Root 66: Jonah
Jonah was a prophet in the Northern Kingdom and his story takes place around 760BC. This was a time of peace for Israel due to the Assyrians being in a “lull” during this time. Well, God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh (Mosul, Iraq today) and “call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” Well, Nineveh was about 500 miles in one direction, but Jonah went about 2000 miles in the opposite direction. He did not want to have anything to do with the wicked people of Nineveh. So, he got on a ship heading to Tarshish. But God hurled a great wind and caused a great panic among the sailors. They cried out to their gods, and finally got Jonah to admit that he was the reason for the storm. In an incredibly selfish gesture, he told them to throw him overboard, which they did. In God’s sovereignty, he appointed a fish to come and “deposit” Jonah. Chapter 2 is Jonah’s prayer in the belly of the fish.
Jonah reached Nineveh and preached a 5 word sermon (in Hebrew). He said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” Well, word reached the king of Nineveh and he called for the whole city to repent and turn to God. They did, and their repenting brought relenting. You would think this would make Jonah so happy, but ironically, it does not. Jonah goes up on a nearby hillside and is angry about their repentance. God questions Jonah, and he doesn’t change his heart in the matter. He says that he would rather die than watch the people of Nineveh prosper. (They were an evil people that brutally destroyed the Israelites. ISIS is a direct descendent of Nineveh).
Remember, there is nowhere you can run to get out of the presence of the LORD.
God loves His people. It is not about “us and them”. We are all US. In that, we must 1. Understand who God is. 2. Remember that ALL people are the Imago Dei. 3. Know the gospel and be willing to share it!
QUESTIONS:
1. Do you trust God more than the unknown? How do you know?
2. How is your heart in sync with God’s heart?
3. Is there anyone in your life that you feel is unworthy of the gospel? Why?
4. Spend some time this week praying for your “enemies”. Ask God to give you opportunities to share the gospel.
