The Grumpy Prophet

Have you ever felt God tugging on your heart to do something you didn’t want to do,

and chose not to do? If so, you are not alone. The Bible speaks of a Prophet by the

name of Jonah that initially refused to be obedient to God’s request. In fact, Jonah

went the exact opposite direction of the Lord’s instructions.

There were reasons in Jonah’s mind for doing so. God has asked Jonah to preach to

the people of Nineveh, an Assyrian nation, that was a ruthless enemy of Israel. Jonah

did not want them saved; he wanted these enemies to perish. However, after three

days in the belly of a great fish, Jonah needed to be saved himself and cried out to the

merciful God that rescued him. Although Jonah decided to be obedient, he wasn’t

happy about it.

Jonah did preach to the Nineveh people, and they were saved. Was Jonah happy about

their response, NO! Jonah was extremely angry! In chapter 4 of the book of Jonah,

it tells us why such a response, “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” That was Jonah fear from the beginning. Because of this, Jonah told God he would rather die than see his enemies live. Yes, this is the man that God’s compassion and mercy was extended to him even when he was disobedience, but he did not want that for selected others.

The grumpy prophet was not finished with throwing his fits. So, Jonah built a small

shelter to wait and see what was going to happen next. The scripture says that God

provided a vine to grow for shade for his prophet, but the next morning God provided a

worm to eat the vine. Again, great anger arose in Jonah. He told God once again that

he would rather die than live because his shade disappeared.

However, this time God makes His point very clear to Jonah. God told Jonah you are

more concerned about your desires, your comfort, and everything you, but I am

concerned about my creation, those I have made in my image, for my purpose. It is not

about you Jonah, it is about 120,000 people you had opportunity to witness to, and

their lives were redeemed. It is still true, “For God so loved the world that he gave his

one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

(John 3:16)

Are we grumpy Christians caught up in ourselves, or are we focused on God’s plan that

stretches us beyond ourselves? God wants us to trust and obey Him. Bruce Haynes

shared this truth, “If we prayed more for obedience, knowing the greatness of His love,

we’d have to pray a whole lot less for deliverance.” That is wonderful advice that will lead to a productive, joyful Christian.

Pastor Ruth Kaunley