Day 181
Today's Reading:
Jonah was a reluctant prophet. He was stubborn and may have given the world’s shortest sermon, only saying one short sentence from God, “Forty days more and Nineveh will be overthrown.” That was it, the bare minimum effort to do as God commanded. Jonah was puked onto the land and begrudgingly went to the pagan city with five words, not a heartfelt plea, just a take it or leave it sermon. Yet the entire city repented.
Prophets were to be bold, persuasive, and ultimately warn others of a coming judgment. Jonah was none of those. Here it showed you do not need fancy words and long prayers to get God’s point across. God will work through you even when you offer the smallest amount of obedience. He just needed Jonah to show up. If he can use Jonah’s half-hearted sermon to turn an entire wicked city into repentance, imagine what he can do with whatever tidbit of faithfulness we offer Him.
Jonah showed up with the shortest sermon, and God still moved an entire city of people. Have you ever felt like what you had to offer God was too small or not good enough? What happened when you gave it anyway?
This book of the small prophets may be one of the most well-known in the Bible. Although it is less about a “whale” and more about self-reflection. We are to ask ourselves how we feel about God loving our enemies, at home and afar. We feel it is okay for God to forgive our mistakes and sins; but are we okay when He forgives others? Our sins are no less offensive to God. God wants Jonah to teach us about grace and mercy and extending it to others, even our enemies.
Nineveh was the capital of Assyria during the time of King Jeroboam II of Israel. God called the prophet Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach against them because they were wicked. Like a rebellious teenager, Jonah did not want to obey and ran away in the exact opposite direction towards Tarshish (modern day Spain) on a ship. No one can hide from God!
God brought on a storm that terrified the sailors, yet Jonah slept through it. Jonah’s sleep was a reflection of his spiritual rebellion. The pagan sailors cast lots to see who was at fault for upsetting the gods. When they realized it was Jonah and his God, and that God had supreme power over the sea, the sailors repented. They had compassion and tried to fix the situation by rowing harder, but relented and cried out to God for mercy when they finally threw Jonah overboard.
Jonah was swallowed by a huge fish (the Bible does not say a cartoon whale, but large sperm whales can swallow items whole). For three days and three nights Jonah was inside the fish. He prayed to God, glad that he had not drowned. He knew the sailors were doing God’s will and that He showed him mercy and kept him from dying. The fish vomited Jonah up onto dry land. Still without saying he was sorry, Jonah headed to Nineveh. Covered in fish puke, Jonah walked through the city for three days.
The Ninevites worshiped Dagon, the deity who was half-man, half-fish (like a merman). They would have seen Jonah as the “fish man” who suddenly appeared on the beach after being puked up by a big fish. This would have caused shock and awe, like their fish-god had sent a messenger. Jonah, still being stubborn, used only 1 short sentence (5 words in Hebrew) as a sermon from God: “Forty days more and Nineveh will be overthrown.” Just a warning sentence, no heartfelt plea. Yet, the king of Nineveh urgently called for all the people and animals to repent. Cows and sheep alike! The 40 days were a grace period to turn away from their evil sins and turn to God. God relented His judgment on Nineveh because of their hearts and actions.
Jonah was furious; the Assyrians were enemies of Israel. Why would God relent His judgment on them? In his anger, Jonah complained to God, “I knew you would be gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” How true those words from Jonah were! We are thankful to have a God who is loving and kind and shows mercy and forgiveness. Jonah pouted and sat to watch what he hoped would be the fall of Nineveh.
God, in His loving mercy, grew a shade tree for Jonah overnight, which brought Jonah comfort and happiness. Yet Jonah took it for granted. The next day, God created a worm to eat the plant and make it wither, then sent wind and blazing sun. In heat exhaustion, Jonah was angry and wanted to die. With patience, God asked twice why Jonah was angry. God showed Jonah’s heart. Jonah had cared more about a plant that he did not grow or tend to than about an entire city full of people. A city that God wanted to save. The plant was not the real issue; it was acting like a reflection of Jonah’s heart. God used the plant to reveal how hard Jonah’s heart was towards the pagan nation.
There are two opposite stories of storms in the Bible. In both stories, fearful men wake up a sleeping prophet, crying for help.
Jonah was asleep during a violent storm because he was running from God. When the sailors woke him in panic, Jonah’s response was, “Throw me into the sea.” He offered himself as a sacrifice to save them. His response was disobedience to God’s call.
Jesus was asleep in the boat during another fierce storm. When His disciples were terrified and woke Him, Jesus responded with calm authority: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Then He rebuked the storm, and all went calm. Jesus had perfect faith and surrender. Another time, Jesus even made a reference to the “sign of Jonah,” as His own resurrection would be three days’ time (Matthew 12:39-41).
The same situation with two very different Saviors. One tried to run from God and offered his life in return. The other calmly commanded the storm because He is Lord over creation.
Today's Discussion question:
Jonah showed up with the shortest sermon, and God still moved an entire city of people. Have you ever felt like what you had to offer God was too small or not good enough? What happened when you gave it anyway?
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