Go Where?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah+1&version=NIV

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a god who relents from sending calamity.” – Jonah 4:2

God asked Jonah to do a difficult thing. He asked him to go to Nineveh with a warning of impending judgment. Jonah’s is none to happy about what God is asking of him. Why? Because the city of Nineveh was an enemy of Israel. I imagine that Jonah felt like the inhabitants of the city deserved God’s punishment, that they weren’t deserving of God’s compassion and mercy. He didn’t want to warn them for fear that they’d head the warning and he’d rather see God heap burning coals upon their heads (my words, not Jonah’s).

So first he tries to flee God’s command. Quickly he learns that he can’t flee God - big storm, thrown overboard, belly of stinky fish – ‘nough said, God has his attention and he wisely chooses obedience. But even though he’s obedient, he’s not happy about it. He does what God asks of him, but I get the feeling he’s secretly hoping that Nineveh ignores his warning. The word tells us that once he’s warned them, he goes and sits outside the city to watch and see what would happen. What I think he’s hoping for is a front row seat from which to watch God destroy this rebellious people. Instead, he gets a reminder of God’s sovereignty, mercy, and loving compassion for all people.

Has God asked you to do a difficult thing? Perhaps he’s asked you to love someone who is unlovable. Maybe he’s asked you to forgive someone who is undeserving. Or maybe he’s asked you not only to love and forgive someone who isn’t deserving, but to minister to them – to share the gospel message. That can be a tough thing because I think there are sometimes people in our lives who we quite frankly hope we don’t see in heaven. I’m thinking each one of us can think of someone we don’t believe is deserving of mercy and compassion from God and with whom we’d rather not share an eternity in heaven.

But from Jonah we learn two things. First, we learn that you cannot run from God’s calling without consequences in your life. Who is to say what the consequence might be, but certainly you miss the amazing experience of seeing God change a life you thought was impossible to change. Secondly, we are reminded that God is concerned for and loves everyone. I have to tell you that right now, the fact that he is so gracious and merciful, even to people who “cannot tell their right hand from their left” is a great comfort to me. He has the ability to change the heart of even the most appalling people. Who are we to limit his power or get in the way of his loving compassion? After all, did he not extend this compassion first to us – and still does every day – even when we should already know our right from our left?

Is God calling you to go to Nineveh? I encourage you to answer the call. You might not understand the why know how God could ever use you there, but I urge you to trust in his sovereignty and his power to equip you to carry out the task to which he is calling you. His compassion and mercy is for all people, and I guarantee you’ll find great joy in the midst of obedience to a difficult calling – so go willingly. You will get the privilege of having a front row seat to watch God change the life of someone that you thought was a impossible case – and in seeing God work in that way alone you will be blessed beyond measure because you will witness God’s glory.

Will you go?

Something to share: We would love it if you’d like to share a time in your life when God asked you to go to Nineveh and what you got to see him do there.

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels