Jonah was God’s servant in another day whom God called to go
to the people of Nineveh and warn them against impending judgment. Jonah didn’t want to do it, never mind he was
a prophet and carrying such warnings was a part of his job description. So Jonah booked passage on a ship headed away
from Nineveh.
On schedule, the ship leaves port. In a self-congratulatory mood, Jonah had gone
down to the lowest part of the ship, doubtless ate a sandwich, and settled into
a deep sleep. On deck things were different.
In nothing flat a “mighty tempest on the
sea” (Jonah 1:4) arose, so much so it threatened to break up the ship. These
experienced mariners knew something was amiss.
Doubtless it was not the time for storms. In fear they threw overboard their cargo to
lighten the load and called out to their gods.
Meanwhile the captain goes looking for Jonah and finds him
asleep in his bunk. The captain could
not believe his eyes, “Here we are about to perish and you are asleep!” He continued, “Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we
may not perish” (Jonah 1:6).
The howling storm did not provide the luxury of lingering
long in prayer, so they began to “cast lots” with the result that Jonah was
revealed as the culprit. After revealing
his identity, occupation and country of origin, Jonah suggested they toss him
overboard to appease the wrath of his God.
The mariners are loathe to do this, rather trying to row for shore. It didn’t work. The sea grew all the more tempestuous. With greatest reluctance the seamen throw him
overboard, all the while asking for God’s mercy. The sea immediately calmed. This provoked a revival of sorts among these
heathen. For his part, Jonah, after a
3-day stay in the “briny deep”, courtesy of a big fish, reluctantly completed
his mission.
Learnings from Jonah. Parallels between the modern church and
Jonah’s circumstance are immediate. The
modern-day Church is Jonah. Nineveh
represents the heathen, unbelieving world.
The Church’s task is to compassionately open the gates of salvation to
all peoples. But, instead of giving itself
to its God-appointed task, the Church has sought the comfort of the “lower deck”
and gone to sleep. Meanwhile, a storm
rages above. The storm is designed to do
two things: (1) point “unbelievers” to
their need of God and (2) wake up the church.
What will it take to waken the Church from its slumber? You supply the most critical scenario from
your area—it may even take a nuclear, pre-emptive strike against Iran by Israel
with the resulting plummeting of the dollar.
Whatever it takes needs to happen sooner rather than later simply
because the longer the Church sleeps, that much fiercer the storm.
Don’t Wait on
Judgment. Why not be pro-active in “seeking
God’s face” for the revelation of His purposes, using the classic “pro-active”
repentance scripture: “If My people, who are called by My name
will humble themselves [“fast”], and
pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (II Chronicles
7:14)? From this verse we say God’s
judgments in the earth must begin with the “household of God”—that’s you and
me.
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