Jonah 1:2 NASB

“Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it, because their wickedness has come up before Me.”

Jonah is in sin, and he knows it. He has a different opinion of what God’s will is for his life. Hmm…

Jonah 1:12 NLT

“Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”

Running from God will cause others around you to exhaust themselves trying to fix you. It’s up to YOU to die to you, humble yourself, repent, and get back to God’s leading.

Jonah 1:15-16 NLT

15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once!
16 The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.

Jonah 2:1-2 NLT

1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.
2 He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!

Jonah 2:7-8 NLT

7 As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.
8 Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.

Jonah 2:9-10 NKJV

9 But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.”
10 So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Humility, repentance, and thankfulness get us back to our purpose. They will also keep us there.

Jonah 3:1-2 NLT

1 Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time:
2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.”

Jonah 3:4 NLT

On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!”

Jonah 3:9-10 NLT

9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”
10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

The message you are bringing is the message HE has given you to share to a people HE has prepared to hear it. Don’t get in the way.

Jonah 4:2-4 NLT

2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.
3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”
4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Jonah, be THANKFUL. God is still willing to use you.
THANKFUL that God entrusted you with His message of life.
THANKFUL that God prepared a people to hear the message He gave you to deliver.
THANKFUL that people repented, and a city was saved.
THANKFUL that you got to see it.

Instead of, “God, your extending mercy and grace to a repentant people makes me look bad.”

Jonah 4:11 NKJV

And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”

TIFAW

Humility and repentance empower thankfulness.

Thankfulness equips me with the message people are ready to hear.

I walk in God’s Word and God’s guidance, and I am thankful.