Jonah 1:15-16 (ESV)
So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.
We probably really don’t want to be in the above position but this is what God can still do with a disobedient believer. Jonah was supposed to go to Nineveh and preach God’s love and mercy. Jonah hated the people of Nineveh. He probably had a lot of reasons to hate them. This nation was the worst of the worst. Their cruelty was well known. Scholars have written about what they did to their enemies. Israel was one of these enemies. Jonah didn’t want them to have God’s favor because most of Israel were praying for God’s wrath upon them. To have God ask him to go there to preach mercy and grace is a tough mission for a heart that really wants destruction. This is probably why when Jonah does get to Nineveh this is his delivery:
Jonah 3:4 (ESV)
Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
Of course, his entire message may not be recorded but he wants us to know his main thrust was wrath, not mercy. We know the people of Nineveh come to faith in God and that is what God wanted. However, in the above disobedient act, God also brought people to faith. We would love that God’s messenger has a heart for the people the messenger is trying to reach. But that is not a requirement for God to do His work. In the midst of Jonah’s disobedience, the sailors came to faith. In the midst of his reluctance and inept delivery the entire city of Nineveh came to faith. God prefers a willing heart, but God can use a stubborn one also. Paul said it this way:
Philippians 1:15-18 (ESV)
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
To Live Is Christ
Yes, and I will rejoice,
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