In the unlikely event you have not heard of the book of Jonah in the Bible, which tells the story of Jonah and the whale, I suggest you read it now before you go any further. Or possibly you need to refresh your memory? Give it a read. It's four very short chapters. The story that is often depicted as a cute children's Bible story actually has stark and harsh realities all through it. Let's take a look together.
Many books have been written and many pastors have preached on Jonah, bringing insight with historical context, scientific facts and, of course, wisdom. Can a huge fish or whale really swallow a man? And if so, could he stay alive, inside of it, for 3 days? Could someone survive being thrown up onto a shore? Yuk!
In the story, we learn how Jonah, a prophet, was given a clear commandment from God, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me". But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.''
Recap: God gave Jonah a clear directive: "Go to Nineveh." Jonah took action. He went, not to Nineveh, but to another city. This was a costly choice. It cost Jonah time and resources. He completely disobeyed God.
Jonah was a prophet. Why would he disobey God? He loved God. Why would he not want what God wanted for him? Some would say Jonah dismissed the call to action because he could not bear to see such wicked sinners in Nineveh, (Assyria) be forgiven by God as is referenced in Chapter 4. It seems that Jonah was angry because he knew that God would forgive these really truly wicked people. The PreceptAustin website says this, " For generations, Assyria had been making fierce raids on the lands bordering on the Mediterranean, and the punishments which she inflicted upon her captives were cruel beyond the wonted [ie., well known] cruelties of those times, even to flaying their victims alive. ''Violence'' was specified by the men of that city themselves, in the hour of their repentance, as their peculiar sin" (Jonah 3:8).
I have heard it said that the Ninevites were similar to the terrorists of today, and/or rapists and murderers: truly cruel and horribly violent. I suppose Jonah thought they didn't deserve to be saved. If he had first-hand experience with them or knew of people who were hurt, murdered or tortured by the Nineties, I can see his point.
This reminded me of something. When I was in Nursing School in the heart of East LA, a very rough part of Los Angeles, one of my instructors was teaching our first semester class about caring for people in the hospital in an unbiased way. This instructor knew I was a Christian from the suburbs, far from East LA. She asked me in front of the class, if I could, in an unbiased way, care for a known satan worshipper in the hospital, who, for example, might come in through the emergency room, needing immediate life-saving help. I thought about it and I answered. I said I would. She then asked me if I could still do it if I knew that this person had just killed my own child. I was shocked by such a question. I sat there, stunned. What kind of a question was this? My mind felt road-blocked. I was young and unmarried without children at the time. I finally said, in a low voice, the truth, "I don't know." I was choked up with emotion. The instructor continued on with the class but I didn't hear much of what she said after that. I liked this particular instructor. I trusted her. I knew, deep down, that the question she asked was meant to prepare me for the type of work I would be doing in the large county hospital. I would be caring for people who would need my help and I was to do this without judging them. Little did I know, at the time, that I would be in direct contact soon with drug addicts, gang members, homeless people, inmates, patients with mental illness, people high on a variety of drugs and of course, those who are sick and injured. It's not my job to judge them. It's my job to help them. There are courts and judges whose job it is to make moral and legal decisions and judgements. And there is a God who will make decisions, as well.
It has also been brought to my attention that maybe Jonah, although he was a man of God, could have been scared to go to Nineveh. If these people were like terrorists and gang members, what might they do to Jonah when he walked in with a booming, "Repent, you sinners!" The likelihood of him being hurt, murdered or flayed alive was real. May I point out that obeying God can actually be frightening?
Jonah's story goes on and it's full of intrigue and drama. Read it. Read some good articles or books on Jonah. Listen to some sermons or podcasts. There are so many lessons to be learned.
But today, I would like to focus on a few questions that came to mind, questions that I also ask myself.
Are you living in obedience to God?
Can you discern what His will is for you? Do you actually know what He expects of you? What is He saying to me today?
When you understand what God wants from you, do you tune Him out or do you follow through, doing what you know is right?
Are you forgiving others? Are you forgiving those who have hurt you? Even if what they have done was bad... unacceptable... unlawful?
Are you afraid to obey God? Afraid of what that will look like? How will that play out in everyday life?
Do you need to confess your sins to someone? Do you have the courage to do so?
If God can forgive you, can you forgive yourself? Are you able to move forward after a big fail?
I think Jonah was wrestling with some hard choices. I think we wrestle with some hard choices, too.
If you need a measuring stick, something to compare your life to, well... the Bible is your measuring stick. Start with the Ten Commandments. Measure yourself against them and if you're not quite measuring up, pray and ask God to help you make some changes. Ask a friend to lovingly hold you accountable.
As you continue to read the Bible regularly, renewing your mind daily with scripture, ask God to show you areas in your life in which you need to change. We all have areas that we can improve in. Then make those changes. God's word will teach and train and convict you, guiding you to live the life He wants you to live. Guiding you to a life of obedience.
And if, for some reason, you go the opposite way, God will see to it that you get back on course eventually. It may take getting thrown into stormy seas and almost drowning. You might get swallowed up by a whale as a means of being rescued. Even if you have to be vomited up as a way of getting a second chance, that second chance will be worth it.
Jonah wasted his time. He wasted his money paying for his trip to Tarshish. He almost died in the storm. He could have died in the whale. He could have died while being vomited up on shore. Eventually, Jonah repented and then he chose to obey God. Jonah finally went to Nineveh.
Wouldn't you like to say, "Jonah, you should have gone to Nineveh? It would have been so much better to have trusted God and obeyed Him the first time."
Now...
Apply the same sentence to yourself. Insert your name, "__________________, you should have_________________________________. It would have been so much better to have trusted God and obeyed Him the first time."
If you're on the shore, wash off, pick yourself up and keep going. God will redirect your steps and give you another chance.
Your mistakes or outright disobedience can be covered fully by God's Grace.
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