5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? 10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.
- Jonah 3:5-10
Jonah is a very short book that is packed with lessons, challenges, and pictures of the Christian walk. In chapter three, Jonah finally obeys and delivers God's message to the people of Ninevah. They immediately repent, fast, and fall on their faces before the Lord. I believe this is one example of the unifying message of the book of Jonah. This portion of the Old Testament is one of the only places we see God sending His Word out into the Gentile world. Part of Jonah's attitude problem is his view of these "pagans" and his Jewish pride. Israel was God's chosen people, not the Assyrians. Why should idolatrous, wicked heathens receive the same promise and mercy as the law-adhering people of God? The ironic part is that the only person in the book of Jonah who is not acting like one of God's chosen is Jonah. In chapter one, as the ship is tossed around in the storm, the sailors are the ones who fear God and cry out for help. The sailors only throw Jonah overboard when they are convinced that it is God's will. Once Jonah is gone they offer sacrifice to God. Jonah didn't fear God's power or wrath. Jonah didn't cry out for help in the storm. Jonah rejected God's will. Now, as Jonah pouts and dutifully proclaims God's message, Ninevah repents but Jonah doesn't. He is still angry and bitter and without mercy. This entire book is a contrast between Israel and the secular nations. The Jews had become arrogant, selfish and spoiled. Many were convinced that they were the only people who could have a relationship with God. Salvation was an exclusive benefit to those who claimed the family of Abraham. God is teaching Jonah, Israel, and us a valuable lesson. There are few areas in the Bible where God's mercy and grace to all are so evident. God was trying to open Jonah's eyes and soften his heart. God was trying to open Israel's eyes and soften their hearts as well. God is still using the story of Jonah to do the same today. Do I truly have compassion on the lost? If so, why don't I witness to them more often? In light of recent events, if I had come face to face with Osama bin Laden would I have shared the Gospel with him? Do I wish evil upon those who have wronged me? Do I feel that my enemies are deserving of hell? Do I believe that anyone is deserving of hell? Jonah believed that the Assyrians were deserving of hell and punishment. His heart became so hardened that it seems almost nothing could change him. Do I believe that I am better than the unsaved? Do those with no knowledge of God live more like his child than I do? It is humbling to see the unsaved live lives with stronger Christian testimonies than many Christians. I'm just another sinner saved by grace. Israel has no monopoly on salvation and neither do I. From the history we have, Jonah was never able to look upon Ninevah with compassion. For all we know, he died with this same hatred in his heart for his Assyrian neighbors. It is my prayer that I will never become proud in my redemption and hardened to the lost around me.
The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. - Psalm 98:2-4
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