Here is the scenario: You walking down the aisle of the grocery store gathering the things on your list, all of sudden you hear an ear shattering scream, startled you turn to see a young child fighting with all his might to keep something that he has grabbed off a shelf from his mom. He ignores the calming words of his mom for all he knows is he wants what is in his hands and his mom is trying to take it away. He screams and kicks go on and on as he refuses to let go more heads turn and people gawk. Some onlookers are clearly irritated and their eyes unmistakably aim the unspoken words, “Shut that kid up!” at the young embarrassed mom. But others, mainly women and you of course, cast sympathetic glances toward her, clearly showing they understand for they have been there, done that.
How about you? Have you been there and done that? Did you know GOD has?
This week I saw GOD in the mom’s position trying to calm down HIS childish pouting prophet Jonah. But as I thought on these things, (lest I get to high and mighty) the LORD reminded me of times I acted like just like Jonah. But looking back, the crazy thing I see is that at those times I had no clue of my own childish behavior. I self righteously thought that I was right.
One time was when Mac felt we needed a new car. I didn’t think we needed the bill and loved my little green Neon with the sun roof. Since I was at work when he went car hunting and couldn’t tag along and clearly wasn’t encouraging him a bit on this venture, he asked me what color I wanted. My response was, “I don’t care, anything but red.”
So what did he come home with? … a red car. It was pretty, but I refused to accept it graciously. All I could see was Mac got that stupid car and if that wasn’t bad enough after asking me my preferences, he got the color I said I did not want. I pouted and grumbled until finally Mac traded the car off. That trade cost us plenty. So you see, I have been in Jonah’s shoes so I am not bad mouthing him.
But lets look at GOD’s chosen prophet, who chose to be a vessel of dishonor, by demanding his own way.
How about you? Have you been there and done that? Did you know GOD has?
This week I saw GOD in the mom’s position trying to calm down HIS childish pouting prophet Jonah. But as I thought on these things, (lest I get to high and mighty) the LORD reminded me of times I acted like just like Jonah. But looking back, the crazy thing I see is that at those times I had no clue of my own childish behavior. I self righteously thought that I was right.
One time was when Mac felt we needed a new car. I didn’t think we needed the bill and loved my little green Neon with the sun roof. Since I was at work when he went car hunting and couldn’t tag along and clearly wasn’t encouraging him a bit on this venture, he asked me what color I wanted. My response was, “I don’t care, anything but red.”
So what did he come home with? … a red car. It was pretty, but I refused to accept it graciously. All I could see was Mac got that stupid car and if that wasn’t bad enough after asking me my preferences, he got the color I said I did not want. I pouted and grumbled until finally Mac traded the car off. That trade cost us plenty. So you see, I have been in Jonah’s shoes so I am not bad mouthing him.
But lets look at GOD’s chosen prophet, who chose to be a vessel of dishonor, by demanding his own way.
Notice, as I did, that Jonah was GOD’s much loved child and he did do GOD’s work with amazing results.
Lets look at GOD and how the Sovereign LORD, Creator of heaven and earth gently deals with HIS child throwing a temper tantrum.
GOD had chosen HIS prophet Jonah to go to the wicked people of Nineveh and pronounce judgment. But because Jonah knew GOD was merciful and would quickly forgive if they repented, he ran the other way. For he hated the people of Nineveh because of what they had done to the Jews. Well after a wild storm, getting thrown in the sea, swallowed by a fish and sitting in the acid of the fish’s stomach for 3 days, Jonah, had had enough. HE repented and submitted to GOD. Then GOD had the fish vomit him out on the shore and reassigned Jonah to go to Nineveh and pronounce judgment would hit in 40 days.
Notice: ALMIGHTY GOD gave Jonah a 2nd chance. GOD will always give us another chance if we turn to HIM.
Well, Jonah preached, the people repented, GOD forgave and stopped the judgment, and Jonah got mad and told GOD “I knew this would happen and that was the reason I ran away in the 1st place. I knew YOU are a gracious and compassionate GOD, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily YOU would forgive and cancel YOUR plans to send calamity, Kill me,” cried Jonah, “I don’t want to live!”
GOD gently responded to his dramatics with, “Have you any reason to be angry?”
