Results of Preaching - Jonah

 Jonah 3:4-5 (ESV Strong's)

4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

Results of Preaching

Jonah did not want to preach the message God gave him.  He especially did not want to preach the message to they city of Nineveh.   Nineveh was the capital city of the Assyrians.   The Assyrians were a ruthless and evil people who would utterly destroy their enemies (or, anyone) without mercy or grace.  They actually enjoyed the slaughtering of the innocent.   Jonah was sent to them, by God, to preach repentance.   Here is what Jonah will say to God after God turns the hearts of the Ninevites around:

Jonah 4:2 (ESV Strong's)

2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

Jonah simply did not want them to repent and know God’s grace.  We have no idea why, other than their wickedness.  Perhaps Jonah had family that was destroyed by the Assyrians.   Whatever the case, Jonah did not want to offer them grace.  Yet, he eventually does and the above verses tell us the result.  They repented.   This is exactly what Jonah did not want.   Yet, how many prophets, preachers, evangelist and/or teachers would rejoice at such a wonderful revival?   The prophet Isaiah was somewhat revered in his day (mostly), while Jeremiah was ridiculed and chastised.   The prophet Amos and Obadiah have no accounts of success for their ministries.   Peter saw thousands come into the church as a result of his preaching.   Yet, Paul was often, at first, run out of town and eventually died for his preaching.   Paul established several churches across the world and had much fruit, but not always instantly, like Jonah.   When God gives us a ministry our job is be faithful to it and not worry about the results of the ministry.   The world is result oriented. Large churches are seen as success because of the large numbers.  Smaller churches are not, for they lack numbers.  Yet, God will judge those who teach and/or preach on their faithfulness, not their productivity of conversion.   Jonah had great fruit and wept.  Paul often had no fruit and wept.   The fruit is from God.  The faithfulness to the mission is God working in us.   The work is His and the results are His.  We are the tools He chooses to use.