February 20

Jonah 4:1 - 11

Link to Bible Verses: Jonah 4

Hospitality: Giving space to others without demands or expectations.

Wow! Have you ever been angry enough to want to die? I’ve definitely been so angry that I have said and done things to cause harm, and I’ve had to work hard to make amends, but angry enough to want to die?

Through the lens of hospitality, this passage makes me wonder about the role of expectations in Jonah’s anger. It seems that Jonah had expectations about how God might respond to the residents of Ninevah, and God clearly did not meet those expectations. Jonah put himself out there—called out Ninevites and warned them sternly—but the wrath didn’t come. God did not smite Ninevah, and Jonah seethed. A key to this seething, I suspect, is that Ninevites were considered enemies of Israel. Jonah stretched himself to warn his enemies (albeit perhaps with a bit of glee about their coming demise), and then they were treated with compassion and mercy by God…by the God of Israel nonetheless.

What is our level of hospitality toward our “enemies”? Do we, while extending “hospitality” to our enemies (or others), also secretly hold expectations for their eventual downfall? Do we writhe with anger while we watch our “enemies” flourish, hoping that their “wicked” ways will bring about the wrath of God (or some other form of demise)? Are we able, instead, to extend true, unconditional hospitality to those we find difficult? And what about doing that while also upholding boundaries around respect for self and others? This Christian thing is hard work!!

Thank you to Linda Land-Closson for writing our 2026 Lenten devotions.