Hebrews 1:1 says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,” God spoke to the prophet Jonah and through Jonah, God speaks to us.
I knew the answer to the questions as soon as I heard them. God’s relentless love came to me in questions.
Sue, how is your life like Jonah’s?
Sue, are you dragging your feet on something God is asking of you?
Yes, I identify with Jonah. God has been nudging me for a few years. Fear has held me captive. UGH! I was dragging my feet. Like Jonah I had my reasons why what I was hearing was a crazy idea. Or at least that is what I thought.
Pull-back, my hyphenated word for 2021, has been speaking to me in little and not so little ways. As I’ve been practicing pulling-back, I’m lifting my feet and walking forward into the new, the unknown, the desire I’ve had, and the desire I believe God has for me. Fear is disappearing.
God’s purposes , his relentless love will not be thwarted — even by our disobedience. “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah …” (Jonah 1:1 and 3:1). Jonah heard God’s voice. He knew God’s desire. “But Jonah …” (Jonah 1:3). Strong-willed Jonah had his own plan to flee away from the presence of the LORD. (Jonah 1:3 and 1:10).
Fleeing from God, truly an impossibility. God entrusted a job to Jonah; God’s purpose will be accomplished. Jonah learned that. I, too, can no longer flee from God’s purpose for me.
My friend Ronni shared, “My main takeaway from Jonah is the far reaching effects of my obedience or lack of. My obedience is not just for me.” My obedience is not just for me!!!
God’s relentless love is showcased throughout the Jonah narrative. Chapter 1 showcases God’s love for the unbelieving sailors on their way to Tarshish. Jonah’s disobedience brought them face to face with the one true God. Chapter 2 highlights God’s heart for Jonah as he resides in the belly of the great fish. In that awful place, Jonah calls out to God in his distress. He acknowledges God’s activity in his life. He remembers. His hope is restored. And in God’s relentless love, he spoke to the fish and Jonah was freed from his prison. God’s love for Jonah had not changed. Chapter 3 highlights God’s relentless love for the people of Nineveh as Jonah obeys God and goes to Nineveh. “Then the people of Nineveh believed in God;” (Jonah 3:5) Finally in chapter 4, God’s heart is explained. First in the words of Jonah himself …
“… for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love,
and relenting from disaster.”
Jonah 4:2
Even though Jonah spoke those words as part of an angry rant to God, they are true. Jonah knew it and Jonah experienced it.
God explained his heart to strong-willed Jonah through the story of the plant. God appointed a plant to provide shade for Jonah to save him from his discomfort for which Jonah was thankful. But then God appointed a worm to attack the plant and a scorching east wind. Jonah was mad! (Jonah 4:5-10) God explains his lesson to Jonah in a question that ends the book …
“And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city,
in which there are more than 120,000 persons
who do not know their right hand from their left,
and also much cattle?”
Jonah 4:11
Interestingly God’s question is left unanswered. We don’t know Jonah’s response, but for sure we know God’s heart. I wonder if again Jonah’s strong-will is tempered. What do you think?
Copyright: Sue Tell, February 2021