Calling and Purpose 31—Rejecting Your Purpose Part Two--Jonah

I suspect most of us think that if God spoke clearly to us, we would certainly obey.  However, Jonah’s story indicates it might be otherwise, depending on the palatability of the assignment.  In the first three verses of Jonah 1, we see that “The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”  But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.”

 Jonah’s response to God’s purpose was to reject it…and to run as far away from God as possible—as if that were possible!  The Lord sends a storm and the sailors determine that it is somehow related to Jonah.  When questioned, he answers:  “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land” (Jonah 1:9).  Under pressure, we find that Jonah hasn’t rejected God entirely—just God’s calling to a difficult job.  Much like Moses when he tells God to pick somebody else. Or, perhaps like us.

 Jonah instructs the ship’s crew to toss him overboard, I suspect hoping that he would die—and thus avoid having to carry out God’s directive.  Strangely, the crew pray to the Lord and seem to come to belief in Him: “Then they cried out to the Lord, ‘Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.’ Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him” (Jonah 1:14-16).

 God provides a fish that swallows Jonah—who remains there for three days and nights.  Then, Jonah begs for the Lord’s help, promising to worship this God of salvation.  So, God commands the fish to spew Jonah onto land.

 God’s purpose for Jonah hasn’t changed.  Chapter 3 begins thusly: “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.’”

 This time, Jonah chooses to obey. He goes to Nineveh and proclaims God’s coming judgment with the result that “The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth” (Jonah 3:5). Even the king repents.  God sees their repentance and does not bring about the threatened destruction.

 All this does is incite Jonah to anger at God’s mercy toward the Ninevites.  As if Jonah were the only one deserving of God’s mercy?  He argues with God, saying that he knew God would relent and that was why Jonah ran away to Tarshish in the first place.  Jonah is actually despondent that God did what Jonah suspected He might do—extend grace and forgiveness. Jonah wants things his own way—where he dispenses judgment.

 The Lord then reminds Jonah that God’s purposes are the ones that will prevail. God is in charge. We respond, we engage, we embrace our purpose…or not.

Do you sense God calling you to something difficult or perhaps to minister to someone you find offensive?

 Are you running away?

What is one thing you can do to step toward God and toward His purpose for you?

For more on these subjects, see the Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog.  Check out other resources and a six-week workbook at GodGiftsYou.com.

 Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and law enforcement leadership for over 30 years.  Shirley has been EquipConnectServe Director at First Pres Boulder since 1999.  She has worked with leaders and organizations in 47 of the United States as well as having clients outside the U.S.  Contact Shirley