Jonah's 'Obedience'

There is so much to unpack in the story of Jonah. Even the first two chapters, all 26 total verses, have lots to process. This is what struck me today though.

Jonah ran from his assignment to the Ninevites. He heard God's voice clear enough (Jonah 1:1-2) but intentionally packed his bags, bought a ticket, and went. the. other. way. God, of course, face palmed and shook His head and ultimately redirected him to where he was supposed to be in the first place. A loving father with His correction to the point Jonah finally gets the message and the fish spits him put on dry land. So much I could say here.

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

Jonah 3:1‭-‬2

Jonah had to put feet to his message. He had to move to complete the assignment. He had to GO. He couldn't sit idly by and do nothing, he had to get up and move.

Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it.

Jonah 3:3‭

Imagine that. Nineveh was HUGE. Some sources say about eight miles around whereas greater Ninevah could've been 60 miles in circumference. We're talking more than 120,000 people. (Jonah 4:11) No featherweight of a city. "It took three days to go through it."

Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

Jonah 3:‬4

There was movement required. Jonah was bringing an uncomfortable message that had all the potential to go south and cause him ALL the problems. He was delivering a message with a chance of grace and mercy he felt the Ninevites did not deserve. Imagine it. He's standing on street corners, walking through the city, loudly proclaiming a message of death and destruction, all eyes on him, every one of the possibilities of stoning, rejection, torture, and chaos there at his feet. He had no way of knowing how the message would be received. He only knew he was required to give it and that he didn't understand it.

The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

Jonah 3:5

Obedience is required. You have no idea who or how it will impact those around you but that's not your call to make. Leave the conviction and change to the Waymaker. Jonah was angry about the change in the Ninevites. (Jonah 4:2) They fell face down and were filled with conviction to the point they were fasting and even withholding food from the animals to call upon God for his mercy. (Jonah 3:7-9)

In a city with the size and might of Ninevah, Jonah's doom and despair message reached a king whose heart was immediately filled with regret and conviction. A city was changed because of one man's reluctant obedience. A loving and merciful God used an unlikely candidate to uplift and change the course of 120,000 people.

This tells me a few things. First, that God's word will not return to Him void. When He speaks, it happens, period. End of story. (Isaiah 55:11) This also tells me something about myself. God can use anyone, including little Ole Ariel with her feet of clay and every mistake she's ever made. It tells me that despite my flaws, like Jonah's, He continues to work on me and draws me to repentance (Romans 2:3-4).

Sometimes, we find ourselves in Ninevah. Sometimes obedience calls on us to get WAY out of our comfort zone and do things in the face of opposition. Obedience is not taken lightly and is blessed greatly. Sometimes we run from what He's calling us to complete and find ourselves in the belly of the fish. We have choices to make every day in the attitude and approach we utilize.

We won't always know the impact our choices and our obedience will make this side of heaven. What we do know though is that God is faithful. He is merciful when we mess up and lovingly corrects us. Sometimes that means we're lunch and momentarily uncomfortable as He does and sometimes the consequences are less severe.

How many times do I behave like Jonah? How often do I run from what He's calling me to do? How often do I follow through but with a bad attitude and complaints like Jonah shows in chapter four?

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 51:10‭-‬12

I want to be willing to go wherever He leads. Even if the path is met with heavy resistance, even when no one else understands, even when it doesn't make sense, I want to follow Him. And for those times when I mess up, I rejoice that He doesn't throw me away like yesterday's garbage.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

Psalm 51:17

He lovely guides me back to repentance. He gently picks me up, dusts me off, and shows me the way in which I should walk, in obedience. He put Jonah in the belly of a huge fish so he could take a time out and reevaluate. My life depends on it, and not just my own, but those around me. My simple choices, however reluctant at times, impact eternity for others. When He says move, I want to jump up and go, asking questions later. His well-orchastrated plans include me and that's so incredibly humbling.

Abba, help me where I fail, guide me when I can't see, and convict my heart when it's out of alignment with Yours. Use me, Father.