BEHIND ENEMY LINES

This is a synopsis of a series on Jonah that was presented at summer camp.

Part 5 of 7: 

THE GREAT CITY  (Jonah 3:6-10)                                                 

The city of Ninevah had a long and glorious history. It was founded by Noah's great-grand son, who was unfortunately named, Nimrod. The Bible tells us he was a "mighty man" and responsible for the start of several cities. He was the first empire builder in the ancient world. Ninevah was a center of political power, culture and prestige. It was believed that this great city took three days to travel across and was home to more than 600,000 people!

The city of Ninevah was also known for being especially brutal and arrogant. One of the rulers of the city, Ashurbanipal II, reported the following grisly details.

"I caused great slaughter...I destroyed, I demolished, I burned. I took warriors prisoner and impaled them on stakes before their cities. Many of the captives I burned in a fire. Many I took alive; from so I cut off their hands at the wrist...(he goes on to explain other disfiguring acts). I burnt their young men and women to death."

In another place he reports that he acted with such force "to establish victory and strength over the land."

I share some of these details to make this observation. The LORD responded to Ninevah--these Ninevites, with compassion? These aren't just the weird, awkward neighbors these are cruel, wicked men...and God loves them?

I find once again that I come up short against God's grace. This is NOT HOW I WOULD RESPOND. It is not how Jonah wanted God to respond either. This brings us to one of the main points of Jonah. 

Jonah's life is the message. We see in Jonah a mirror into ourselves. 

I can critique Jonah for running from God and for blatantly disobeying. On this point when I see how the Ninevites acted I have to agree with Jonah. I wouldn't want to go to that city, to those people, just so they could be extended grace. It goes against my sense of justice.

My sense. Of justice.

There it is. The root of the issue.I think I know better than God. I trust my wisdom so much more than His. This is the point that Jonah brings us to. Our own hearts and the need for repentance.

JONAH'S MESSAGE & NINEVAH'S RESPONSE

Many of you would probably appreciate Jonah's message, especially during football season, it was all of 8 words. "Yet forty days, and Ninevah will be overthrown!"

Short. Sweet. To the point.

All doom and gloom and no hope. Jonah was happy to declare judgment but we see no word of a way out. Jonah is following God's orders but he hasn't had a change of heart. He is obeying out of duty not out of delight. This makes all the difference to Jonah, though to the LORD he is still able to use the message, despite the messenger. This is amazing to me. God is able to accomplish his purpose in Ninevah despite who they are and despite the fact that his prophet is so reluctant. 

What is frustrating is that Jonah received God's rescuing mercy but he is not willing to extend God's rescuing mercy to others. Jonah still thinks he is better and that he knows better. God still has work to do on Jonah's heart...and on mine.

We see that the Ninevites hear Jonah's message and as a collective group respond in repentance and fasting. We are told they even include their animals in response to the message. They are serious about their response.

Here we can also get a glimpse into the sweep of God's sovereignty. He can use ALL THINGS FOR HIS PURPOSES!

The Ninevite's prior to Jonah's visit experienced a few things in their history that prepared them to hear God's voice. 1) They were weakened by eternal conflict and their power and prestige was unsettled. 2) There was a draught and famine that made many more uncomfortable than they had previously been and 3) Their was a total solar eclipse and an earthquake that were considered to be bad omens. In these three things we see God stripping away their trust and preparing them to receive his mercy.

Most striking and incredible is this. The Ninevite's chief god was Dagon! Okay let me explain. Dagon was a FISH GOD, depicted as half man and half fish. Talk about Jonah gaining street-cred with a group of people! This testifies to the fact that their is NOTHING OUTSIDER THE SCOPE OF GOD'S REDEMPTIVE PURPOSE, NOTHING. 

The whole time that Jonah was in the great fish God was using it. He was using it to work on Jonah's heart and he was using this terrible experience to prepare Jonah for actually being effective in Ninevah! What is a basically land-locked city doing worshipping a fish God anyway? 


There are no coincidences with God.

God is in control.

God knows best.

God knows better than I.

God knows better than you.

Are you willing to admit this? The truth of the matter is that the God who crafts storms and commands sea monsters is now doing something even more incredibly difficult: He's changing the hearts of sinful human beings in Ninevah! 

The good news is that He continues to do this today. God's willingness to forgive is bigger than our willingness to sin! Those who know they are deficient come to the point were they see that God's grace is more than sufficient. 

The encouraging thing about the Ninevites, if you remember from Jesus' claim in Matthew 12, is that they will rise up in judgment because they responded repentantly in faith. This is the call we have each and every day; to trust that God knows more and is in control.

The heart of repentance can be summed up with this quote by G.K. Chesterton, "How much larger your life would be if your self could become smaller in it." Jonah needs to turn away from himself and a small understanding. He needs to turn toward God's promise.

Tomorrow we will continue to be surprised by the stubborn heart of Jonah and God's amazing grace. We will get insight as to why Jonah really ran in the first place and it may surprise you, though it shouldn't.