See Jonah Obey

Jonah finally did obey God and fulfill his vow as a spokesman for God. Yet we still see a hard heart in Jonah as he preached. The Scriptures tell us that Nineveh was a 3 day walk around the city. That's a large city even in today's standards. Yet we find that Jonah only walked one day through the city preaching. It is as though Jonah walks straight through the city to just give it a once over if you will. This means that about 2/3 rd of the city did not hear the message at all.

Now, in spite of the half hearted effort of Jonah, we see that the city repented! The movement within the city was great enough that it reached the ears of the King and he issues a decree that everyone was to fast, pray and repent! Sort of sounds like a modern day politician watching the opinion polls if you ask me.

Here is where the story gets very interesting. The city repents to the point that the Lord holds back His judgement and does not destroy them. Since the Lord can see the heart we are forced to concede that they must have truly repented, at least to the fullest of their understanding. These Ninevites were a ruthless people that were so violent that the surrounding peoples hated them with a vengeance. Yet they repent at the preaching of Jonah. The sad truth is that we do not find any proof that any of the Godly people of Israel came to teach, disciple or mentor these people. With this void in teaching and training in the word of God we find that they revert back to their old ways in 1 generation. Approximately 37 years after the preaching of Jonah and the staying of Gods wrath we find that the Ninevites attack the northern kingdom of Israel and destroy them. Then in 612 BC the King of Babylon teams with other kingdoms against Nineveh and not only conquers them, but totally destroys the city down to the foundations. The city was lost for 2000 years never to be inhabited again. This was the fulfilment of Gods warning to them.

What would have happened to both the Ninevites and Israel if they had only reached out to them and trained them in the word of God? What would history look like if Jonah and his fellow countrymen, would have seized the day? In their hatred of the Ninevites they sealed their own destruction and revealed their own wicked hearts. It was this hard hearted issue that God points out to Jonah in chapter 4 of the book of Jonah. God proves Himself in this little book as the one who forgives and judges. He is righteous and holy in the display of both.

Are you helping someone else grow in their faith today? Is there a void of real discipleship in the church today? Are you being a part of the solution? Christ commanded us to "Make Disciples" not to work harder so we can get a raise. Did I just do a little meddling just then? If there is a moral void in the church today, who is at fault? If marriages are falling apart in the church at the same rate as those outside the church, who is at fault? If "Christians" are falling back into their old habits and ways, who is at fault? The story of Jonah, Israel and the Ninevites is one that maybe we as American "Christians" should take heed in. Before we start blaming the government, or people groups for the trials in this world maybe we should look into our own hearts and ask, are we doing everything the Lord has asked of us?

Don't just do what God says, put your heart into it. Look for ways to fulfill the ways of God in your life and those around you. We do not need a newly spoken word from the Lord, we have the scriptures. Jesus said the "if you love me you will keep my commandments". So, we have our work orders for the day, "make Disciples". Be one today. Help a fellow believer grow in their faith. Pour your life into another and watch the fruit of your labor as they start to help others. Now that's a garden worth working in and a pay raise that will reap eternal returns.

Just my Thoughts