God always faces tough times throughout history dealing with human beings. Neither His chosen Nation Israel, nor the Church has been obedient to pursue God’s will. Those who received His call also many times failed to match up with God’s standards. David and Samson failed by breaking the Ten Commandments by committing adultery. Moses failed to give glory to God and he lost his privilege to enter the Promised Land. Abraham’s indiscretion resulted in the birth of Ismail and his descendants. Isaac and Rebekah showing partiality resulted in a bitter sibling rivalry that was carried on to Jacob’s family. Another example is Jonah the reluctant prophet. However, God fulfilled His plan despite all human failures.
Reluctant prophet: God’s work will not stop just because His servants are reluctant to go. Jonah could neither run away from God’s presence or from the place of his ministry, Nineveh.
God had to work despite Jonah: When His human instruments do not cooperate, God can overrule and call upon other creations like sea, wind, fish, plants, worms to teach prophets a lesson. Jonah needed a course correction from Tarshish to Nineveh that was affected by wind, storm, waves of sea and a big fish.
Inadequate Message: Jonah did not emphasise on God’s grace or forgiveness but on judgement. “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4) Yet the Spirit of God worked in the hearts of people that they repented. The whole city population from king to slave fasted, wore sack clothes and prayed.
Insensitive Attitude: Jonah’s attitude towards the people was insensitive. The Lord had to show him his concern about plants or creepers is non-proportional towards the city people. (Jonah 4:10)
Selfish: Jonah’s reputation was more important for him than the eternal future of 120000 people or God’s grace and other attributes. (Jonah 4:2)
Result: “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” (Jonah 4:11)
Do I willingly participate in God’s mission?