstrance with His ungracious servant. “Should not I spare Nineveh that great city, wherein there are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?” Thus God in His government of the earth took account of 120,000 helpless children in Nineveh, “and also much cattle”; and it rejoiced Him that the repentance of the King and his people enabled Him to sheathe the sword of judgment, at least for the time being.

It is deplorable when the servants of God are not in sympathy with His dealings. When the Lord Jesus was on earth there were two occasions when the compassion of His heart specially went forth. In Matthew 9:36³⁶But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. (Matthew 9:36) He felt for the people's spiritual need. The land was full of religious leaders, but the people were unfed. “When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” In Matthew 14 He was concerned about their temporal need. He “saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them.” Thousands of hungry men, women, and children were around Him, with nothing obtainable in the wilderness. But His disciples did not sham the distress of their Lord. Indeed, they urged Him to send the multitudes away, regardless of consequences. The pressure of the people annoyed them, and interfered with their comfort!

A great lesson is here! We live and serve in the midst of a suffering creation and the suffering increases with the growing violence of men; but are our hearts really moved by the serious universal need? God's heart yearns over the masses, young and old, but do our hearts yearn in sympathy with Him? It is terribly possible to become formal and stereotyped in our service, and thus to serve out of harmony with the One who has sent us. Let us seek to keep near the heart of the God of infinite compassion.

One of Jonah's faults was his intense nationalism. He could rejoice in divine forbearance towards his own people, although deeply guilty, but he felt unable to rejoice in God's forbearance towards others. We are reminded of the Apostle's query in Romans 3:29²⁹Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: (Romans 3:29): “Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles?” Note the answer: “Yea, of the Gentiles also, seeing God is one.” “Neither is there respect of persons with Him” (Eph. 6:9⁹And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. (Ephesians 6:9)).

Paul loved his own nation, and longed for their blessing (Rom. 11:1¹I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. (Romans 11:1)). At one moment of exceeding fervor he had even wished himself accursed from Christ for his fellow-countrymen (Rom. 9:3³For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: (Romans 9:3)). The self-sacrificing prayer of Moses in Exodus 32:32³²Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. (Exodus 32:32), and the passing wish of Paul in Romans 9:3³For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: (Romans 9:3), were doubtless acceptable to God; but in no circumstances can sinners be saved by the self-sacrifice of preachers.

But Paul did not love Israel only. His heart went out after the uncircumcised to the world's end. He delighted to preach Christ where He had never been named (Rom. 15:20²⁰Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: (Romans 15:20)). He could scarcely have told out the largeness of divine grace more explicitly than in Romans 10:12¹²For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (Romans 10:12): “There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” But the largeness of the Apostle's heart was bitterly resented by the Jewish people. When he addressed them from the stairs of the Castle in Jerusalem, they listened quietly until he quoted the Lord's words to him, “I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.” Then their fury burst forth, and they cried, “Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live” (Acts 22:21-22²¹And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. ²²And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. (Acts 22:21‑22)). When detailing offenses in 1 Thessalonians 2:16¹⁶Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:16), he solemnly concluded thus, “forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” National feeling could scarcely go further; even the unwanted Gospel must not be published abroad!

The whole world is ablaze while these lines are being penned. God in His righteous government has let loose the wild beasts of the earth and the havoc that is being wrought is incalculable. But has God ceased to care for His creatures? Is He not still the “King of nations?” (Jer. 10:7⁷Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. (Jeremiah 10:7)). Does He not now, as always, “do according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth?” (Dan. 4:35³⁵And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? (Daniel 4:35)). His hand has gone forth against the guilty nations of all Continents because of their neglect of His word; yea, because of their ever-increasing contempt for everything that is divine.

The heart of God yearns over men notwithstanding all. His interest is not confined to any one nation, nor to a group of nations. He never was in special relationship with any nation but Israel, and against Israel the “Lo-Ammi” sentence (“not My people”) went forth long years ago, and has not yet been recalled. But the compassionate Creator can never cease to care for the afflictions of His creatures, however wayward, and He would have His saints share His compassion. Isaiah was deeply distressed when obliged to utter judgment against Moab, the bitter enemy of his own people. “My heart shall cry out for Moab” (Isa. 15:5⁵My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction. (Isaiah 15:5)). “My bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab, and my inward part for Kirharesh” (Isa. 16:11¹¹Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-haresh. (Isaiah 16:11)). Similarly, when Babylon's doom came before him in prophetic vision, he cried out, “My loins are filled with pain: pangs are taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth” (lsa. 21:4). Jeremiah also howled for Moab, “mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes” (Jer. 48:31-36³¹Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kir-heres. ³²O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage. ³³And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting. ³⁴From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate. ³⁵Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the Lord, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods. ³⁶Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kir-heres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished. (Jeremiah 48:31‑36)).

Where do we stand with reference to such sentiments in this day of unparalleled devastation and sorrow? The public Press, and also the “wireless” would fill our minds with national feeling if we were to allow ourselves to come under their influence. Against this, God's saints must be continually on their guard. The house of God (“whose house are we,” Heb. 3:6⁶But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)) was intended to be “a house of prayer for all nations” (Mark 11:17¹⁷And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Mark 11:17); Isa. 56:7⁷Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:7)); and we are exhorted in 1 Timothy 2 to make supplications, prayers, intercession and giving of thanks for all men, irrespective of nationality, and for kings and for all that are in authority whether friendly or unfriendly. Only as we are able to rise to this shall we be really helpful to men in their calamities. The great distinguishing principle of Christianity should aid us in this. God is at this time (while Christ sits on high and the Holy Spirit is on earth) visiting the nations “to take out of them a people for His name” (Acts 15:14¹⁴Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (Acts 15:14)). Consequently, we have brethren in every land, and if all these, conscious of their union with Christ the Head, were to cry to God with one accord, the relief to the nations, amongst whom we all live and serve, would be incalculable.

God's heart is full of compassion towards all; shame on us if we feel otherwise.

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