I wanted all Dads affection. My sister and I had the typical sibling rivalry. When she did something bad I wanted my Dad to know. When she did something good I did not want my Dad to know. I did not want to share his love with my sister. Are there people you feel that way about? Do you harbor ill will against Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Europeans, Asians, people of color, etc. Do you not want God to love and bless them? That is how Jonah felt about the Assyrians. He knew God was full of mercy and would save the people of Nineveh. Jonah did not want God to do that. He surely did not want God to use him to help!!! Imagine what it would be like for God to tell you He had chosen you to go to your most reviled enemy and talk with them as His plan for their redemption? It would be tough.
Jonah reacted like many of us. He did not want to participate in God’s plan. So, he ran away. Or, at least he tried to. When God calls you to His service, surrender to His will, understand God’s love and mercy for all, and do the best you can do in His service. Jonah was a runaway. But God would not let him run. Jonah finally relented and did what God wanted and God had mercy on the people of Nineveh. They repented as a result of Jonah’s witness to them.
For those who believe the Bible is no longer relevant, consider this: Why was Nineveh a bad place in God’s eyes? Why did God choose a common and ordinary person to go witness to these people? When we compare Nineveh to our world today, there is no difference. Nineveh was a place of idolatry. We replace God in our lives with work, television, fishing, golf, etc. These are idolatrous in displacing God as our first love. Nineveh plotted against God. In America, we share that guilt. Our government and small interests groups have taken God out of schools, court rooms, and public places. Our government has made prayers illegal at public school events. Praying out loud at school is not allowed. God is not blind to American’s sinful ways. Nineveh was guilty of taking advantage of the helpless. Our world does that every day. Many countries’ leaders are very wealthy and live in palaces decorated in the finest gold while millions of their citizens starve to death and live in shacks and paper boxes. Many financial people today take other people’s money under false pretense. Many elderly people who trusted in these finance people are ruined for life as a result. Nineveh practiced witchcraft which is explicitly forbidden by God. It is easy to find a "Psychic" place of business in almost every country on earth.
Just as Jonah was sent to Ninevah to carry God’s message He still calls today. God had a plan for the salvation of Nineveh. God called Jonah to be His servant for this task. Jonah ran away. Jonah wanted to choose who he was willing to carry out the work that God had ordained him to do. Jonah did not follow the call of the Lord and wound up in the belly of a big fish!
When Jonah did as the Lord commanded, God allowed His love and mercy to come over Ninevah and save them! God is the same today. He wants all to come to Him who seeks Him. He is delaying the second coming of Jesus to give us time to come to Him. In the meantime, God uses people like you and me to carry out His plan. When He calls you, answer that call and do not run away! It is a blessing to be appointed to do God’s work. If He calls you to travel to foreign countries to be a missionary, acknowledge and obey. . If He calls you to donate your time at the local food bank, acknowledge and obey. If you feel led by the Spirit to witness, follow the call and do not run away. We are God’s creations and He wants us to let the Glory of Jesus shine through His children. We are not smart enough to totally understand God’s ways. Our part is to be His hands and feet. Ordinary people are often used by God to do great things!
All that is required is that we trust Him and obey. Don’t be a runaway. If you runaway, not only do you risk winding up in the belly of a big fish, you will be missing a tremendous blessing from God. God wants to bestow blessings on you and those you witness to!
Papa Joe Mac's Commentary:
I wanted all Dads affection. My sister and I had the typical sibling rivalry. When she did something bad I wanted my Dad to know. When she did something good I did not want my Dad to know. I did not want to share his love with my sister. Are there people you feel that way about? Do you harbor ill will against Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Europeans, Asians, people of color, etc. Do you not want God to love and bless them? That is how Jonah felt about the Assyrians. He knew God was full of mercy and would save the people of Nineveh. Jonah did not want God to do that. He surely did not want God to use him to help!!! Imagine what it would be like for God to tell you He had chosen you to go to your most reviled enemy and talk with them as His plan for their redemption? It would be tough.
Jonah reacted like many of us. He did not want to participate in God’s plan. So, he ran away. Or, at least he tried to. When God calls you to His service, surrender to His will, understand God’s love and mercy for all, and do the best you can do in His service. Jonah was a runaway. But God would not let him run. Jonah finally relented and did what God wanted and God had mercy on the people of Nineveh. They repented as a result of Jonah’s witness to them.
For those who believe the Bible is no longer relevant, consider this: Why was Nineveh a bad place in God’s eyes? Why did God choose a common and ordinary person to go witness to these people? When we compare Nineveh to our world today, there is no difference. Nineveh was a place of idolatry. We replace God in our lives with work, television, fishing, golf, etc. These are idolatrous in displacing God as our first love. Nineveh plotted against God. In America, we share that guilt. Our government and small interests groups have taken God out of schools, court rooms, and public places. Our government has made prayers illegal at public school events. Praying out loud at school is not allowed. God is not blind to American’s sinful ways. Nineveh was guilty of taking advantage of the helpless. Our world does that every day. Many countries’ leaders are very wealthy and live in palaces decorated in the finest gold while millions of their citizens starve to death and live in shacks and paper boxes. Many financial people today take other people’s money under false pretense. Many elderly people who trusted in these finance people are ruined for life as a result. Nineveh practiced witchcraft which is explicitly forbidden by God. It is easy to find a "Psychic" place of business in almost every country on earth.
Just as Jonah was sent to Ninevah to carry God’s message He still calls today. God had a plan for the salvation of Nineveh. God called Jonah to be His servant for this task. Jonah ran away. Jonah wanted to choose who he was willing to carry out the work that God had ordained him to do. Jonah did not follow the call of the Lord and wound up in the belly of a big fish!
When Jonah did as the Lord commanded, God allowed His love and mercy to come over Ninevah and save them! God is the same today. He wants all to come to Him who seeks Him. He is delaying the second coming of Jesus to give us time to come to Him. In the meantime, God uses people like you and me to carry out His plan. When He calls you, answer that call and do not run away! It is a blessing to be appointed to do God’s work. If He calls you to travel to foreign countries to be a missionary, acknowledge and obey. . If He calls you to donate your time at the local food bank, acknowledge and obey. If you feel led by the Spirit to witness, follow the call and do not run away. We are God’s creations and He wants us to let the Glory of Jesus shine through His children. We are not smart enough to totally understand God’s ways. Our part is to be His hands and feet. Ordinary people are often used by God to do great things!
All that is required is that we trust Him and obey. Don’t be a runaway. If you runaway, not only do you risk winding up in the belly of a big fish, you will be missing a tremendous blessing from God. God wants to bestow blessings on you and those you witness to!