Things weren’t going very well for Jonah. It’s hard to be positive when disobedience brings a consequence that lands you in the belly of a fish. Jonah had a few days to think about his actions and to change his attitude – and he does. He cries out to God, expressing his change of heart, and God expels Jonah from the fish – returning him to land.
“Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time. “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” (Jonah 3:1-2) God’s message still needed to be delivered to the people of Nineveh. God knew that Jonah was the man to bring that message. And so, Jonah, who had tried to run away from God when he was given this directive the first time, is now given a second chance at being obedient when the same directive was given again. “This time Jonah obeyed the LORD’s command and went…” (Jonah 1:3a)
Jonah agrees to go to Nineveh, and understandably so. At this point he knows that he cannot escape God. The consequences of running are very fresh in his mind. He goes – but with a bad attitude. With the wrong mindset. Jonah is happy enough to proclaim the destruction of the great city – a city that took 3 days to travel through. He is no fan of the people of Nineveh. They are evil. They are pagan. They are corrupt. Watching them be destroyed – wiped out completely – brings Jonah a sense of satisfaction. Justice.
But they repent. From the king on down, they repent. They fast. They even make their animals fast with them! They humble themselves before God, believing what Jonah proclaimed about them to be true. “Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change His mind and will hold back the fierce anger from destroying us.” When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, He changed His mind and did not carry out the destruction He had threatened.” (Jonah 3:9-10)
This is a cause for celebration! Can you imagine a people group who had been consumed with doing evil and vile things in one day being transformed and giving their lives and hearts over to God? A revival of more than 120,000? Can you imagine how God’s heart was filled with joy? Love? Can you imagine the scene?
And Jonah, who spoke the words as God’s conduit, instead of rejoicing and feeling the excitement of having partnered with God in such a profound way is angry. Pouting. Having a full blown tantrum. “This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen!” (Jonah 4:1-3)
I’d rather be dead if I can’t have my way.
I know you are merciful, compassionate, slow to get angry, filled with unfailing love – but my desire was to watch you destroy these people, not give them a chance to repent.
Kill me now.
What a heartbreaking attitude. What a sad way to end a story that could have and should have ended with celebration. Instead of leaving the taste of “Hero of Nineveh” in our mouths – we are left with “Self Centered,” and “Hard Hearted Servant.” He went. Things changed for Nineveh. But Jonah’s story ends with a proud tantrum.
So what is my response – our response- when things don’t go our way? Do we tantrum? Do we refuse to see God’s plan and purpose around us because we are too busy dwelling in our disappointment?
God’s ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. So whose ways are better? Whose thoughts are best? Mine? Or God’s?
God’s most powerful plans for our lives – those pieces of our lives that carry the biggest impact – may come from what we are disappointed about! They may directly result from heartache and circumstances we didn’t plan for or see coming. They may be completely counter to what we want to happen. But God’s ways are right and good. God can be trusted. The question for us is not if this will happen – it is when it will happen – and what will our attitudes be like when it does? Tantrum? Or will we join in the celebration?
Blessings!