What is the first thing we think of when we talk about the prophet Jonah? Likely, most of us think about the great fish God prepared to swallow up Jonah. There, the disobedient man of God lived for three days, praying in the belly of the fish. God did not intend for the prophet to be digested and die a cruel death. This dark chamber was meant to grab Jonah’s attention.
Why was Jonah in the belly of the fish? Because he was running from God. The word of the Lord came to him with a message of judgment to bring to the people of Nineveh. But instead of obeying, Jonah ran. He did not want to preach against this city. When we see Jonah’s response when God relented from the judgment He was going to bring on the people when they repented, we get a glimpse of why Jonah ran:
“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” (Jonah 4:1-2 ESV).
Jonah was running from God because he was afraid the Lord would relent and let the people of Nineveh live. This is exactly what he did not want God to do. So, in his way of thinking, if he never preached a message of judgment, the people would never have a chance to repent and surely God would pay them back for their evil.
So, why was Jonah so determined that the people of Nineveh be carried away in God’s judgment? Well, history tells us they were not very nice people. When they conquered other people, they tortured them and treated them terribly. They would lead them away with chains and iron hooks through their noses. They would flay their victims while their victims were still living, taking the skin from their body and hanging it as a trophy. They would impale, burn, and behead. They would even burn the children alive as a religious offering to their gods.
It’s no wonder Jonah was hoping God would give these people what was coming to them. And yet, the very grace we love about our Lord was the thing Jonah dreaded. He knew God was merciful, full of grace, and he didn’t want to take any chances that God would spare these evil people the justice due them.
But we know the story, don’t we?
Jonah ran.
God caught him.
Jonah went and preached the message God put on him.
And Jonah’s greatest fear came true. The king and all the people believed the message of judgment and the king ordered everyone to fast and wear sackcloth as they appealed to God for mercy. Listen to the words of the king:
“but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.” (Jonah 3:8 ESV).
It’s interesting that the act of repentance the king commanded was that “everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.” This lends credibility to the likelihood that the reason judgment was at their door was because of the grotesque and inhumane ways they treated their fellow man. They seemed to know what they were doing was sinful.
Jonah was right about God.
“When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” (Jonah 3:10 ESV).
Jonah’s worst fear just came to fruition. These evil people were not going to get the recompense Jonah felt was due them. How did he take the news?
“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.” (Jonah 4:1 ESV).
In his anger, Jonah makes his infamous comment about knowing God was a gracious and merciful God. In fact, he confirms that this is the very reason he fled to Tarshish. He was so angry at God for showing compassion upon these evil people that he lashed out at God to just take his life.
But an interesting interlude happens as Jonah takes a seat outside the city to see if, perhaps, God would follow through on His initial plan to bring judgment upon the people of Nineveh. In the heat of the sun, he waited and watched, hoping beyond hope his eyes would witness God’s wrath. The longer he waited, the angrier Jonah became.
But God was watching Jonah as he suffered in the heat of the day.
“Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.” (Jonah 4:6 ESV).
For the first time in his misery, Jonah was happy. The ESV says he was “exceedingly glad because of the plant.” So, there he sat in the comfort of the shade as he hoped beyond hope that the people of this great city would die at the hands of God.
“But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.
When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:7-8 ESV).
Now, in the heat of the day, the people were still alive but his shade plant was dead. In his mind, this was messed up. But God was trying to show this prophet it was his priorities that were messed up. Here, the prophet was more concerned about justice than mercy to his fellow human beings. We know God made these people in His image and we can see the tremendous love God has for all men and how He longs for all to come to repentance.
But Jonah would have none of that. The only pity found in his heart was for the plant that gave him a modicum of comfort in the scorching heat. Now, he was so miserable in the heat that his pity was upon himself with no concern that his heart harbored bloodlust for over one hundred thousand people.
In an abrupt end to the book, God brings the lesson into focus with a fine point:
“But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.”
And the LORD said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.
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 4:9-11 ESV).
Interesting story, right? If we could only leave it here, it might not be so painful for us. Unfortunately, I am afraid the lesson Jonah struggled so much to get is a similar lesson we may still be struggling to get ourselves. When we think about the lost, how well do we order our priorities? Do we see people as God sees them? Are there people we see who are so evil, we’d be mad at God if He spared them after the atrocities they committed?
What is our shade? What is it in our lives we cling to so much that losing it would cause anger at God while we could care less about the lost whose souls were in eternal danger? Are we more focused on our own comfort and things that make us “exceeding glad” than we are at our fellow image bearers of God who are walking the broad path of destruction?
