Jonah -

Some of the great Pastors of old have found this book so impacting that it brought them to tears. I never understood this until I started digging into the book and discovered why. I also discovered why I and so many have missed this.

If you grew up in church, then you know that along with Daniel in the Lions den, David fighting Goliath, and Sampson, Jonah with the whale (it was probably not a whale, btw) is likely one of the most famous of all the Old Testament stories.

You can watch the story on Veggie Tales. Or do you remember Pinocchio or many other secular cartoons, the story is of the character getting swallowed by a whale, walking and talking in the stomach with a table and chairs? This shows the infamy of this captivating story.

Even in reading it the story draws us into it as we imagine what it would be like to be inside that fish. The moral of the story from Sunday School up is always similar. Obey God or suffer the consequences. Even if you don't want to... I think this typical moral story is why this book is so under-appreciated though.

As we grew up, if you are like me, you begin to ask the implications of this...Ok. So this means if I refuse to obey God he will make me do it? Or maybe, ok so this means that if I don't obey God he will punish me and everyone around me until I do...??? Not sure about you but it is no wonder that I never payed much attention to the book after I was old enough to make my own choices.

Now, don't get me wrong. Obedience or punishment is a true topic and the story may be a good way to teach that ethic to kids in a form that will capture a child's imagination like no other. But what about the true context of the story? Would this be even better to teach? Let's see.

First, the context shows us that Jonah was actually the first Prophet that God would send out of Israel to evangelize to a foreign nation. Not only this, but this nation was recognized around the world as the worst of the worst. This brings an interesting parallel that helps us to get the point of this story.

Jonah was the representative of Israel and the Prophet. When he was told to go and preach repentance to the Assyrian capital, basically Jonah said...I quit. I would rather not be your mouth peace or representative if it means that these people will get saved. I would rather leave Israel and lose all of my relational blessings than too see these evil people not get their just reward. They are evil and deserve to die...we are your chosen nation and deserve your blessings.

A study through the history of Israel reveals that this was exactly the attitude that Israel had taken. The purpose of this nation was to be "a light to the Gentiles" and rather than do it, they had chosen to reject this but still wanted God to judge without mercy all of their enemies. They were assuming that because God was present in the temple of Jerusalem, then no matter what they did, they would be protected by God from any harm if their enemies attacked them. Not only this but they had become arrogant about their "privilege" of being God's Chosen...

In this context, the message of Jonah becomes a living parable (as was common with the Prophets) for Israel to read and learn from. The message should have been clear. Israel was to be a light to the Gentiles by being obedient to God and showing them how much more favorable it was to be obedient to him than to be disobedient. Israel had refused this mission in favor of living in God's favor without including the heathen in the same privileges.

The message for Israel through Jonah was...No...you will not be favored. And even I have to destroy this nation and raise up another, the one raised up will accomplish this role. The nations, along with Israel have a choice to repent and be forgiven or be punished and I will communicate that message through you or in spite of you.

The story is left open ended with Jonah not really learning the lesson that God was trying to teach him...YAHWEH was the God of ALL THE EARTH not only Israel. And no matter how "pagan" a person or nation is, if they repent they will be forgiven.

This makes Jesus' use of "the Sign of Jonah" even more poignant. For in the first century, Israel was about to make the same error!!! But Jesus, as the resurrected Jonah would deliver the message and offer forgiveness to ALL nations. As a result, many would be saved from destruction. Awesome illustration, right!?

But before we go smashing the Jews for their disobedience, let us apply this to the church today...how many of us enjoy the privilege of God's presence and favor and refuse to go out of our way to share this message with others? How much do we cast judgment on the Islamic "Terrorist" or Latin American "Narco-traficantes" and evil men who are so quick to shed innocent blood. How automatically we celebrate as these pagans and evil men are destroyed, and in our hearts (or for some, openly) wish that they would all die so that we can live in peace with God's blessings in our lives. After all, its their own choice and they deserve to suffer for their evil choices. Right...yeah. Ouch.

My first reaction when I was getting this point was to defend myself and say...but there is a point that was too far. right? Let's be honest, the Assyrians made today's Narcos and ISIS/L look like schoolyard bullies in comparison. Yet God had a message of forgiveness that he wanted for them to hear too. This should inspire us to support in any way we can those who are in the front lines in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America right now.

We are quick to support the military that sends a rightfully earned judgment. How do we support those who are preaching forgiveness to them? Yes, many of them will suffer for it like Pastor Saeed, or even die for it like some recently. But the book of Jonah should remind us that our FIRST and most important priority is not ourselves and our own protection, but rather to go or to get involved with helping those who go and send the message of the gospel to areas that are filled with the worst of the worst.

As I read Jonah in this light, it brings me to tears to think about how the church, like Israel has an obligation to share this good news and be lights IN THE DARKNESS and GO to them, not just invite them to us...Jonah did not say, "Become a Jew and enjoy our privileges" but rather, "repent from your sins and be saved."

Yet so many of us in the church never consider leaving our comfort zones to even become friends with those who don't attend church. So many of us fear even a short term mission trip because of the possible dangers and our fears. After all, we can just tithe and our church will support others who "have that calling"...right? Not exactly.

If you are at a church that supports missions, great. If your church also does missions in your community, that is even greater. And if you regularly support your church and also support missions, even better! But as I learn from Jonah, it is in leaving comfort zones, or sacrificing our comforts to be a part of sharing with those who we think are impossible to reach that God really is able to do the miraculous. It is in this that we share the extreme heart of God who died so that even the blood stained hands of a mafia member or terrorist can reach up to the Jesus that they blaspheme daily, and receive the eternal life that he wants to give them.

My advice from this lesson for you is to "seek the Lord," and ask how he wants you to be involved in Jonah's type of ministry. Because it is not a question of IF, it is a question of HOW and HOW MUCH. Then whatever it is he tells you, just do it. And trust God with the details.