PREJUDICE
"SO HE PRAYED TO THE LORD, AND SAID, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; FOR I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD, SLOW TO ANGER AND ABUNDANT IN LOVINGKINDNESS, ONE WHO RELENTS FROM DOING HARM."
Jonah 4:2 (NKJV)
Comment: What God did in chapter 3 verse 10 displeased Jonah, he did not want God to forgive the people of Nineveh. In fact, he was angry: "BUT IT DISPLEASED JONAH EXCEEDINGLY, AND HE BECAME ANGRY" (Jonah 4:1).
a. A believer, much more, a minister should not be biased or prejudicial in his or her relationship with people—in their assignment or ministry work.
b. Such should be able to accommodate people of different races and backgrounds.
c. A believer or minister should not be partial, and he or she should not be a bigot, a supremacist or racist (Romans 2:11). Jonah probably had resentment towards the Ninevites because of what they had done to the Israelites in the past.
In Jonah's prayer in the above passage of the Bible; "SO HE PRAYED TO THE LORD . . . FOR I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD, SLOW TO ANGER AND ABUNDANT IN LOVINGKINDNESS, ONE WHO RELENTS FROM DOING HARM" (Jonah 4:2 NKJV). In other words, Jonah fled, he would not want to go on the mission he was sent by God to Nineveh because he knew God, being a merciful God, would likely forgive them If they repented, but he would not want that to happen. Now that the Ninevites repented, he was not happy with the development; he was praying to die—he wanted God to take his life (Jonah 4:3). Jonah was disappointed because of his prophecy of destruction about Nineveh that was overturned or changed by God, and pardoned them.
A believer or minister should not be prejudicial. You should not wish other people dead.
God expected Jonah to be happy, because He, God, does not want the death of a sinner but such to repent (2 Peter 3:9). God: " . . . DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH" (1 Timothy 2:4 NKJV).
The question God asked Jonah is: "IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU TO BE ANGRY" (Jonah 4:2)—that He did not destroy the Nineveh.
Note: If you had no compassion, love for the people you are assigned, you would not be able to bless them.
a. God would not be able to use you maximally, for their liberation or deliverance.
b. The anointing to bless the people would not come on your life If you had no compassion and love for them.
You must be able to identify with the people you are assigned, and be burdened with their problems. It is when you have such a heart towards the people that God would be able to use you for their liberation—you become a blessing to them.
Thus, do not be prejudicial in your work or assignment or ministry towards the people who would be brought your way by God. Peace.