Regarding the Jonah Story

Some say the book of Jonah is allegory, some say it is an actual story based on a real guy’s life. Been taking it to heart lately because there’s so much that can be learned from the book of Jonah about God and how much He loves us and will actively pursue us even when we mess up or run from Him. Regardless, Jonah's story is one that I have learned from and have come to really appreciate.I encourage you to read the book of Jonah as you read this blog.

What intrigues me the most about the prophet Jonah (from the book of Jonah, in the Bible), is this: Jonah knew God’s voice. He had a relationship with God and therefore, he knew exactly what God wanted him to do with his life. When God called Jonah to Nineveh, Jonah tried to run from God’s will and calling and ended up in some pretty life-threatening situations. Finally, Jonah did what God told him to do, but with great reluctance.

Here are some pros and cons regarding Jonah’s story *:

Cons
Jonah had a temper.
Jonah was prideful.
Jonah was disobedient.
Jonah did not have compassion for others, but was self centered.
Jonah was running but he was not in a race, he was running from God.
Jonah was in a bad place mentally and spiritually since, he thought that he could run from God by jumping on a boat with some fishermen.
Jonah was unwilling to get out of his comfort zone to serve God.
Jonah experienced spiritual growth in the wrong direction!
The story of Jonah’s spiritual journey is evident by looking at where Jonah is physically:
From his home to turbulent waters to the belly of a fish to a desert place
Jonah had some unresolved personal issues with the Ninehvites that blocked his ministry and his relationship with God.
Jonah prayed one of those selfishly motivated bargaining prayers, but not until he was desperate.
Jonah prayed the right prayer, but with the wrong attitude.
Remember how bargaining is a stage of grief? Jonah was grieving for the loss of his comfort zone.
Jonah missed an obvious opportunity to witness to some fishermen who willingly acknowledged that Jonah’s God was bigger and more powerful than their gods!
The book of Jonah ends in despair and bitterness for the prophet.
The withered vine or gourd parallels Jonah’s focus on the wrong things in life and his short-lived time in ministry.
Jonah’s vision was so narrow that he missed the huge and amazingly overwhelming miracles when he sweated the small stuff. (Miracles like that one time when he survived in the belly of a fish for a few days, or that time when he didn’t drown after being thrown off a boat in the middle of a storm, or that one final time when he preached and the whole town came to repent and know God!)
Jonah did not have or seem to want God’s vision: he focused on everybody else’s sin, but vastly overlooked his own sin.

Pros
Jonah’s story is effective or noteworthy only after he uproots himself from his home Even as he ran from God we can learn from Jonah’s mistakes.
God used nature- turbulent waters and bad weather, and a beast- the big fish/whale to get Jonah’s attention! God loved Jonah and was giving him chance after chance to make it right!
Though quite reluctant, Jonah was a very effective prophet because the people repented!
The book of Jonah ends with repentance, prayer and fasting for the Ninehvites. God’s people and God’s work goes on in spite of the reluctant prophet.
I found three big miracles in the book of Jonah 2 involving his survival against nature and beast, and one regarding the repentance of the Ninehvites.
Jonah missed the one last smaller miracle: God gave him some instant shade from the desert sun. A vine grows out of nowhere, Jonah practically cursed it.

Finally, there is an important water theme in the book of Jonah that has to do with being immersed in God’s will. Jonah was immersed into turbulent waters. A small foreshadowing, if you will, of being immersed in the fountain of God’s love when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, while yet giving us the freewill to accept or reject His love. God tested Jonah, but because of his unforgiving and unwilling spirit, Jonah emerged from the turbulent waters by way of fish vomit. This is symbolic of Jonah’s rejection to being immersed in God’s will. The fact that he survived is symbolic of God’s love and mercy, but also a lesson in tough love.

Questions
Are you able to see your ministry through God’s eyes with compassion and vision for the future? What can be learned from Jonah’s ministry?

Prayer
Lord, give me the right vision for the future and help me to do your will with the right attitude and heart

Read
Jonah Chapters 1-4 NIV

Song in my head
‘For every time that you protected me when I didn’t know your name. Lord, I say: “thank you!” how you loved on me and cared for me when I didn’t return the same. Lord, I say: “thank you!” -Lisa Page Brooks

*Please note that my devotional blogs are commentaries based on biblical truths, and that I prayerfully, intend to inspire people to thirst and seek after the one and true living God!