Jonah the prophet was told to go to Ninevah by God. He did not want to do what he was being told, so he said, “No.” God called Jonah to a task he did not want, bringing a message of scorn to Ninevah. He knew Ninevah would repent and God would be merciful. He feared for himself and did not want to feel embarrassed. Let’s be honest, I cannot count how many times I have quenched Holy Spirit’s leading to do God’s will because of fear of embarrassment! I did not want to risk feeling bad in the moment, so I stayed silent. In my choice, I failed to trust God had a greater plan underway, and He wanted me to be part of it. Fortunately for all of us, God is merciful! The devil wants us to fear and not act on God’s command, but I know God can use even our mistakes for good and to His glory!!
Now, back to Jonah. He was so adamant not to do what was asked, he sought to flee from God. He bought a ticket on boat and slept soundly on a lower deck while chaos ensued for everyone else on board. He put others in danger, resulting in them throwing their goods overboard to stabilize the ship. The ship was tossing and being thrown about while Jonah was fast asleep on a lower deck. Again, how many times have we lulled ourselves into a false slumber while we ran from God? Jonah’s choice brought harm to others. They had no idea who they allowed to give passage on the waters to. They had no idea Jonah was rejecting God’s plan, and God was not going to allow that rejection to continue. Jonah was unwilling to go where God called him and for that, others suffered. Again, I’m not judging, as I have been and at times, I’m sure still am Jonah!! It’s just the reality we all need to be willing to come to terms with and understand. Our disobedience can be quite harmful to many other innocent people around us. Jonah deserved to be thrown overboard for his disobedience, as do we. So stop thinking as an individual and seek God’s greater heavenly view of the world and those around us.
The mariners attempted to get Jonah to shore, but that was not God’s plan.
14Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
15So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. 16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. – Jonah 1:14-16 KJV
The mariners had lost their goods and feared death from the storm. But God still used the experience for good. These mariners now knew of the one true God. They made sacrifices and vows to Him. May it all be to God’s glory!
Jonah was tossed into the waters, but God still had a plan to protect him. God was merciful to Jonah, even though his heart was out of alignment with God. He sent a “big fish” to swallow Jonah and save him from drowning in the rough seas. God also knew being in the belly of the fish left Jonah with no place to run or hide.
7When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
8They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. – Jonah 2:7-8 KJV
Jonah was brought low. He was trapped and could only look to God for help. God heard his prayer. Jonah repented of his vanities and sought God’s mercy. In the belly of the fish as a prophet, he learned God would not take, “No” for an answer. God’s plan did not change and neither did the prophet He called on to execute it.
9But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. – Jonah 2:9 KJV
Jonah’s heart shifted. He recommitted to God’s plan and carried God’s prophecy to Ninevah.
The people of Ninevah, including the king, believed God’s words spoken through Jonah. They heard the warning from the Lord regarding their wickedness and reacted by fasting and putting on clothing of repentance. They not only withheld food and water from themselves, but they also withheld both from their animals too. Their repentance to God was genuine and all life in the nation turned from evil ways to give glory to God! God saw the heart of the nation through their actions and withheld His anger.
God’s mercy is new for each of us each day. We always have opportunity to choose to go against any evil, any anger, any hate in our hearts, repent and seek God’s truth! Fasting and choosing clothing of repentance cuts off the life source to our sin and prideful earthly ways. We need to take action and stop feeding our sin!
Once again, it comes down to what is in our hearts, something we cannot lie about or hedge in any way that makes our sin acceptable. We see Jonah’s heart again shift in the wrong direction in the final chapter.
1But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. 2And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. – Jonah 4:1-2 KJV
Jonah was angry God was merciful to Ninevah. Jonah’s desired outcome was different from God’s He did not get his way so he was going to pout, attempting pathetically to justify his attitude to God.
He had attempted to flee to Tarshish, ignoring the lives and souls of Ninevah. God blessed Ninevah with mercy, triggered by their repentance. He even blessed Jonah with kindness as Jonah struggled to understand, growing up a tree to shade him. There is no mention of Jonah’s appreciation or thanks for the tree in this scripture and the tree that comforted Jonah withered and died after only one day.
God was merciful to Ninevah. But what Jonah failed to recognize was the great mercy God had shown him: not letting him drown in the raging seas, not allowing him to be digested by the intestinal juices of the fish’s stomach, having the fish spit him out safely on shore once he repented and protecting him as he preached a prophecy of destruction to Ninevah. We need to keep our hearts grateful and appreciative of God’s blessings and not greedy of His mercy. Only God knows the real heart of others and any situation. We need to let go of our own desired outcomes and seek only His outcomes, known or unknown. Our role is to keep our hearts focused on God, His will, obediently saying, “Yes” to His direction. It isn’t about our desires; it is about God!!
10Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: 11And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? – Jonah 4:10-11 KJV
Jonah showed more pity for the gourd than for the people of Ninevah! No verse from the entire book of Daniel comes to mind indicating Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael or Azariah felt disdain toward the Chaldeans who sought their demise repeatedly. Conversely, we see Jonah’s heart ready to allow the Ninevites to just be destroyed for their sin. In the case of Jonah, only God knew the hearts of the Ninevites. He knew they would repent and some would be saved. In the times of Daniel, those who sought to destroy the Hebrews were killed. There was no second chance for them, as their hearts had rejected God. Only God knows the final outcome for any individual or group, including any steps along the way. It is not our job to figure out God’s every move. We are called to be dedicated and follow. God’s outcome will come to fruition in all situations. So, do your best not to behave like Jonah.