Or worse, do we find ourselves wanting to flee from our mission of sharing the Gospel message of salvation because we are afraid certain people will actually hear and be saved? I pray none of us share this trait with Jonah, but human nature tells us that someone, somewhere, may be fighting a similar battle that Jonah fought. More likely, we are just misplacing our priorities by focusing on the wrong things in life.
When Jesus said we must lay down our lives for others, or put others above ourselves, it wasn’t just the people we love for whom we need to sacrifice. Embedded in the Great Commission is the Savior’s example for us to seek and save the lost… all the lost.
What distractions do we have that shift our focus from where it should be? What keeps us from seeing people the same way God sees them? For me, the lesson of Jonah’s shade is a powerful indictment I wrestle with when I examine my heart for Kingdom living.
A prayer to consider:
“God, may my words and actions today be a source of glory and honor to You. May You take all the glory that none may rest upon me. And if I bring dishonor to Your name, may You work Your Potter’s fingers to mold this vessel of dishonor into something without spoil to bring You the honor and glory You deserve.”
As many of you know, I have a fascination with Gen AI. I uploaded the manuscript from my book, The Sovereignty of God, and gave ChatGPT this prompt:
“Refer to my manuscript I uploaded, The Sovereignty of God. Please summarize the book.”
This is the output it gave. I think it did a pretty good job at capturing the essence of the book:
Summary of The Sovereignty of God
In The Sovereignty of God, you explore the profound theological concept of God’s absolute sovereignty over all creation, presenting a clear, logical, and biblically grounded argument. The manuscript addresses key themes related to God’s control, authority, and providence while balancing these with human responsibility.
Key Themes:
God’s Sovereignty Defined
You begin by defining sovereignty in the context of God’s nature, emphasizing His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. Scriptural references underscore the idea that God has supreme authority and power over everything, from the universe’s creation to its final destiny.
Theological Framework
The book establishes a theological framework that reconciles God’s sovereignty with human free will. While rejecting the Calvinistic TULIP acrostic, you emphasize the harmony between God’s control and human responsibility. This nuanced approach appeals to those seeking clarity on this often-debated topic.
Scriptural Analysis
Rich biblical references form the backbone of the manuscript. Passages from both the Old and New Testaments are analyzed to show how God’s sovereignty is revealed in His plans, promises, and actions throughout history.
Human Responsibility and Faith
You highlight the balance between God’s sovereignty and humanity’s call to obedience and faith. This section encourages readers to trust God’s ultimate plan while taking personal accountability for their choices.
Practical Applications
The manuscript doesn’t just focus on theology but also explores how an understanding of God’s sovereignty can transform daily life. Themes such as trusting God in trials, submitting to His will, and finding peace in His control are explored with practical illustrations.
Rhetorical Engagement
You employ rhetorical questions and personal reflections to engage readers, challenging them to think deeply about their relationship with God and their perspective on His role in their lives.
Encouragement and Worship
The book concludes with a call to worship God for His sovereign nature. It encourages readers to live lives of faith, trust, and reverence, recognizing that God’s plans are perfect and His purposes unshakeable.
Tone and Style:
The manuscript is written in a reflective and authoritative tone, making complex theological concepts accessible to readers. Your clear and direct language, logical progression, and use of rich scriptural references ensure that the topic is thoroughly examined while remaining relatable.
In sum, The Sovereignty of God is a deeply theological yet practical exploration of a central aspect of God’s nature, providing readers with both a profound understanding of divine sovereignty and a roadmap for how to live in light of this truth.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! What a wonderful God we serve.
Elijah had a mountain top experience, literally, when he defeated the prophets of Ba’al and united the people of Israel under God, even if it was for a short time.
But when Jezebel got wind of his victory over her prophets, she placed him under a death sentence.
In a short period of time, Elijah went from victory to depression and fear.
This is life under the sun, isn’t it? We all wish we could hang on to our mountain top experiences, but it’s likely that our life will be a string of hills and valleys until we are granted our eternal reward.
We can get rather myopic when we are struggling with fear and disappointment. It’s in these moments that we need to place our hand in the hand of Jesus and trust Him to lead us through the valley.
Centuries later, Elijah would have another mountain top moment with Moses as the two spoke with King Jesus about His impending sacrifice on the cross.
May we all keep the great mountain top moment we have reserved for us when we hear the words, “Well done, My good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.”
“And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:30-31 ESV).