Grace…Even for Our Enemies by Pastor Steve Lombardo (Jonah 4:1-11)

Jonah’s story is a mirror for our own hearts, revealing the struggle to embrace God’s radical mercy—especially toward those we consider enemies. Jonah, a prophet of God, ran from his calling because he could not stomach the idea of God showing compassion to the wicked Assyrians. Even after being rescued from the depths and witnessing Nineveh’s repentance, Jonah’s heart remained hardened, angry at God’s grace. This exposes a deep truth: we often want mercy for ourselves and justice for others, especially those who have wronged us.

The story of Louis Zamperini, the Olympic athlete and WWII POW, illustrates the transformative power of forgiveness. Tortured and broken, Zamperini was consumed by hatred until he encountered the forgiveness of Christ. Only then was he able to release his captors, even seeking them out to offer forgiveness. His nightmares ceased, his marriage healed, and his life was restored. This is the upside-down economy of God’s kingdom: mercy over vengeance, forgiveness over bitterness.

God’s question to Jonah—“Do you do well to be angry?”—is a question for us, too. We are conditioned by our world to seek retribution, to hold onto grudges, and to measure justice by our own standards. Yet, God’s heart is for all people, even those who have deeply wounded us. The plant God provided for Jonah, and then took away, was a lesson: Jonah cared more for his own comfort than for the souls of 120,000 people. How often do we do the same?

Living as citizens of God’s kingdom means embracing a different set of values. We are called to love our enemies, to forgive as we have been forgiven, and to resist the world’s pull toward bitterness and revenge. Forgiveness is not weakness, nor does it mean excusing abuse or instantly restoring trust. It is a decision to release others from our judgment, trusting God with justice and our own healing. When we forgive, we are set free from the corrosive effects of bitterness, and we reflect the heart of our Father, who is merciful even to the ungrateful and wicked.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s mercy extends beyond our boundaries God’s compassion is not limited to those we deem worthy. He cares for all people, even our enemies, and calls us to reflect that same mercy. This challenges our natural inclinations and invites us to see others through God’s eyes, not our own prejudices. [13:54]
• 2. Forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling True forgiveness is a conscious choice to release someone from our judgment, regardless of whether they deserve it or not. It is not about excusing wrongdoing or restoring trust immediately, but about refusing to let bitterness take root in our hearts. This act of release is both obedience to God and a path to our own healing. [31:47]
• 3. The world conditions us for vengeance, but God calls us higher Our culture glorifies payback and retribution, but the kingdom of God is marked by radical forgiveness. We must resist being conformed to the world’s patterns and instead be transformed by the renewing of our minds, choosing mercy over revenge even when it feels unnatural. [26:12]
• 4. Forgiveness frees us from self-destruction Holding onto anger and bitterness ultimately harms us more than those who have wronged us. When we forgive, we break the cycle of pain and open ourselves to God’s healing and peace. This is not just for the benefit of others, but for our own spiritual and emotional well-being. [33:05]
• 5. We forgive because we have been forgiven Our ability to forgive flows from the forgiveness we have received in Christ. Remembering our own need for mercy humbles us and empowers us to extend grace to others, even when it seems impossible. This is the heart of the gospel and the mark of a growing Christian. [32:28]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:37] - Introduction and Louis Zamperini’s Story
• [03:45] - The Power of Forgiveness
• [05:03] - Jonah’s Struggle with Mercy
• [06:55] - Nineveh’s Repentance and God’s Relenting
• [07:33] - Jonah’s Anger and God’s Question
• [08:47] - Walking Through Jonah 4
• [10:39] - Jonah’s Self-Focused Prayer
• [13:54] - God’s Heart for All Peoples
• [15:14] - The Plant, the Worm, and Jonah’s Comfort
• [16:34] - God’s Rebuke: Caring for Souls
• [19:01] - Wrestling with Our Kingdom Calling
• [20:19] - The Upside-Down Values of God’s Kingdom
• [22:11] - Loving and Forgiving Our Enemies
• [24:11] - The World’s Pattern of Vengeance
• [26:12] - Resisting the Pull of Retribution
• [28:02] - What Forgiveness Is and Isn’t
• [31:47] - Forgiveness as a Decision
• [33:05] - The Cost of Bitterness
• [34:59] - Radical Forgiveness: The Robert Rule Story
• [38:09] - Embracing God’s Mercy and Extending Forgiveness

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Jonah, Mercy, and Forgiveness**

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### Bible Reading

**Jonah 4 (ESV)**

> 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 went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
>
> But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

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### Observation Questions

1. What was Jonah’s reaction to God showing mercy to Nineveh, and how did he express his feelings to God? ([07:33])
2. What did God use to teach Jonah a lesson about compassion and priorities, and how did Jonah respond to these events? ([08:47])
3. According to the sermon, what was the significance of God being called both “Yahweh” and “Elohim” in Jonah 4:6? ([13:54])
4. How does the story of Louis Zamperini, as told in the sermon, connect to the themes found in Jonah 4? ([03:45])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jonah was so angry about God’s mercy toward the Ninevites, even after witnessing their repentance? What does this reveal about his understanding of God’s character? ([10:39])
2. In what ways does the plant in Jonah 4 serve as a mirror for Jonah’s (and our) priorities and concerns? ([15:14])
3. The sermon mentions that God’s question, “Do you do well to be angry?” is not just for Jonah but for us too. What might God be challenging in our own hearts with this question? ([11:58])
4. How does the world’s approach to justice and vengeance differ from the “upside-down” values of God’s kingdom described in the sermon? ([20:19])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon says we often want mercy for ourselves and justice for others, especially those who have wronged us. Can you think of a recent situation where you felt this way? How did you respond, and what might you do differently now? ([10:39])
2. Jonah cared more about his own comfort (the plant) than the lives of 120,000 people. Are there areas in your life where your comfort or preferences have become more important than showing compassion or mercy to others? What would it look like to change that? ([15:14])
3. The story of Louis Zamperini shows the power of forgiveness to heal and restore. Is there someone in your life you are struggling to forgive? What is one step you could take this week toward releasing them from your judgment? ([03:45])
4. The sermon makes it clear that forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling. What practical steps can you take to choose forgiveness, even if your emotions haven’t caught up yet? ([31:47])
5. The world conditions us to seek payback and hold grudges. What are some ways you notice this in your own life, whether through media, family, or culture? How can you resist this pull and instead choose the way of Jesus? ([26:12])
6. Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing abuse or instantly restoring trust. Have you ever confused forgiveness with these things? How can you set healthy boundaries while still obeying God’s call to forgive? ([28:02])
7. The sermon says we forgive because we have been forgiven. How does remembering your own need for God’s mercy help you extend grace to others? Is there a specific memory or truth about God’s forgiveness that encourages you to forgive? ([32:28])

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