The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish. – Jonah 1:1-3
Why do we think we can outrun God? He creates this perfect plan for our lives and we whine, complain and argue that there is a better way. We expect God’s plan to look one way and then there is what seems to us to be a change of plans and we rebel. We were content doing what He had asked us to do where He had asked us to do it, but now He is moving us to a new ministry, a new home, a new call. We hope to escape from what He is asking us to do but God pursues us because He loves us!
But the LORD hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart (1:4).
God stood between Jonah and Jonah’s alternative plan and got his attention. After trying everything else, the crew on the ship threw Jonah overboard at his suggestion, for all of them knew that Jonah was running from the Lord. God had a plan, God intervened in Jonah’s life and now God had a way to get Jonah back on track. Granted this was probably not a way Jonah would have chosen but Jonah was the one who was on a sidetrack from the Lord’s will.
Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights (1:17).
Jonah recognized God’s intervention and prayed from inside the belly of the fish. Jonah was still not where he wanted to be and still not in a comfortable place in life, yet he knew God was at work and thanked Him for hearing his cry for help. He promised God that he would once more look toward God’s holy temple instead of running the opposite direction.
“I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble,
and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of the dead,
and LORD, you heard me!
You threw me into the ocean depths,
and I sank down to the heart of the sea.
The mighty waters engulfed me;
I was buried beneath YOUR wild and stormy waves.
Then I said, ‘O LORD, you have driven me from your presence.
Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’ – Jonah 2:2-4
The Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach. As he promised, Jonah went to Ninevah and preached a message of judgment on the city of Ninevah. The people, including their king, started fasting and putting on burlap to show how sorry they were for their sins. God again changed the plan on Jonah. He forgave the people of Ninevah and did not carry out the destroy the city.
This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to theLORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”
The LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” – Jonah 4:1-4
Once again Jonah whines, complains and argues with God because he is not happy with God’s plan. He is more consumed with how this change in plans will make him look, more disappointed that the people will not be punished than he is thankful for God’s redemption. He goes outside of the city and sits under the shade of a plant to feel sorry for himself but God sends a worm and the plant dies, which angers Jonah. God asks him a very direct question that is a good question for me today – a question for all of us.
Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”
“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”
Then the LORD said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” – Jonah 4:9-11
Oh the heart of a God who loves His creation! Lord, fill us with this same kind of love for others. Bring us to our knees in prayer for those who are lost. Get our attention. Forgive me when I whine and complain over Your plan because I like my plan better. Lord, no more running in the opposite direction. I embrace Your plan and Your way. Amen.