Ignoring the question, pouting Jonah went and sat down east of the city so he could watch what happened to Nineveh. GOD told him to go and he had done what GOD wanted now GOD had better come through. But the sun was hot, Jonah was miserable, so GOD prepared a vine and had it grow quickly over Jonah to shade him and ease his discomfort. And Jonah was very grateful for the vine. GOD also sent a worm and that night the worm ate through the stem of the vine, so that it soon died and withered away. And as the sun grew hot, GOD sent a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is better than this.” he moaned.
And GOD answered and said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”
“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die.”
Then the LORD said, “ You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there, and a plant at best is only short lived. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 who don’t even know their right hand from their left (that is a Hebrew figure of speech speaking of extreme youth.. in other words little children), not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such …
Lets look back as GOD flung the storm on the ship, and prepared the fish to swallow Jonah, and prepared the vine, and HE sent a worm to kill the vine and then sent a scorching east wind all to lovingly teach his childish servant what Jonah needed to learn {how to have compassion, forgive and love}
That same GOD is tenderly concerned with the little details of your life. So if there are storms or worms or scorching east winds you might want to stop and ask HIM “What’s up?”
Hugs
Sharon
A bunny trail:
Even with his temper tantrum, there are 2 very special things about Jonah,
1- He knew his GOD well and was able to hear HIS voice clearly
“I knew YOU were a gracious and compassionate GOD, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily YOU would forgive and cancel YOUR plans to send calamity…” Jonah 4:2
Today GOD is the same, gracious and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love, quick forgive and easily turned from bringing calamity if one will just humble himself and turn to HIM.
2- Jonah was painfully honest and received correction when the conviction of the Holy Spirit hit-for it is Jonah, himself, who wrote this about himself.
GOD had chosen HIS prophet Jonah to go to the wicked people of Nineveh and pronounce judgment. But because Jonah knew GOD was merciful and would quickly forgive if they repented, he ran the other way. For he hated the people of Nineveh because of what they had done to the Jews. Well after a wild storm, getting thrown in the sea, swallowed by a fish and sitting in the acid of the fish’s stomach for 3 days, Jonah, had had enough. HE repented and submitted to GOD. Then GOD had the fish vomit him out on the shore and reassigned Jonah to go to Nineveh and pronounce judgment would hit in 40 days.
Notice: ALMIGHTY GOD gave Jonah a 2nd chance. GOD will always give us another chance if we turn to HIM.
Well, Jonah preached, the people repented, GOD forgave and stopped the judgment, and Jonah got mad and told GOD “I knew this would happen and that was the reason I ran away in the 1st place. I knew YOU are a gracious and compassionate GOD, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily YOU would forgive and cancel YOUR plans to send calamity, Kill me,” cried Jonah, “I don’t want to live!”
GOD gently responded to his dramatics with, “Have you any reason to be angry?”
Ignoring the question, pouting Jonah went and sat down east of the city so he could watch what happened to Nineveh. GOD told him to go and he had done what GOD wanted now GOD had better come through. But the sun was hot, Jonah was miserable, so GOD prepared a vine and had it grow quickly over Jonah to shade him and ease his discomfort. And Jonah was very grateful for the vine. GOD also sent a worm and that night the worm ate through the stem of the vine, so that it soon died and withered away. And as the sun grew hot, GOD sent a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is better than this.” he moaned.
And GOD answered and said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”
“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die.”
Then the LORD said, “ You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there, and a plant at best is only short lived. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 who don’t even know their right hand from their left (that is a Hebrew figure of speech speaking of extreme youth.. in other words little children), not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such …
Lets look back as GOD flung the storm on the ship, and prepared the fish to swallow Jonah, and prepared the vine, and HE sent a worm to kill the vine and then sent a scorching east wind all to lovingly teach his childish servant what Jonah needed to learn {how to have compassion, forgive and love}
That same GOD is tenderly concerned with the little details of your life. So if there are storms or worms or scorching east winds you might want to stop and ask HIM “What’s up?”
Hugs
Sharon
A bunny trail:
Even with his temper tantrum, there are 2 very special things about Jonah,
1- He knew his GOD well and was able to hear HIS voice clearly
“I knew YOU were a gracious and compassionate GOD, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily YOU would forgive and cancel YOUR plans to send calamity…” Jonah 4:2
Today GOD is the same, gracious and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love, quick forgive and easily turned from bringing calamity if one will just humble himself and turn to HIM.
2- Jonah was painfully honest and received correction when the conviction of the Holy Spirit hit-for it is Jonah, himself, who wrote this about himself.
If you don’t believe me just take a few minutes and read the short book of Jonah.
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