Tuesday, January 27, 2009

You can't mean me!

I had an opportunity to fill a pulpit this past Sunday at church. Here is my short summary.

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We start with Jonah, a prophet of Israel, given a task by God to call the ruthless, warmongering, heathen Assyrians of Nineveh to repentance. That’s the enemy!

We continue with a prophet and probably a patriot of Israel, attempting to flee in the other direction on a slow boat to Spain, manned by heathen captain and crew. Now, add a raging storm and prayers from heathens to their idol gods. Add the heathen captain preaching to a sleeping Jonah, “pray to your god!” says the captain to Jonah.

Who is the prophet in this book?

The heathen sailors try to save Jonah’s life. The heathen crew pray to God and make vows to continue. The heathen of Nineveh, including the King, turn to God. Everyone turns to God. But where is Jonah, the prophet of Israel? Jonah remains angry. Jonah is sitting on a hill outside of Nineveh. Jonah, a prophet of Israel, remains sitting on a hill in the dry wind, angry.

What I learned?
1. I am Jonah at times.
2. The Word of God might speak to me from anyone.
3. I do not want to stay Jonah sitting in a dry wind.
4. I pray I recognize “Nineveh”s when God gives them.