Tailgaters. We’ve all had the experience of someone being right on our bumper who eventually passes you at speeds that make you feel as if you’re standing still. On one, only one, occasion shortly after I was tailgated and passed, something amazing happened. A police officer pulled the vehicle over. I have to say it felt good. It felt good to see that they were caught and that justice was served, which reminds me of Jonah.
Jonah is easily one of the more famous of Old Testament books and stories. The theme of “loving our enemies” is an issue we all have to deal with at some point or another.
Jonah wants to see God’s judgment on Israel’s enemies, not grace. He begrudgingly takes the message of God’s grace to the Ninevites and sure enough, they repent and experience grace. Even the pagan sailors experience God’s grace.
The book clearly reveals that God’s compassion is boundless and not just limited to “us” but also to “them”. Of course, sometimes we are the “them”.
What I’m saying is that sometimes we’re the “tailgater”. Sometimes we’re the one in the wrong in need of grace and when you get let go with a warning or even completely get let off the hook, that not only feels better, but is better.
At times, we, too, need to benefit from being on the receiving end of God’s boundless love and mercy.
