I’ve been reading and re-reading, listening to and re-listening to the book of Jonah recently. It has been a good experience, to see beyond the story of a man a fish, to the interactions between a man and his God. I think the expression, “wearing your heart on your sleeve,” fits quite well with this narrative—we are given a picture window view into his thoughts and his attitudes towards a group of people he did not like. And as easy as it is to judge the prophet, it is more accurate for me to identify with his negative thinking and propensity to condemn “sinners.”

I’m encouraged by the faithfulness of God in that he didn’t give up on His wandering servant! I’ve been there—not sure what God wants me to do, not sure if I actually want to do what God wants me to do. I am a reticent pray-er of “not my will, but Thine be done.” When I do pray that, I usually need to include, “give me the desire and the motivation to do what You want me to do.” Sometime though, I find myself doing things and saying things to people that seem out of character for an introvert such as I—and I recognize that it is because the Holy Spirit is in me, causing me to “both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

I’m not sure what it was that caused Jonah to fall fast asleep while the wind and waves pummeled their ship—was it guilt, denial, or depression? Or was it the Spirit of God causing a deep sleep to come over him in order to bring about something greater through the storm? We don’t know; however, I am struck by the “sleepiness” and indifference, and the denial of many people as spiritual forces are rocking and threatening the foundations of the United States and the world. There is so much more going on besides a pandemic or an election. If you doubt that, read about the uniting of nations over their response to COVID, read the news citing the increase of wickedness (Luke 17:26-29), increase of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 5:3), earthquakes increasing in frequency and intensity (Matthew 24:4-8) just to list a few of the spiritual winds of darkness and destruction swirling about us.

Jonah was depressed, he figured he might as well be thrown overboard and die. He understood that his death would bring about the salvation of the sailors. Though his attitudes and responses were human and imperfect at best, his willingness to give up, to not fight for his life is a picture of the perfect One who willingly give up His life for ours. Jesus, in comparing His death to Jonah, said, For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40) He went on to say, “The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” (v. 41)

Jesus is all about saving people, though many people don’t feel the same way. Jonah didn’t think those oppressive Assyrians, the wicked Ninevites deserved saving. In fact, he was willing to rebel against God and run away because he hated the people of Nineveh so much. But God saw something that Jonah could not see—a people who would humble themselves and repent. God saw something in Nineveh He didn’t see in Sodom and Gomorrah. It may sound extreme but not wanting someone or a group of people to be saved or even have the opportunity to be saved is a hatred equivalent to murder. And how can we be any different than Jonah if we don’t, “…Love [our] enemies, do good to those who hate [us], bless those who curse [us] pray for those who abuse [us]. (Luke 6:27-28)

We are not like God, we see either what is visible, what we expect to see, or what we want to see. However, “the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

God doesn’t treat people the way we often treat others—He was patient with Jonah, and He allowed him a “do-over”. “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.’ So, Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.” (Jonah 3:1-3). Happily, Jonah figured out what most of us take several “big fish” experiences to figure out—it is much better, and easier, to do what God says the first time around.

It is interesting that Jonah was willing to accept God’s grace, that he understood God is gracious and “merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster” (Jonah 4:2), but he was angry that God would show the same forgiveness towards people that he (Jonah) didn’t think God should spare from disaster.

Jonah had an attitude problem, he talked to God about it and God gave him His perspective. I like the book of Jonah because it is a story about a man who wrestled with his own humanness, and with God. A man whose thoughts and perspectives are much like mine towards all those “wicked people.” I’m grateful that the Holy Spirit dwells in us now and helps us recognize our sinful thoughts and attitudes—and I’m grateful that the Spirit of God gives us wisdom to know how to relate to anyone who is rejecting God.

We can make our lives look righteous to most people (not so easy with the people we live with), but we cannot hide the inside sins from God—and they are no less sinful! Jesus talked about that when He said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” …and, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:21-22, 27)

I am so grateful for God’s assurance, that, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

The last verse of the book of Jonah sums up God’s heart towards those who do not have a relationship with Him: “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” (Jonah 4:11)

God looked down and saw people. He saw confused, floundering souls who desperately needed the answers only God could give, and He entrusted those answers to an imperfect messenger. And He saw cattle—even the animals mattered to their Creator! I pray that all people, and the creatures which matter to God would matter to each one of us, too!

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid?’ For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen”

Romans 11:33-36