Who are the Prophets?
God chooses prophets to deliver His messages. The most important distinguishing feature of a prophet is that they are God-appointed. In fact, we must be wary of people acting as prophets, for the Bible warns us that there will be false prophets (Matthew 7:15, 2 Peter 2:1).
The Bible records the stories of numerous prophets. Some of the well-known men include Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and Daniel. While we know much about the life of these characters, there are also what we call “minor” prophets in the Bible.
Their messages are not any less important or uninspired by God. Their stories, however, are shorter. Jonah is an example of a minor prophet, but it holds a major lesson for us all.
The Story of Jonah and the Whale
Many of us learned the story of Jonah as children. We can probably retell the part of the story in which Jonah is swallowed by a giant whale. He survives inside the belly of the whale for three days.
Then the Lord causes the whale to eject Jonah. Jonah lives happily ever after, Amen. The moral of the childhood story: God is powerful.
A New Perspective on Jonah
Jonah’s Calling
God IS powerful, but there is more to the story. In fact, Jonah’s story is unique in that it carries God’s message for His people as well as Jonah’s life story. Conversely, we do not learn much about the personal lives of the other minor prophets.
God includes Jonah’s story for a reason: to show us that He is a God of second chances!
Jonah was an Israelite. Israel had been under pressure from larger neighbors. Assyria was no exception. They had a history of severe cruelty to the Israelites. To Jonah’s disgust, the Lord calls Jonah to go to Nineveh – the capital of Assyria – to call the Ninevites to repentance so that they could receive salvation. Imagine being called by God to rescue your mortal enemy!
Jonah’s Response
So, what does Jonah do? He flees! God called him to go northeast, so he ran to Tarshish, the land as far west as Jonah knew he could reach (Jonah 1:3). Of course, the Lord is more powerful than Jonah. He sent a great wind that rocked the ship on which he traveled so severely that the passengers all cried out to their gods.
God’s Response
The mariners received no response, so they sought out Jonah so that he could pray to his god. Jonah knew and admitted that this storm must be because of him trying to escape the Lord. The mariners threw him overboard.
Immediately, the storm ceased for them, but a whale came and swallowed Jonah. This was less of a punishment, and more of a form of discipline. God showed Jonah that he could not escape the Lord’s presence.
Jonah’s Lessons
- You cannot run from God. Jonah could not travel far enough away from his calling. The Lord found him in the depths of the boat and belly of a whale. He is with each of us every moment of every day, no matter how far we may stray from the righteous path. Call out to Him, and He will set you straight.
- God is merciful. Jonah despised the Ninevites for their wicked ways. He wanted God to destroy them, not save them! Yet God shows Jonah that even he does not truly deserve salvation. He ran away from God’s calling instead of following Him, hence his three days in a whale’s belly. Therefore, the Ninevites were equally as deserving as Jonah for God’s forgiveness, mercy, and grace. If murderers deserve forgiveness, so do you. God forgives those who repent.
- God offers us second chances. The Lord could have easily allowed the whale to digest Jonah and end his days right then and there. Instead, Jonah repents and cries out to the Lord from the inside the whale. The Lord causes the whale to vomit Jonah onto dry land (Jonah 2:10). Jonah receives a second calling from the Lord to preach His word to the Ninevites (Jonah 3:1-2).
As you read this, you may be feeling far from God. Perhaps you are suffering from illness, divorce, or unemployment and wondering where He is. The answer: He is right by your side. God never leaves your or forsakes you.
Perhaps you have sinned and feel unworthy of God’s love. Jonah received it even when he ran away from God’s plan and argued God’s decisions. The Ninevites received it even though they had been cruel and wicked. Your sin reminds you that you are dependent on a holy and righteous God to lead you in virtuous ways.
You need Jesus’ example to instruct you on how to behave. God doesn’t expect perfection from us. He expects a relationship of trust and obedience. When we fall short of His plan, repent and accept His loving grace and mercy.
Prayer
Forgiving God,
I know I may not have always followed Your way. Forgive me for going astray. Thank you for showing me examples in Your Word of men – prophets even – who have sinned against You. I see that Your love is beyond my understanding.
While I may inwardly feel resentment toward another, You see a chance for rebirth. Your love is amazing, God. Thank You for loving each of us so much that You would send Your Son to die for us. Help me learn to love like You.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Readings
Psalm 23:1-6
Deuteronomy 31:7-8
Romans 8:31-38