Jonah, the Reluctant Preacher
Part Two

If God told you to drop everything and take the gospel to the worst offenders, how would you respond?  Jonah was given this task.

In Jonah's eyes, no one deserved redemption less than the people of Ninevah. After dragging his feet and almost losing his life for his insubordination, Jonah arrives at Ninevah. Jonah was literally spit out and placed right where God wanted him.  That's where our story unfolds. Jonah's message was short and to the point.  "Forty days more and Ninevah shall be overthrown"  (Jonah 3:4).  How many times do we draw out our message when all we need is a few words?  Sometimes less is more.  I'm sure Jonah did his task as begrudgingly as possible.  He didn't believe they deserved redemption; therefore, his heart just wasn't in it.  I can picture him acting as a small child, performing a task that he was made to do.  How often do we pout and whine?  "But God, I don't want to!!!"

It was at this point where a miraculous turn of events takes place in Ninevah. "The people of Ninevah believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth." [Jonah 3:5] The people of Ninevah believed and repented! They were saved! We must remember that no matter how unworthy we seem to think a group is of salvation. God always sees everyone as worthy of salvation. It is not our hearing God's Word that pleases God, but our responding obediently to it. God's response to Ninevah was quick and gracious. God's basic nature is love.

Jonah didn't exactly feel the same way. Jonah's prayer to God concludes with this, "O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." [Jonah 4:3] Jonah knew before taking the gospel to Ninevah, that the people would repent and turn to God. Jonah hated the idea of this. He tells God, “I knew this would happen! Just let me die!" Does any of this sound familiar in our lives as Christians? How truly ungrateful we can be! God answers Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry?" [Jonah 4:4] Jonah, like many of us stomps out of Ninevah and waits to see the outcome [or fate as you will] of this city. As Jonah waits pouting, God gives Jonah a bush for shelter. Apparently the bush wasn't good enough for Jonah, as he complained about it. So what did God do? He took it away! Jonah complains more, "It is better for me to die than to live." [Jonah 4:8]

God's answer was simple. "You are concerned about the bush, something that came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Ninevah, a vast population, thousands of who do not know their right hand from the left, and also many animals?" [Jonah 4: 10-11] Jonah's behavior was absurd and as a three-year old throwing a temper tantrum. We have to remember that Jonah was human after all. We all have a divine calling, responsibility, and are chosen by God. So many times we flee from our responsibility of delivering God's saving word. We tend to see our "mission" as our "enemies" too many times. The book of Jonah ends with a series of important questions: Do you care about these humans? Do you realize that they matter to the God whom you serve?

"Are you ready to accept the broadness of God's mercy?"

“Are we truly ready to unconditionally accept our mission?”

Ready, Set, Go!

Love to all,

The Reluctant Preacher