Jonah Chapter 4
If I am allowed to headline the four chapters one maybe humorous way would be like this:
Politically perverse prophet purposefully pursued by God
Prayerfully penitent prophet precisely protected by God
Powerfully preaching prophet pointedly pushed by God
Pitifully petulant prophet progressively penalized by God
THE PROPHET’S PERSONAL PROGRAM
Here in the final chapter we see the reason for Jonah's original action in the first chapter...why he ran away instead of obeying Yahweh!
Jonah knows and testifies here to Yahweh as a God who is gracious, merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness! He knows Yahweh as ONE who is quick to forgive. And paradoxically Jonah, Yahweh’s servant, is a bloodthirsty soul who wants to see Nineveh destroyed...well maybe he was not bloodthirsty, just patriotic to the marrow! Is there a difference? So maybe, just maybe, if he did not warn them their wickedness will result in their destruction.
Knowing Yahweh is a merciful and gracious God is also probably the reason for Jonah's original little escapade when he ran away from his duty. He counted on God's mercy, which makes it all the more ironic that he becomes angry when the Eternal God extends the same mercy to a vicious enemy.
Jonah wanted to be the hero, a celebrity in his people's eyes and he cared nothing for God's glory.
Now he must be thinking of how his “patriotic” brothers will look at him...as the one who allowed Nineveh to have a new lease of life when Israel's enemy could have been wiped off the face of the map!
How he must have wanted to boast to his countrymen that Nineveh fell because of him!
What would he have to say to them now that Nineveh was spared, and he was mostly responsible for that?
Jonah seems to be more concerned about his own standing in society and popularity among his countrymen than about the will of God, and the weightier matters of mercy and righteous judgment.
Jonah has more compassion for a plant he had no hand in preparing, but just because it gave him shelter from the sun! Creature comfort selfishness!
An angry man who is concerned more for a plant than for people! Our priorities need to be examined! What takes precedence? God or...?
There are so many today who are more concerned with trees and plants and trivialities while giving wholehearted consent to murdering of innocent young lives, perversion of God's laws, deception, lies and compromise. Trying to save the planet without first saving the man in like trying to heal the effects and ignoring the cause!
How often we are engrossed in and caught up with the trivial than with what really matters? How often we make the gnat our object of attention and miss the whole camel?
How often we major in the minor and ignore the major?
How often we follow our own minds rather than trying to find the mind of God on a matter?
How often we fight for a vague principle and miss out on what God really wants us to do?
Many still take up arms against social sores and political ploys that completely blind their minds to what God really wants them to see…the big picture.
Have you sometimes wished that God would remove certain individuals who are contrary to what you want, or a certain family that is not in your dubious class, or a certain group that does not subscribe to principles and lifestyles you believe in, or a certain nation(s) that's a threat to world well being? Have we sometimes thought that we can run things better than Yahweh? Have we really surrendered to Him or are we wrapped up in our own little program of self?
THE PROGRAM OF SELF
Selfishness is subtly camouflaged loneliness!
Selfishness is counterproductive to the purpose of Christ.
Selfishness is a malignant outgrowth of pride or is it the other way round?!
Selfishness is the core of self-centeredness and self interest.
Selfishness is self destructive.
Selfishness is also disguised as self pity
How do you react when the so called elite club rejects you?
How do you react when the work of others is praised more than yours?
How do you react when the girl (or boy) says she (he) is not interested in that manner?
How do you react when it seems that you are constantly ignored?
Being unable and unwilling to forgive is selfishness.
There is a loud reason why self crucifixion is a prominent theme of the Bible!
When we try to be selfless in our own strength we end up draining ourselves since we are limited in our personal resources. When we are connected to His Life and that Life flows through us then we can keep on giving since we are constantly being replenished.
Selfishness is like a stagnant pond. Everything flows in and nothing or very little flows out, soon resulting in a stink and unpleasant personality that is probably loved only by a few. For a life to be sweet and clean there must be a constant flow of the stream of God’s life. There is a reason why the Sea of Galilee has fish and the Dead Sea lives up to its name. The river Jordan flows through one but stops at the other. Selfishness gratifies one's own ego and leaves little if anything for the LORD!
