Jonah 3 Devo

July 21st, 2019

Devotional

“Going God’s Direction” -

      Jonah 3: 1-10

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Monday: “A Second Time” - Jonah 3:1-3

  The story of Jonah is epic. Jonah is a prophet of the Lord who had much fame in Israel. He enjoyed the prestige and status of being one called out from the chosen people. Then the Lord disturbed his comfort by commanding him to go and give a message to the people of Nineveh, who had a reputation of being some of the worst people throughout the land. Jonah was so set against giving a message from the Lord, especially one about their destruction, to this particular set of people, and so upset with the Lord from not giving him a task to do that better portrayed his status, that he ran. He ran the opposite direction of where he was commanded to go, and for his disobedience, God put him inside the belly of a whale for three days. When Jonah was spit up the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, commanding him to go to Nineveh and preach against them.

When have you had to be told by God to do something more than once? What was that experience like for you?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that you do not give up on us. We thank you, Lord, for inviting us again and again to be part of the work of your Kingdom. Lord, use us we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Forty More Days” - Jonah 3:4

To say that Jonah’s attempt at preaching was weak, would be an understatement. While there are definitely times and places for short sermons, Jonah’s one sentence came more from his apathy about the message and the people then anything else. In fact, Jonah didn’t even preach anything the first third of his way across Nineveh. Only on the second leg of his journey did he begin to proclaim, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” One sentence, with no mention of God or why the city would be overthrown, simply repeated over and over again. And yet, a great thing happened. The people of Nineveh began to believe in God and believe in the one-sentence prophecy with such intensity that they began to fast, from the person of least importance in the city the whole way up to the king. Everyone. God saw their act of good faith and was so moved that God changed God’s mind.

Spoiler, what our scripture lesson today leaves out is the fact that Jonah went on to get upset with God all over again for not destroying Nineveh. He craved for the Lord’s wrath to fall upon them. He was angry at God for showing mercy and compassion. By the end of the book of Jonah, there isn’t really any resolution of Jonah’s anger. We are simply left with God trying to teach him a lesson.

When you tell people about God, how would do you share such an important message?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we don’t put our best effort into what you call us to do. We don’t always proclaim your way and word in a fashion that connects with people. We confess that sometimes we act this way because we don’t think that others are worthy of hearing your word. Forgive us, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Repent” - Jonah 3: 5-8

Often it is easier for us to live into the urgency of our message when it is about someone else. When we tell someone else to repent. When we point out how God is going to punish another group of people. But what Jonah failed to realize that his message was just as much for himself as anyone else. After he proclaimed his message, he waited around until the day, the day of destruction, waiting to see the event of the people being overthrown. But a funny thing happened. The people weren’t overthrown, but Jonah’s life was. Jonah had to confront God that day and wrestle with the worst parts of himself - the parts that wanted to see the prophecy of destruction become a reality. The part that was full of hatred and not compassion. The part that actually didn’t want to see the Nineveites change. Jonah had the worst part of himself overthrown, and while the story doesn’t have a clear ending, we can hope that ended in Jonah’s repentance.

  Sometimes we are like Jonah. We look down of those that are less then us - those that have less then us materially, those who do not make as much money as us, those who do not speak our language, those who are not at the same place spiritually, the list goes on. We look down from our place of comfort, and condemn then. The sad thing about Jonah, is that he seemed to forget all about the whale, shortly after being spit up. He forgot what it was like to be uncomfortable, without God, and forgotten.

What does it mean to repent? 

What lead to the Nineveites to repent?

Prayer: Lord, your love for us is amazing. You call us not to stay the same, marred in sin, yet you give us opportunities to embrace your mercy and grace. Loosen our lips to proclaim your message, we pray. Amen.

Thursday: “Turn” - Jonah 3: 9

  Even in Jonah’s arrogance and unhappiness, God did a new thing. Jonah despite himself, was successful. Sometimes we dwell too much on numbers, but sometimes we do not honestly look at then enough. Jonah by all measures was successful - he had an entire city come to genuine repentance so the Lord saved them. Yet, that wasn’t what Jonah wanted. We sometimes are like Jonah. We pray time and time again to God to help us grow as a congregation - but grow how. Grow in our love for God? Grow in the number of people we lead to Christ? And what is that growing causes us to be uncomfortable - what if it means that we have to give up some of our desires and replace them with God’s? What if it means that we cannot keep doing things the way we always have? What if it means hard work that we may never see the fruit of in our lifetime? Are we still going to want to be successful, by God’s standards, or will be we all too quickly become angry like Jonah?

  Churches today are filled with Jonah’s. People who proclaim the destruction of others without taking a hard look at themselves. People who are caught up in their prestige and power, while lacking an attitude of compassion and mercy. People who are so worried about preserving themselves that they lack a sense of urgency when it comes to bringing hope to others. People who ignore God’s message the first time and then only accept it the second time on their own terms. People who are surprised and sulk when God saves others and does a new things, instead of people who celebrate with the redeemed.

  How do you share the hope of Jesus with others?

Prayer: Lord, it is the deep desire of our heart that people come to know you as their Lord and Savior. Help us to set ourselves aside for the sake of your mission, we pray. Use us, no matter what the cost. Amen. 

Friday: “Did Not Do It” - Jonah 3:10

  We have enough Jonah’s. Enough nay-sayers who live for themselves and whose messages of prophecy are more about destruction then hope. What we need is a few modern prophets who see potential and hope. A few good people who are willing to step outside of their comfort zones and live lives that are abandoned to the mission of God and who will not be surprised when God does a new thing marked by compassion, mercy and grace. People who will live into the great mandate to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Who will you be? Will you be Jonah, sulking when things change or do not go your way, or will you be one of the new breed of prophets, excited when entire cities turn their hearts to the Lord?

Do you identify with Jonah in this chapter? Why or why not?

Prayer: Lord, break our hard hearts. Break our disobedient spirits. Break our judgmental thoughts. And then blessed and broken, send us anew, we pray. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Angry with God” - Jonah 4