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Jonah Chapter 3 – (Reluctant Obedience)
Posted by firequill | Posted in Jonah | Posted on 26-10-2009
By Leslie Kearney
This chapter reminds me of the story of the prodigal son. Not in the way most people think of the prodigal – focusing on the prodigal.
It reminds me of the true focus of the prodigal son story, the older son. The older son was a reflection of the Pharisees – hard-hearted, callous, thinking they were better than those “sinners” and not encouraging people to repent, but judging others lifestyles (Gentiles and Jews alike) as “sinful” compared to theirs.
In this book Jonah is the “older brother” who is upset when the prodigal returns and is given all the blessings he felt “he” deserved because of his so-called “faithfulness.”
Luke 15:11 – 32
In many ways it also reminds me of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.
Luke 18: 9 – 14
Why? Because Jonah really didn’t care about anyone but himself! He didn’t care that a person was in pain, crying out to God for mercy, standing right there in his midst! No, he only cared that “compared” to him he was a “righteous” man from a “chosen” nation.
As we will see in Jonah chapter 4, he obeyed God’s commandments, but he didn’t really have a caring heart. He was extremely selfish in all his motives.
As Christians we MUST be careful not to fall into the trap of judgmental-ism. In other words, judging non-Christians by Christian standards and being hard-hearted towards them.
Saying, “tsk, tsk. . . that person is living in sin, he or she is an alcoholic, they are gay . . . I’m glad I’m not like that person . . . boy are they headed for hell!”
NO! God says that he doesn’t want to condemn ANYONE to hell. That he’s patient. Forgiving. Loving. And fair. And he also says that we are to strive to be as much like him as we humanly can. There’s no room for bitterness or hatred in our lives towards a lost soul.
II Peter 3:9
Many people say that Jonah couldn’t be a “true” prophet of God because his prediction didn’t come true. Jesus referred to him as “Jonah the Prophet” Matthew 12:39 But the truth is he was to preach “against” them for the purpose of turning them from sin. Unlike the prophets Daniel and John who shared with us the coming events in the Bible that cannot be changed, this prediction was intended to be a warning to Assyria to get them to change their behavior.
Jeremiah 18: 7 – 10
What other non-Jews did God speak to? Let’s look at a few:
Daniel 4
Daniel 5
What’s the critical difference between these two stories? In the one Nebuchadnezzar repented. Because of his repentance his rule was restored and he lived a natural life span.
But Belshazzar did not repent and his life was cut short. He rewarded Daniel for interpreting the prophecy, but he didn’t fall on his knees and ask God’s forgiveness. We don’t know what he thought. We do know that the very night of the writing on the wall Babylon was conquered bloodlessly.
The same thing in these verses in Acts. Some people believed right away, others sneered. We never know how God’s word is going to be received. We only know that we are required to preach it. And not be judgmental of the people that choose to accept it.
Acts 17:16 – 34
So what does the Bible say about repentance and our role?
James 5:20
Romans 2: 1 – 4
Matthew 5: 21 – 24
So God’s law is even more finite to those of us that know it. We’re judged by a much stronger standard, which is why we are NEVER To look in judgment on non-Christians, but in love for their lost souls.
Romans 3: 21 – 30
Here Paul is saying that it doesn’t matter how God judges us, WE are not to be the judges! We are not to compare ourselves to others and claim that we are more “righteous” than them. For the moment we do that we become WORSE than them! An even bigger sinner, because we know better! We know that we don’t deserve God’s mercy and yet we tarnish it by acting as if it were ours by right and not by faith!
This is what Jonah was doing! He “preached” to the Ninevites, but he did it in a way that said, “you’re all gonna pay for it now!” “In 40 days God’s gonna strike you dead! HA” He walked through town preaching like he was judge and jury. But once again, God hits a straight blow with a very crooked stick!
What I’m trying to get at with these verses is the fact that God is God to all his creations, not just one group. Christians, Jews, non-alcoholics, non-gays, etc. And that he has written in our hearts and on creation proof that He is the almighty. That he is all powerful, the creator.
So when a person that we think is “un-savable” becomes a Christian we have no right to judge and say that we don’t believe it! That God couldn’t possibly want THAT person in his Kingdom!
Jonah chapter 3 is a very short chapter. But the point is, that we are called to preach to all mankind, and God’s spirit will work in whomever it will work. It’s not for us to judge and condemn our fellow man.
We are to love them as God loves them and wish them all happy, fruitful lives with Christ.
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