Prophets Must Learn Too

SF, Stagecoach, NV

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

            The Prophets in the Bible have much to teach us, so I thought I’d share some principals we can use today, from the book of Jonah.

           Jonah was God’s prophet, told to go to Nineveh and proclaim God’s judgment against them.  Nineveh was the capital of Assyria (today; Iran, Iraq and part of Saudi Arabia) a city of about 120,000.  But Jonah fled to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish, to hide from the Lord.

            Why would Jonah or any of God’s children for that matter, want to hide from the Lord?  History indicates the Assyrians were Israel’s worst enemy.  And I was once told by a historian, that the troops from Nineveh killed Jonah’s family.  So the last thing he wanted to do was have God offer them salvation – in any form.  But being one of God’s prophets (or servants), how could he believe there’s any place he could hide from God?

            I've never seen anywhere in the Bible, “you must forgive 70 x 7 times except...”  And since we don’t live under the old covenant, “an eye for an eye” Deuteronomy 19:21 doesn't apply today.  Thankfully, we have a God of Loving-kindness and Mercy, I can understand Jonah’s rebellion to obey God, I’d be angry if someone killed my family too.  Yet God knows our very thoughts (Luke 11:17 & John 2:25), He new Jonah’s plans – and prepared accordingly.

            Yes, God sent Jonah to Sheol (hell), but to show him what would be IF he followed his emotions, instead of God’s purpose.  So in reality, God was giving Jonah another chance to change (repent) and obey God.  How often have things gone so wrong, against our prayers and we don’t understand why God would allow it to happen?  Could it be that God has another plan for us too, as Jesus did for us (Isaiah 53: 4-6)?

            I can’t speak for everyone, but I believe God puts us on paths (trials) to:

1.     Strengthen us. (Luke 22:32)

2.     Change our direction, like Paul on the road to Damascus. (Acts 26:12-18)

3.     Reveal Himself to us. (John 4:48)

4.    Correct the path we’ve taken. (Philemon 1:4)

5.     Develop our fruit. (Matthew 12:33-37)

6.    Complete what we’ve been called to do. (Psalms 139:13)

           Many lose heart with God, or just get weary with life, while they go through the valleys – learning His purpose for them.  But always remember, He holds our hand, so we don’t fall to far (Psalms 37:23-24).  Best advice I can give anyone, is we have a God who is faithful and a God of fidelity – ask Him to bless you (Jeremiah 4:1-2 AMP) in the time of your trials and reveal what you need to see, then Praise Him in ALL things, because He has a way of working all things together for good.

           Back to Jonah, God wanted him to obey.  Why?  To see, as we must, that He loves all mankind.  Even those who have no knowledge except to follow satan.  Every human has been born to make one important decision – Where will they spend eternity?  And it must be done freely and with the heart.  To make that choice, all must see the truth about God the Creator, Jesus our Savior, Holy Spirit our Comforter/Teacher and Lucifer the wannabe god (Isaiah 14:12-14).

Jonah 2:8-10

“They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy,

but I will sacrifice unto Thee with the voice of thanksgiving;

I will pay that which I have vowed.  Salvation is of the LORD."

And the LORD spoke unto the fish,

and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”

            Remember, we have a God of second (plus) chances – no matter what we've done, He’ll forgive us and bring us back to His fold (Luke 15:4-7).  There’s only one time limit that I know of – you must come or return to Jesus, before you take your last breath.  I do know there have been men today like Jonah, who have gone to hell and returned, but it was to give their testimony of what hell is really like – a place of torment 24/7 with no exists!

            Back again to Jonah (chapter 3) where Nineveh fasted, prayed and repented (changed) asking God for forgiveness.  When God saw their works, He revoked His decision and Nineveh was saved, but Jonah still needs help.  That’s all it took for Nineveh and it’s all it takes for us, so we need to be careful about condemning anyone, for we never know when or IF they will turn their life over to the Lord, as we have.  If you have anger still, take another lesson Jonah learned.

            We see Jonah going to the Lord (chapter 4) very angry.  He said Lord; I knew you were a Gracious and Merciful God.  That’s why he ran in the opposite direction.  Jonah’s desire is to die now, because of the redemption given Nineveh.  That kind of anger had to come from a great deal of hurt.  But God’s only response was – Do you do well to be angry? Do you?

            Jonah sat outside the city in a booth he built, to watch what God would do.  God made a gourd (shading plant) grow up over Jonah to shade (comfort) and deliver him from his evil (judgment).  Yet Jonah only recognized and thankful for the shade it gave him.  In his anger, he couldn’t see God’s loving care, to deliver him from his anger.

            So the next day, God had the gourd wither and brought a hot east wind; making Jonah faint from the heat.  In desperation, again Jonah said, its better I die than live.  God’s response was to ask him, if it was good, he was angry about the loss of a gourd?  Jonah said yes – angry enough to die.

            Notice God’s final answer to Jonah in the Message Bible (paraphrased) “What’s this?  How is it you can change your feeling from pleasure to anger overnight, about a mere shade tree (gourd) in one day that you did nothing to get?  So why can’t I change what I feel about Nineveh from anger to pleasure?  Nineveh has more than 120,000 childlike people who don’t know right from wrong, to say nothing of all these innocent animals.”

            Something we all need to be reminded of from time to time – God may hate sin, but He LOVES SINNERS.  Why?  A sinner can repent (change), but sin cannot.  Did you also notice that God not only cared about innocent people, but the animals too?  Know that God cares about every living thing He created!

            Although Jonah ends here, you should know that he helped restore the territory of Israel (2 Kings 14:25).  Jonah’s also in Matthew 12:39-41, 16:4, 16:17, Luke 11:29-32 comparing him to Jesus being in the earth 3 days and 3 nights.  And how the men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because Nineveh repented, at the preaching of Jonah.

            Finally, (John 1:42 KVJ, NKJ) Jesus’ disciple Simon Peter was in the lineage of Jonah, called the “rock” and Jesus gives him his purpose – “feed My flock” (John 21:15) and we know how much Simon Peter was used in the New Testament.

So for Jonah, I believe he learned his lessons well, since in the New Testament he’s mentioned several times – comparing his life with Jesus, and his descendants learning directly from Jesus – what a lineage.

            Here are some lessons we can apply in our own life and relationships:

1.     You cannot hide from God!

2.     God did and will, even in our anger; love, comfort and deliver us, because He searches our hearts and knows our love for Him.

3.     God always has a purpose when He tells us to do anything.  It can be to warn of judgment, giving people (nations) a chance to repent.  It can be a warning of what’s coming or instructions of what to do.  Whatever it is – don’t hide, just do it for the Lord and praise Him for His plans.

4.    God LOVES even those who haven’t chosen Him yet and so should we.  So pray, intercede and bless the unsaved to be all that God has called them to be.

5.     God LOVES all His Creation – even innocent animals and He’s waiting for the least to the greatest to know it. 

          The moral of Jonah’s story:  God knows the hearts of man.  If they lack knowledge, and cause hurt to you or themselves – it’s only because they don’t have the Holy Spirit YET!  Forgive them, bless them and realize they can’t understand what they’re missing or the goodness of our God.

Matthew 18:33

“Should you not also have had compassion

on your fellow servant,

just as I had pity on you?”

Have compassion and intercede for the hell they’re going through.  Remember, you also walked in their shoes – unsaved and someone prayed and revealed Jesus to you – PTL!

Learn and be blessed in these lessons from Jonah – in these latter days.

sf