Biblical Profiles

A FOCUS ON JONAH

As leaders, God often calls us into positions beyond the confines of our comfort zone. Have you ever felt like running away from a God-ordained role? I can honestly say that I have. There have been times in ministry and even as a mom when I have longed to disappear, pleading with God, “Can’t someone else step in? I’m exhausted and unqualified.”

As I pray, inevitably, God responds with, “Or are you self-focused and self-reliant? I have called you, and I will equip you. Just keep walking. I have much for you to do.”

The book of Jonah tells the story of a reluctant leader. Jonah was called by God; he was given an amazing opportunity to travel to Nineveh and offer spiritual guidance to 120,000 people! But Jonah saw his calling from a purely human perspective: he would have to go into a land ripe with wickedness, stand in the midst of corruption, and preach against their way of life. He was self-focused—not wanting to be inconvenienced. And he was self-reliant— likely scared for his own life and questioning his ability. The call was so unappealing that Jonah ran—and I mean, he took off and hopped on a boat going in the opposite direction. And then he went to sleep, shutting the rest of the world out, only to soon learn a life lesson:

It’s impossible to run from God or shut Him out.

Jonah 1:5 says that the LORD sent a great storm that threatened the ship and the well-being of all on board. But Jonah slept on. The sailors did all they could to steady the ship, each even crying out to their own gods. Finally, in despair, they cast lots, hoping to discover who the storm was targeting. The lots pointed to Jonah. So they woke him, and when he told them, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and dry land,” they were terrified. (Jonah 1:9 NIV) They had heard of this Hebrew God and knew He was powerful.

Jonah told the crew to throw him overboard to save themselves, and they did, even as they cried out to Jonah’s Hebrew God—the LORD—which was a miracle in and of itself. When the winds died down and the sea calmed, the sailors "offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him." (Jonah 1:6 NIV)

Isn’t our God amazing? I’m not referencing the calming of the storm—although that is surely striking—but that God used the actions of a disobedient servant to bring a whole shipload of sailors into an alliance with Him. That simply is beyond our realm of understanding. But that’s who our God is. Too bad Jonah missed the party.

God will use every step and misstep we make. BUT…when we step WITH God, we get to be part of the miracle.

You probably know the next part of the story—God didn’t give up on Jonah. In fact, He saved Him by directing a big fish to swallow him whole, where he hung out for three days and had a “come-to-Jesus” moment. Can you imagine being in a FISH? Just think of the horrific stench that must have permeated the darkness as Jonah floated in bile and digesting “fish food.”

Finally, after Jonah vowed to listen to the Lord, the fish spit him out on dry land, and Jonah headed to Nineveh after all.

God WILL have His way—and we are far better off WITH Him than AGAINST Him

Jonah preached to those in Nineveh, as God commanded. Much to his surprise, the people were convicted and repented. And the LORD, in response, spared all those in the land. Jonah, through God’s provision, had completed his calling with unmeasured success. He never had to be self-reliant—God had the perfect plan all along. You’d think that Jonah would have been ecstatic, but instead, he was angry. He wanted the people to be punished for their evil ways, not treated with mercy and compassion.

This may confuse us—until we put it into perspective. It is downright un-human to want good things to happen to those who have caused harm and destruction. But God’s character is far above man’s character; God IS love. And He wants to lavish EVERYONE with forgiveness and compassion. That means we can come to God no matter WHAT we have done and receive His mercy and grace. And when we allow the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, we can exude that same love for others.

Jonah was still self-focused, but God didn’t give up on him. In fact, He continued to lead and guide him.

Jonah ventured outside the city, where God made a large, leafy plant grow to provide shade from the dangerously hot sun. And Jonah was happy, recognizing God’s provision. But the next morning, God sent a worm to destroy the plant, and Jonah got so hot he wanted to die. He was done.

Then the LORD spoke clearly, pointing out Jonah’s selffocus. Jonah had wanted and accepted the LORD’s mercy for himself, but he reacted in anger when God lavished mercy on others.

Jonah attempted to run from God and the calling on his life. And although his actions were full of blunders and missteps, God never stopped loving, leading, and guiding him.

Sometimes, we, too, may be tempted to run away from God and our calling, becoming self-absorbed and believing we are not equipped to handle what we have been asked to do. But you can’t run from God. And when we look beyond ourselves and trust the LORD’s power as we take purposeful steps, He will always lavish us with provision, mercy, and grace. And we won’t miss the after-party!

Julie Jenkins

WWL co-CEO

julie@womenworldleaders.com