Text: Jonah 1:1-17
The Lord commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and announce God’s judgement against it for the people’s wickedness had come before the Lord (vv.1-2).
The wickedness of Nineveh included, but was not limited to: (1). Evil plots against God (Nah. 1:9); (2). Exploitation of the weak (Nah. 2:12); (3). Cruelty in war (Nah. 2:12, 13); (4). Witchcraft, idolatry and prostitution (Nah. 3:4). The mission of Jonah was to go and warn the people and if they repented they would receive pardon from God. Nineveh was a powerful city.
Jonah grew up hating Assyrians because of their atrocities, so he did not want them to receive God’s mercy and repent (v.3). So, he ran away from his God appointed mission to Tarshish. You cannot run away from God. Instead Jonah brought trouble to the sailors (vv. 4-14). It is interesting to note that the pagan sailors were more compassionate than Jonah, who did not want Nineveh to repent (v. 13).
God can use even our own shortfalls like we see that the sailors began to worship God out of Jonah’s disobedience (vv.14-16). Judah betrayed Jesus Christ although he was actually facilitating God’s plan for Jesus to be killed and offer penalty for those God intended to save (Luk. 22:2-5). Jesus Christ, our Hero, never disobeyed God to run away from His mission. He fulfilled God’s mission to take way the sin of man (John 1:29). Receive Him and you will receive eternal life.
Meditate on verse 16. How are you going to apply it to your life?
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, may my shortcomings also cause many to worship You, Amen.