Jonah

[IKTCA]

Our Wickedness

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.” (Jonah 1-2)

The Lord speaks to His children who can hear, “The wickedness of America has come up before me.”

America! A great nation donned with the grace of the Creator of the Universe! A mighty lion; when he growls, all nations shake!

There is no enemy that can destroy this mighty nation. But internal corruption and rebellion saps the strength of this nation like worms. But she isn’t even aware of losing vigor.

Since when has the nation become so wicked? Those in power take advantage of the poor. Priests devour the sheep rather than protecting them. Caring has lost its place to envy, loving to hatred.

The Lord speaks to His children who can still cry, “Cry out for America.”

Father,
We have become stone hearted. Though you bring up our guilt, we say, “How can that be a guilt?” Our hearts became incapable of repentance. Tears dried out from our eyes. Even if our dead ancestors became alive, we wouldn’t believe.

But, Father, we are your children. Remember that you made us and breathed your breath on us. Have mercy on us. Give tears of repentance to our eyes, and sighs of sorrow to our hearts. Do not abandon us completely.

We are a smoldering wick and bruised reed. We cannot heal ourselves. We need your healing oil. Your wrath is just and your anger is righteous. Only be merciful to this nation. I ask in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

 

[IKTCA]

Should I not pity Nineveh, that great city? (Jonah 4:11)

When God brought up the sins of Nineveh, it was not to condemn them but to deliver them. When the words of God reveal my sins, it is not to torture me but to deliver me from death.

God reveals the sins of this great nation through the words recorded in the Bible. If I say, “These words are too harsh. They do not apply to me and my brothers,” then I am making God a liar.

God never ceased to love us. Even in his anger, he didn’t stop loving us, for he is love. He is indeed incapable of not loving us.

Father,
My brothers and I come to hear your words of chastisement, for even your words of wrath are love to us. We know we will not be destroyed because of your pity for us. Thank you, Father. Amen.

 

[IKTCA]

O Lord, please take my life from me,
for it is better for me to die than to live. (Jonah 4:3)

Jonah was a prophet. In his time and region, nobody knew God better than Jonah.

God had compassion for the Ninevites and wanted to deliver them. He commanded Jonah to proclaim impending disaster. Jonah followed the command and proclaimed the message. But he did not proclaim with God’s compassion. After delivering the message, he went up on a hill and watched what God would do.

He must have spent years in God’s service. Where God told him to go, he went. What God told him to proclaim, he proclaimed. It must have been a hard life. Ridiculed by many, rejected by many. It was better to die than to live.

I…..(have)…..a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. (Phil. 1:23-24)

Paul’s life was hard: beating, imprisonment, false brothers, etc. But he chose living because in the flesh he could save a few more souls and encourage some more saints. He had the compassion of God.

Jonah didn’t have the compassion of God. But after this event, I am certain he learned from the heart of God, and proclaimed with God’s compassion.

Father,L
Like my brothers, I have knowledge of you. But I don’t have the compassion of your heart. All godly messages are half empty if not spoken with the compassion.

Father,
Teach me your compassion that doesn't want any to perish.

 

[walkin2e]

Destiny..the future to which any person or thing is destined.

Jonah 1 verse 1 "Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, verse 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me."

Jonah was picked by God to go preach to Nineveh. He tried not to heed the call, and instead headed in the other direction. While on the sea the Lord sent a great storm and everyone on the ship were afraid for their lives, except Jonah, who was fast asleep. The shipmaster came to him and asked him to call upon his God (he recognized that Jonah was a man of God). They cast lots to find out why the storm was so great, and the lot fell on Jonah. He then testified to these lost souls and requested that they throw him overboard. Then the storm ceased. Then the men of the ship feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows. God used Jonah even when he was running.

God could have thrown Jonah away, and picked someone else to preach to Nineveh...but God is sovereign, and chose Jonah (this was Jonah's destiny).

The great fish swallowed Jonah and in this dire predicament, Jonah prayed unto his God. Then the Lord spake to the fish, and it vomited (spewed out) Jonah upon dry land. Then Jonah went and preached to Nineveh (his destiny). Lo and behold, an amazing thing happened...from the King on down, every one repented, believed Jonah's message, and the Lord spared the city.

Jonah was displeased and angry. His pride was wounded because the city was not destroyed like he had preached. He went out on the east side of the city, and observed the city to see what would become of it. The Lord grew him a gourd, to give him shade and to deliver him from his grief. Jonah was glad of the gourd. But God destroyed the gourd, and the sun was hot on Jonah and he wished he could die. Jonah pitied the gourd but not the people of the great city of Nineveh. The Lord had compassion because all the people of the city repented.

Despite his hardheadedness, and lack of compassion, God still chose Jonah to do the job. This was his destiny.

These short four chapters of Jonah really give us much to think on, to meditate on, and to see the sovereign hand of God working in the life of one man, and how that one man sent by God made a difference in the city of Nineveh. Selah.

Irvin L. Rozier aka walkin2e

 

[IKTCA]

(Nineveh repented. God changed his mind and did not bring the disaster.)
It displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. (Jonah 3:10)

This has been the most puzzling part of Jonah. Why should a prophet be upset when a town repented? Shouldn’t Jonah be rejoiced when God changed disaster to blessing? Isn’t that prophet’s joy? Was it because Jonah was a second tier prophet?

As I reflect on this, I find a similar situation in the parable of prodigal son. When the father gave a feast on him, the brother was upset. Shouldn’t he be joyous for the father? Was it because he was a narrow minded, jealous person? I kneel and ask these questions to the Lord.

No, Jonah was not a second level prophet. Neither was the brother a narrow minded person. They represent me.

Stephen asked God to forgive those who stoned him. I want to forgive those who harm me. But there is another me that wants to see their destruction. It is a smaller part of me, hidden deep, but brought to light by these words of God.

Lord,
Thank you for revealing the vindictive part of me. Since I now know it, let me seek your compassion to purge this darkness from me. Amen.

PS: As Brother Irvin said, there must be much more I must learn from Jonah. But I am a slow learner. Being satisfied with what I have learned so far, I am done with Jonah for the time being.

 

[JPPT1974]

Jonah wanted payback for the city and expected God to do the same. But despite all of that and lack of compassion, He did achieve God's dream and order to tell others about Him. Even if he didn't have the right heart or not, people listened to God.

 

[IKTCA]

(Nineveh repented. God changed his mind and did not bring the disaster.)
It displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. (Jonah 3:10)


I remembered one more passage on the vindictive nature of believers, specifically, Jesus' disciples.


When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?

But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them" (Luke 9:54-56)

This passage from Luke comes to my heart for the first time. I am of the same manner of spirit, the spirit of judge. Of this, James said that there is one law giver and one Judge. And I am sitting in the Judge's seat. (James 4:11-12)

Be fearful, my soul. Never sit in the Judge's seat for you shall be judged. Be always mindful what manner of spirit you are in.