Running From Nineveh

Why was Jonah running from Nineveh? Was it because he did not want to be involved in ministry? No, it was because he did not want to be involved in ministry in Nineveh. His hatred for the Assyrians was so extreme that he did not want to go there for fear they would repent and not receive the destruction he felt they deserved. What a callous heart filled with hate Jonah had! Why would God choose someone like that to reach them? Perhaps it took someone like Jonah, filled with obvious prejudices to reach the hardened, wicked people of Nineveh. I think God’s choice of Jonah had more to do with what He was trying to do in Jonah’s heart rather than the Assyrians. People run from God all the time. Why was Jonah singled out to be retrieved by such extreme measures? I think it had to do with the brazen disregard for God’s will. Jonah could have been used anywhere, but God wanted him in Nineveh. Jonah knew that but because of his extreme prejudice chose a different path. Thus the whale to get his attention.

God’s desire for Jonah is the same as it is for the rest of us. He desires us to follow Him regardless of our desires, prejudices or common sense. What kind of arrogance do we have to possess to tell the sovereign God of the universe that we somehow no better as to how we should reach the world? Before we throw Jonah under the whale we need to examine God’s calling on our own lives. Here are 5 questions to consider:

• Has He called us to go somewhere or do something that we have diverted our attention away from?
• Have we settled for playing church instead of being the church to a lost and dying world?
• Have we substituted religious activity for following the will of God? (Where is your Nineveh?)
• What will God have to do to get your attention to follow Him?
• What will be the fate of the people you choose not to reach with the message of salvation?