“Schadenfreude” immigrated into English from German. It is “the pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune”. We’ve all felt it. Like when the speeding driver who cut us off is pulled over by the police. But what happens when we feel that pleasure for a group or nation of people? I think the prophet, Jonah, was anticipating some schadenfreude with the people of Nineveh, who had invaded and destroyed his country. Jonah probably relished the thought that they might suffer. And when God wanted Jonah to offer them a way to be forgiven by God, he was not happy. Just how deep and wide is God’s grace? Grace never runs away from runaways.
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