Jonah (the untold story)

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Ever thought much about Jonah? The book of Jonah is a short book in the Bible and one that can easily be skimmed over, or the only lesson learned is to not disobey God. But did you ever think there might be more to the story—his story—and how God used him? That there could be more for us on those pages, amongst those words, and within his story? Well, I never did! At least not until recently. I think there's so much more here for us to dive into!

The book of Jonah isn't just about Jonah. It's about you. It's about me. It's our story—one we are wrapped up in. When we get called by God to do one thing but choose to do the total opposite. It's where God is offering us so much, and we settle for so much less. We believe in the power of God but doubt His goodness in our own lives. We sit in His presence yet run instead of following Him.

God told Jonah to go and preach in Nineveh. We are given the same command in Matthew 28:19-20. Instead, Jonah runs. Instead, we run.

We always remember that God calms the raging storm, but do we ever stop to think about the fact that God stirs up a storm in the story of Jonah? God stirred up a storm?! That never caught my attention before. I always thought of God as a God always calming and ready to calm the storm and chaos around me. Hhhmmm...

So why would God stir up a storm? Hhhmmm... Let's see... God sent the storm after Jonah, in pursuit of Jonah. So what if we saw the storms in our own lives as God’s way of pursuing and chasing after us instead of being frustrated because it seems He's not calming the storm or doing anything about it? I know sometimes these storms cause pain, and sometimes it's hard not to blame the pain on God. But the pain isn't God getting back at us or getting even—it’s Him trying to bring us back to Him.

Think about the time Jesus walked on the water. It was during a storm, and He didn't calm this one. He walked on the waves, on the chaos. Peter stepped out in faith and walked on the waves toward Jesus. It was only when he looked away from Jesus at the waves—when he lost his faith and feared the storm—that he started to sink.

During the storm, the crew on the ship threw cargo over to try to lighten the load. Sometimes, during storms, we need to lighten our load. What do we need to do less of, not do at all, or give up during this season to focus on God?

Notice that during the storm, everyone is freaking out and scared to death, but Jonah is asleep. How on earth does one sleep through such a storm? Well, obviously, Jonah was exhausted. Running from God is hard work and extremely exhausting. You know how sometimes when you're so tired and exhausted, you have to splash cold water on your face to wake yourself up? This is what it took to start waking Jonah up. A cold splash!

It wasn't just Jonah affected by his sin but the crew of the ship as well. When we sin, it affects those around us, not just ourselves. Notice the crew cried out to God, begging Him not to let them die for Jonah's sin or be held responsible for his death.

God never wastes our stories, even when we run from Him. He uses those parts of our story for His glory. When the storm calmed after the crew threw Jonah overboard, they instantly feared God and vowed to serve Him. They even offered a sacrifice. This crew got saved through Jonah running from God.

Swallowed into Safety, the big deal in the story according to most people (especially children). Jonah gets swallowed by a big fish. This is where everyone thinks he got what was coming to him. He disobeyed—now he's being punished. He should've seen it coming! He got what he deserved. God's getting back at Jonah! This is, more often than not, exactly how we approach our sticky situations or see others in theirs. Isn't it? But God isn't us. The truth is, God wasn't getting back at Jonah, nor was He punishing him. I mean, Jonah was in the middle of nowhere. What would have happened had God not intervened? He probably would have died—become shark food or something. Notice, it says God caused/sent a fish to swallow Jonah. God was providing a way back for Jonah—a second chance. God was trying to bring Jonah back to Him.

God, the Heart of a Father—He chased Jonah down, sent a storm, and stopped him where he was. He did what it took to bring Jonah back to Him. This same Father chases you down, will send a storm, stop you where you are, and do whatever it takes to bring you back to Him. 

The fish (or whale) was God saving Jonah from his fall (into the ocean but also into sin) and points toward God saving us (through Jesus) from our fall. It was His redemption plan. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. This doesn’t just point toward Jesus being in the grave for three days and three nights. After Jonah was rescued, the three days and nights were meant as time to turn Jonah back toward God before God could send him out to do His work—just like when God has to bring us back to Him. We have to spend time turning our hearts back to Him before He can send us out to do His work.

After the Bible says he was in the belly of the fish three days and nights it says he prayed. Jonah's prayer shows he finally turned his heart back to God. I think it took all his time in the belly of the fish before he finally prayed and returned to God. And I think this because  1. His prayer isn't mentioned until after it says he spent three days and nights in the fish and 2. Right after he prays, it says "THEN" the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach." He probably spent his time doing much like we do after God saves us from a situation, but it puts us in a different one. Trying to find a way to save ourselves and get out of the situation on our own without God. Why is prayer always a last resort? Why do we always sink so low before we remember God, before we even think of Him? "As my life was slipping away I remembered the Lord."

Jonah now goes from on the run to returning, from trying to escape to surrender. When we stop running and return then we can stop escaping and surrender. What a transformation! 

