Pursuing Those Who Need to Hear
Jonah 3:1-5, 10; 4:1-11
Too many believers take a passive approach to sharing the good news of Jesus with others. Some try to excuse themselves by claims such as not having spiritual gifts for witnessing, not being called to service, or being too busy. Sadly, the real reason is lack of godly compassion for people different from us or people we just don’t like. This is Jonah’s problem. He does not like the Ninevites. He does not care if they do not know God. So he ran. I wonder if we run for the same reasons.
All people have an urgent need (Jonah 3:1-4). God gave Jonah a second chance to go and preach to the people of Nineveh. This time, he obeyed. Jonah learned several valuable lessons about God in these verses. One, God gives second chances. Without a second chance, we never would have heard of Jonah. As you read these verses, think about all the second opportunities God has given you to be obedient. Think of all the second chances to share the good news. Jonah also learned that God has compassion for all people, even the violent and cruel Ninevites. Since all are under judgment because of sin, we need to view all people with godly compassion and seek ways to share the news of Jesus’ love and salvation.
God acts with sovereign mercy (Jonah 3:5, 10). Our God is a merciful God. If ever in doubt, just look at the cross. Jonah had to overcome his sinful prejudices to go and preach repentance to the Ninevites, but when he did, “they believed God” (v. 5). It was on the first day of his preaching that the revival started. They repented, and God relented from destroying them. Because God is merciful and will forgive those who turn to Him in sincere repentance, we should be eager to share the gospel with all people – even those we don’t like.
Salvation isn’t just about us (Jonah 4:1-4). God sent a great awakening under the preaching of a man who did not even love the souls of the people to whom he preached. Here we encounter a rebellious, angry preacher, not a joyful one. He was obedient, but still not in tune with God’s grace and compassion. He felt sorry for himself and for a dead plant, but not about the multitudes in Nineveh who were under the judgment of God. Before we condemn him for being so selfish, we might want to examine our own lives.
Do we care as God cares? (Jonah 4:5-11). God worked patiently and persistently with Jonah to help him grow in his understanding of, and involvement in, God’s redemptive work. Thankfully, because of God’s grace, He works with us so we can become more like the one who saved us. May we learn to show and share God’s compassion with all people.
Davis– Lessons in the ETB series for the winter quarter are being written by Ron Davis, director of missions for Greenville Baptist Association.