There are so many lessons we can glean from the book of Jonah. His story is a testament to the consequences of choosing our own way over the call of the Lord.

I think it’s safe to say the chances of being swallowed up by a colossal fish are slim, but Jonah’s reaction to God sparing the people of Nineveh is all too familiar.

Choosing obedience can often be difficult for us. Much like Jonah, we tend to draw our own lines in the sand, silently waiting for others destruction. As God teaches us through this story, that approach is not right.

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness has come before me.” (Jonah 1:2)

Perhaps I’m reading in between the lines here, but it seems as if God already knows the potential of Nineveh when He refers to it as ‘that great city.’ The call to obedience foreshadows the power of God and His hand in shaping the future influence of Nineveh. Ultimately, God knew beforehand that Nineveh would choose obedience and repentance over their own free will.

“Let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God repented of the evil, that he had said he would do unto them; and he did it not.” (Jonah 3:8)

This is a picture of what the Lord can do with a changed heart, if only we let Him in and give Him the chance.

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was this not my saying when I was in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. (Jonah 4:1-3)

Such a short testament, but what a comparison we can make between Jonah’s life and ours. We are only human, right? But that is no excuse for running, or in Jonah’s case, sitting in anger over God’s decision to show compassion to others.

Jonah begs God take His life! For death is better than being swallowed whole again. Surely death is better than watching a glorious city turn from their foolishness. Sin does contort our thinking, doesn’t it?

Think of a time when God gave you a command, something you knew He wanted you to do and you turned your back, or laughed at the presumed silliness of the request.

Maybe it looked like: No, I simply won’t talk to that girl, I won’t give that gift or I’ll wait for someone else, her sins are her own issue, she should know better.

How big of us to think we know better than God, to to turn our heels at His plan for the redemption of others. What was the result? Can you remember what happened when you did not heed to the Lord, rather than jump up at once and obey? We may never know the reason as to why God gives us the commands, it’s our job to simply obey.

The ending to the story: Nineveh’s glorious revival, and Jonah simply sits while expecting destruction. We can use his testimony as a reminder…it’s always an excellent idea to obey when the Lord instructs and to follow in his compassion for others.

But They Were Wicked