Jonah has absolutely no clue where God will take him or what God will do. But he does know that God moved on his behalf when he prayed and cried out to Him. We don't know where God will take us or what God will do. We need to always be praying and crying out to the Lord so that he can move!

So what happens next? What happens after repentance and returning? How do we become free from our sticky situations? Freedom isn't free, it comes with a price. God didn't just calm the sea, even though He could have. Jonah had to give his life up first and be thrown into the sea. God didn't just free us from our sins. Jesus had to give His life up first and die on the cross. It was only after complete repentance and return, that God freed Jonah from the fish by letting it vomit him out. Freedom very rarely ever looks like what we want or expect it to. 

Now that Jonah is on dry land, God begins to rewrite his story and gives him a second chance, a new beginning. Jonah goes this time. He still doesn't want to, but he has surrendered to God. Sometimes we don't want to go, and we may even disagree with God calling us, but we must still surrender.

Perhaps you feel forgotten, like God hasn't given you a purpose. You're angry and hurt. You have a purpose—you're just in the whale’s belly. Or you know your purpose but don't feel equipped. You too may be in the whale’s belly. While you are sitting in the belly of the whale, you are being prepared for your mission before God can send you out. The three days and nights in the whale were preparation for Jonah before he was sent out. Jesus prepared for His mission for 30 years before He started it. The bumps and bruises along the way are preparation. Use your time in the whale’s belly to seek God, learn His heart, and pray. Then you will be ready to be spit out.

Jonah used few words to tell the Ninevites that judgement was coming. Yet they believed him. When our words are from God, much can happen. Our words carry weight and power. Are they from God, reflecting Him and His word, or are they our own?

Hhhmmm... God changed His mind and didn't destroy the Ninevites. God chased down a runaway and had that runaway go chase down other runaways. It's our job to share and preach the News and God's job to save. Luke 11:32 says there will be Ninevites in heaven. Because Jonah went and preached, many got saved instead of destroyed. What would happen if we all did what we were commanded and preached the Good News?

When the Ninevites repented, they didn't know if God would still destroy them or if he would spare them. But they still repented. They didn't know what would happen, yet they had faith. How often do we stand on the edge of something and lose faith so easily? These people repented and would have held faith even till judgement. Hold the faith, you don't know if God will send a way out or if you will go through the trial and test, but hold the faith. Even if God doesn't move in the situation in a way you expect Him to, believe that He will come through. 

Like I said earlier this is our Story. The Good News is written throughout it. It's a story of grace and second chances. A God who chases us down. Jesus is better than Jonah. Jonah pointed to Jesus. Jonah came from Israel and went to Ninevah. Jesus came from heaven down to earth. Both, from a holy dwelling to a sinful one. Though Jonah went unwillingly, Jesus came willingly. Jonah was in the whale for three days and nights. Jesus was in the grave for three days and nights. Jonah was spit out of the fish. Jesus was spit out of the grave. Jonah preached the word of God. Jesus is the Word of God. Jonah got to witness a king leave his throne and repent. Jesus is the King who left his throne with no need to repent. Jonah got to witness the repentance of a nation. But every nation will bow to Jesus. 

The change of plans upset and angered Jonah... This sorta thing still happens today. We get upset when plans change because God has bigger plans in store.

Isn't the idea of preaching in hopes to save? Jonah disagreed with God but surrendered and went. But he's angry because God has extended mercy and grace to the enemy of Israel. Do we react in anger and bitterness when God extends mercy and grace to our enemies, those who have used us and hurt us the most?

Throughout the Bible God asks us questions He already knows the answers to, to make us think and because He wants all of us and all our heart. It is no different when he asked Jonah if Jonah had a right to be angry over the city not being destroyed. 

Once again I shall bring up Peter because I think he and Jonah are so similar. Jonah sees God's faithfulness through the whale and Ninevah, and yet doubts. Jonah doubts that the repentance will last. He goes a safe distance to watch for this and is pleased God grows a plant to shelter him. Peter got to see God in the flesh! He got to watch Jesus heal people, he saw Jesus walk on the waves. I'm sure it must have felt amazing to walk on the water with Jesus. Something bad happens, instantly we doubt. Jonah gets angry, Peter loses faith and sinks. How do we react when something bad happens? Do we begin to doubt? Why are we so quick to doubt when God responds differently than we expect?

Jonah does what we often do. He's concerned over a plant that has withered away already, while God is concerned for a city of people with lost souls. We often, too, are concerned over the temporary instead of the eternal. We have concerns of this world while God has concerns for souls being prepared for the next world.

We need to move from comfortable to uncomfortable. We need to come out of hiding and start sharing the Good News.

We are to tell people about Jesus. We are to be fishers of men—not let the fish get us.

Would love to hear any thoughts from my readers! If you want to share the comments are open.

Love,

Esther