Jonah was a prophet (Ooh-Ooh)- Veggietales

There are moments when I read the bible and I simply have to cringe. Moments when you try to criticize the people in the bible and tell them how they should have done things.  Suddenly, you realize you identify with them more than you originally thought.

Jonah happens to be one of those people for me.

No, I've never been inside a whale.

Yes, I've doubted, and disobeyed God.  I've complained about my calling.  I've gotten other people in trouble.  And I've been used by God despite my attitude.

For those of you unfamiliar with the story of Jonah, I recommend you check it out.  It's only four chapters long. Easily knocked out in about thirty minutes.  Jonah was a prophet of God to his people, the Israelites.  One day, he was called by God to go to the Ninevites.  These people were the most vile in that time period. They did much more than slap people with fish.  As disgusting as that is, it doesn't compare to the decapitated heads that lined the road to Nineveh.  I'll give this one to Jonah, I wouldn't want to take a vacation to Nineveh, let alone tell them that if they didn't get their act together, God was going to destroy them.  So, instead of obeying God, Jonah boards a boat and goes the opposite direction of Nineveh.  A big storm comes and Jonah tells the crew to throw him over (or he walked off a plank, your choice).  As Jonah's sinking to the bottom, a fish swallows him and he's inside the belly of the fish for three days.

I'm sleeping with fishes here, in the belly of the whale. 
I'm highly nutritious here, in the belly of the whale. 

Jam session over.

After three days, Jonah is vomited onto dry ground and makes his way to Ninevah.  He tells the Ninevites to repent because God is going to destroy their city if they don't.  Then he goes out to wait on God's imminent destruction of this evil city.

To Jonah's dismay, the Ninevites obeyed, and prayed, and fasted, and repented.

We're not too sure what happened to Jonah. Last we hear of him, he's complaining to God for not wiping out the Ninevites along with a few other things he decided he wasn't thankful for.  My assumption is he died a bitter man.

Now, while the story of Jonah is kind of depressing, I love it.  We see Jonah in three places in his life.
1) His comfort zone- I'm guessing he had a fairly easy job of being a prophet to the Israelites.  At least the bible doesn't mention any troubles like those of Hosea.
2) In disobedience- God tells Jonah to do one thing, he does the other. Sound familiar to anyone?
3) In obedience to God- He finally obeys God and goes to the Ninevites.

What I love about this story is how Jonah is used by God in every instance.
Jonah faithfully delivers God's messages to his people, giving encouragement and discipline to God's chosen people.  When Jonah disobeys and heads to Tarsus, the crew on the ship, seeing God's power, praise God. And when Jonah obeys, the Ninevites turn from their sin and ask God's forgiveness.

Here's my theory,  the only reason God still works in powerful ways whatever our walks of life are, is because God is JUST that powerful!!! God doesn't need us! God can do things on His own.  Yet, he chooses to let us be apart of His great story and uses us despite our flaws.

We serve a great God!

And just for fun, here's a picture of Jonah, with a swimming cap and a duck float. You're welcome.