"Selfishness and holiness cannot co-exist in the same mind." Charles Finney
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. John 12:23-25 KJV
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.2 Corinthians 5:14-17 KJV
Jonah's selfishness is overshadowed by the mercy and longsuffering of God.
It is all too tragic a fact, but many we who preach have a lot of theology in the head but little if any in the heart. Many times we who preach are only interested in delivering to the targeted congregation but not to ourselves. Jonah knew what Yahweh was like but he expected Yahweh to align with his own selfish desires.
It's like us when we do not get our own way we become morose, withdrawn, annoyed, and rebellious with all manner of fleshly reactions! It's only OK when God blesses us and works on our behalf but why Oh why must He show a little mercy to that miserable wretch?
We need to understand that it's not all about me but ALWAYS about Him. The world and this country specifically, is caught up in self, selfishness, self gratification, selfish desires, selfish ambitions and selfish goals, and advertisements play and pander to this ungodly ugliness in man.
The first recorded commercial ad shows the enemy making the forbidden and dangerous to appear as an attractive package, an appealing prerequisite and an achievement to pursue. Thus has the enemy always been, making things that God forbids, to be appealing while deceptively urging sin prone humans to see how unjust and straitjacket God is, in trying to deny and deprive man of his supposedly rightful freedom, only to laugh mockingly when his victims succumb to his almost irresistible persuasion. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 KJV
Jonah was anything but a satisfied preacher, given the massive repentance at his preaching.
He was instead angry, full of self pity and extremely petulant in his reaction at a city’s salvation!
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. Jonah 4:1 KJV
It actually describes Jonah as being ragingly furious, foot stamping, temper tantrum until he wishes to be dead!!! What a difference from the man who prayed in the fish?
When we exhibit selfishness values go out the door...look at what Jonah valued more than the thousands of lives spared. A plant! He was a morally good man but he lacked the heart of God!
Notice than in Jonah God prepared a few things...four to be exact...a great fish, a gourd, a worm and a vehement east wind! God's object lessons can often be misconstrued as due to natural causes but the Bible says that: The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. Proverbs 16:1 KJV
So often in life we assume natural occurrences are just that... natural. We're either afraid or just too stubborn to acknowledge that God can be the reason because we do not want to deal with the consequences of that line of reasoning.
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? Jonah 4:11 KJV
The book ends on an abrupt and disturbing note! No feeling of comfort but a challenge to see the way God sees…to have the mind of Christ. We are commanded to!
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8 KJV
GREATER THAN JONAH!
The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. Luke 11:32 KJV ...they repented at the preaching of Jonas AND JESUS IS GREATER...!
AS TO HIS CAUSATION: He Himself is the CAUSE! He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and Ending! Jonah was His creature!
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8 KJV
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3 KJV
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:16-17 KJV
AS TO HIS CREDENTIALS: He was approved of the Father and confirmed by the Holy Spirit! Jonah was the servant to the Master!
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. Luke 3:21-22 KJV
AS TO HIS CHARACTER: He is Sinless without guile or deceit! He is Pure and Holy One, Beloved of the Father. Jonah exhibited serious personality flaws!
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 1 Peter 2:22-23 KJV
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 KJV
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 1 John 3:5 KJV
AS TO HIS COMMUNICATION: He brought a message of Hope, Healing and Heaven to the whole world! Jonah spoke only of doom to one city!
And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. John 7:44-46 KJV
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? Luke 4:22 KJV
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.Matthew 7:28-29 KJV
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
AS TO HIS COMMISSION: He came to seek and save, heal and deliver! Jonah was bloodthirsty!
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19 KJV
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. Acts 10:38 KJV
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 KJV
AS TO HIS COMPASSION: He wept over a city that would not come to be healed! Jonah was furious at Nineveh’s deliverance.
And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. Luke 19:41-42 KJV
Jesus wept. John 11:35 KJV
And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34 KJV
I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: Mark 8:2 KJV
Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. Luke 7:12-13 KJV
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. Matthew 14:14 KJV
Jonah was a human prophet. Jesus is the Son of God
Jonah's behavior and attitude were contrary to God. Jesus was totally obedient to God
Jonah was biased for his own. Jesus came for the whole world
Jonah lived in a fish's belly for three days and nights. Jesus died and then rose the third day!
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 KJV
