We're beginning a series in Jonah, and so I spent much of the last weeks digging into why men and women of faith run from God. As I studied and allowed the Word to sink in to my own journey of faith, the Lord impressed several things upon my heart that I thought I would share them with you.
Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet
Tune in to 'Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet' http://rpx.me/xqU
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. (Jonah 1:1-3)
I found lots of historical background on Ninevah. The Assyrians were a wicked nation known for their brutality. They were culturally advanced, but morally corrupt, and known for their fierce brutality.
Israel, while not as bad off as Ninevah, was far from fulfilling God's desire for her. She was to be a missionary nation, and example of what living in communion with God would be like (Deuteronomy 4:6-8), but instead of that had become anti-gentile. Gen. 12:1-3 says that they were to be the instrument of salvation to other nations… but they were unwilling. To Jonah, the thought of going to Ninevah to declare the Lord's salvation must have been something akin to asking a Jew to go and proclaim peace to Nazi Germany or an African American going to proclaim salvation to the KKK. Talk about God asking you to do something out of your comfort zone! The prejudices aside, Israel was also not walking with the Lord.
The command: "Arise… go… call" was intended not only to extend salvation to Ninevah, but also to serve as a rebuke and a wakeup call to Israel, perhaps sparking revival. A look later on in the book offers Ninevah's repentance as a sharp contrast to Israel's disobedience.
This scene is a perfect picture of God's action to save unworthy and uninterested sinners (there is no one that seeks Him (Rom. 3:11)). What had Ninevah done for God? Nothing… they weren't even seeking Him!
Of course it begs the obvious question from the Reader, what have we done for God to receive such love and mercy?
"…their evil has come up before Me." – God's discovery of sin comes with divine mercy.
He does the same thing in my life. He sheds His divine Light on areas of sin in my life and the offers uncovers them. Sometimes I run, much like Jonah, and try to pretend I don't see what He's pointing out to me. Those times leave me feeling isolated and depressed… because living with sin isn't living at all. It feels more like a slow death. It creates distance between my Father and I and the darkness that begins to creep in makes things even more difficult.
The more I grow in my walk with the Lord, the more I realize that I WANT Him to "discover" my sin. I want Him to make me aware of the things in me that need to be put to death, so that He can live through me. Through that process of sanctification, I experience His grace and mercy anew. I learn more about myself, but more importantly, I learn more about HIM. Each layer that is stripped away shows me more of His character… more of what He likes… more of what He desires from me… more of what delights His heart. I want to bring a smile to His lips, don't you?
And then those fateful words: "But Jonah…"
Instead of going where the Lord is sending him, Jonah heads in the opposite direction.
Jonah's attitude reflects my own sometimes. I often value my comfort above the souls of those who need to hear of judgment and mercy… and not just in terms of salvation. Often the Lord is asking me to extend mercy to someone by hammering a nail, painting a wall, cooking a meal or driving someone to a doctor's appointment.
But Steve…
my stubborn pride and selfish heart won't let go so easily. I'm too busy and they really don't deserve it. After all, "I don't want to enable them."
There are times when we are called to speak the truth in love, but there are also times when we are called to be grace dispensers.
Jonah knew his theology. He knew the Lord was the sovereign Creator. He knew the Lord was just and compassionate… a forgiving God. He knew all of those things. The problem was his heart.
As is so often the case with mine.
One commentator wrote (and this is what really hit me between the eyes), "It's a short step from dislike to disobedience."
Jonah didn't like the people of Ninevah. That emotion led him to willfully disobey the Lord. And the same thing can happen to me. There are people who rub me the wrong way. Maybe we're too different. Maybe we're too alike. Whatever the reason, sometimes I just plain dislike someone. Before you judge me too harshly, think about your own life. Aren't there people who just annoy you? You don't wish them ill, you just don't care for them much.
"It's a short step from dislike to disobedience."
So what do we do? We pray for them. We bless them. We love on them. We ask the Lord to change our heart toward them. And then we obey.
The Lord spoke this truth over a particular relationship in my life that has seen its share of ups and downs this year. I realized that my "dislike" could very easily lead me to disobedience. And so I resolved to do something about it.
"We must remember that the goal of Scripture is not to be learned but to be lived. God intended his Word to be practical truth — a gift that prepares us to do every good work." ~ Phil Ware
I believe it through and through… but if I don't live it, I'm spending all my time studying in vain. I want to be soaked in the Word, and to have it not just spill off my lips, but to pour from my life. I want it to change me, until I no longer resemble the person I once was, but instead look more like Christ each day.
God will have His way with Jonah, as later chapters will reveal. I'll leave you with a quote I came across in my studying (forgive me for not remembering where it came from)… "God wins out, as He always does. In the process He drenches the paths of our lives with His truth and grace."
Rain down on me, Lord!
