Jonah 1:1,2. Jonah is mentioned in 2 Kings 14:15. He prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II, the king of Israel from 793-753 B.C. He may have been a member of the company of prophets mentioned in connection with Elisha’s ministry (2 Kings2:3). God told Jonah to preach to Nineveh, the most important city in Assyria, the rising world power of Jonah’s day. Within 50 years, Nineveh would become the capitol of the vast Assyrian empire. Jonah doesn’t say much about Nineveh’s wickedness, but the prophet Nahum gives us more insight. Nahum says that Nineveh was guilty of evil plots against God, exploitation of the helpless, cruelty in war, idolatry, prostitution and witchcraft. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, about 500 miles northeast of Israel, to warn of judgment and to declare that the people could receive mercy and forgiveness if they repented.
Jonah 1:3. Nineveh was a powerful and wicked city. Jonah had grown up hating the Assyrians and fearing their atrocities. His hatred was so strong that he didn’t want them to receive God’s mercy. Jonah was actually afraid the people would repent. Jonah’s attitude is representative of Israel’s rejuctance to share God’s love and mercy with others, even though this was their God given mission. They, like Jonah ,did not want non-Jews to obtain God’s favor. Jonah knew that God had a specific job for him, but he didn’t want to do it. Tarshish could be one on any number of Phoenicia’s western ports. Nineveh was toward the east. Jonah decided to go as far west as he could. When God gives us direction through his Word, sometimes we run in fear or in stubbornness, claiming that God is asking to much. It may have been fear, or anger at the wilderness of God’s mercy, that made Jonah run. But running got him into worse trouble. In the end Jonah understood that it is best to do what God asks in the first place. But by then he had paid a costly price for running. It is far better to obey from the start.
Jonah 1: 4,5. While the storm raged, Jonah was sound asleep below deck. Even as he ran from God, Jonah’s actions apparently didn’t bother his conscience. But the absence of guilt isn’t always a barometer of whether we are doing right. Because we can deny reality, we cannot measure obedience by our feelings. Instead , we must compare what we do with God’s standard's for living.
Jonah 1:7. The crew cast lots to find the guilty person, relying on their superstitions give them the answer. Their system worked but only because God intervened to let Jonah that he couldn’t run away.
Jonah 1:9,12. You cannot seek God’s love and run from him at the same time. Jonah soon realized that no matter where he went he couldn’t get away from God. But before Jonah could return to God , he first had to stop going in the opposite direction. What has God told you to do? If you want more of God’s love and power, you must be willing to carry out the responsibilities he gives you. Jonah knew that he had disobeyed and that the storm was his fault, but he didn’t say anything until the crew had cast lots and the lot fell on him. Then Jonah was willing to give his life to save the sailors, although he had refused to do the same for the people of Nineveh. Jonahs hatred for the Assyrians had affected his perspective.
Jonah 1: 13,16. By trying to save Jonah’s life the pagan sailors showed more compassion than Jonah, because Jonah did not want to warn the Ninevites of the coming judgment of God. Believers should be ashamed when unbelievers show more concern and compassion than they do. God wants us to be concerned for all of his people, lost and saved. Jonah has disobeyed God. While he was running away, he stopped and submitted to God. Then the ships crew began to worship God because they saw the storm quite down. God is able to use even our mistakes to help others come to know him.
If you don’t believe it , you will never achieve it.
Image reference:nazarenblog.org
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