About Jonah

   The book of Jonah is one of the shortest books of the bible, but its’ lessons are many.  We need to read it with a desire to learn and apply the lessons offered.

   Jonah was to go to Nineveh and preach to them in order to turn them from their sinfulness to God.  He refused God’s call and tried to run to Tarshish.  The ship on which he sailed nearly sank in a storm, he was thrown overboard and swallowed by a big fish.  After three days in the belly of the fish he was spewed out on dry land.  God again told him to go to Nineveh and this time he obeyed the call.  The Ninevites listened to God’s warning, repented and turned to God.

   Jonah was angry.  God had saved a people who, in Jonah’s mind, should have been destroyed for their sins.  He was so angry that he asked God to take his life.  Of course God had an answer for him; one we would do well to learn.

  God placed a plant near Jonah to provide shade for him.  He then allowed the plant to die and brought a searing wind upon him.  Jonah was again angry; he again told God he’d rather die than go on living.  The response to Jonah is where our lesson lies.  “You pity the plant for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night, and perished in a night.  And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle? (Jonah 4: 10 – 11)

   So many times we try to avoid God’s call.  We’re too busy; we don’t have the needed skills; there are others who could do better.  Even when we answer the call we sometimes perform it with little enthusiasm; we are lukewarm in our response.  If we don’t like the outcome we sometimes question the wisdom of God and His plan.

   When God calls, answer with love and joy that He desires your help in His plan.  Do the best you can to accomplish the task.  Even if you don’t understand, rejoice in God’s plan, be grateful for His calling.

Lord, call me to Your service.

Give me the strength and faith to do Your will.

I thank You for the honor of being part of Your plan.

Even when I don’t understand.

Amen.