The Minor Prophets Messengers for Today: The Jonah Syndrome

The Minor Prophets Messengers for Today: The Jonah Syndrome

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

The book of Jonah demonstrates that God is a merciful and gracious God. Because of its wickedness, the city of Nineveh deserved to be destroyed. God was patient towards them and called Jonah to bring the message to that Assyrian city. When he first received the call from God, Jonah ran away.

•    In chapter 1, Jonah embarked on a ship headed for Tarshish. When the ship encountered a disastrous storm, Jonah confessed that his disobedience to the Lord was the cause of the storm.  The sailors then threw him into the sea. “And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights” (1:17).

•    Chapter 2-3, After God had the fish cough him up, three days later; Jonah obeyed God and went to Nineveh to fulfill his mission. Jonah preached a message of repentance and to his surprise and sorrow, the sinful city repented. “Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them” (3:5).

•    In chapter 4, God dealt with Jonah and taught him about His love and compassion.[i] 

While we usually focus on the great fish swallowing Jonah, chapter 4 is the rest of the story.  Jonah, a successful evangelist, who preached a message that caused a sinful, jaded urban population to fall on their knees in repentance, was angry when the Lord spared Nineveh. After expressing his anger to the Lord, Jonah went out of the city and sat down to watch what would happen.  God prepared a large plant that grew quickly and sheltered Jonah through the night.  Jonah was thankful for the plant.  However, in the morning the Lord sent a worm that withered the plant and a wind that beat down on Jonah, withering his spirit and rousing his anger once again. 

Jonah 4:9-11 (NKJV): Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?"

And he said, "It is right for me to be angry, even to death!"
But the LORD said, "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night.
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?"

To we recognize the character of Jonah in ourselves? As we see so many evil situations and behaviors around us, do we let a spirit of anger overwhelm us to the point that we don’t want to see resolutions and repentance?  Are we reluctant to share the word of God’s love and mercy because we are afraid that people who are not on our “approved” list might show up in our church and in our vision of heaven?  Do we fall into the trap of calling names rather than discussing issues?  Are we resting on our “blessed assurances” and waiting for the Lord blow everything to “smithereens”?  Then we just might be afflicted with the “Jonah syndrome”.

The Lord is calling us to stand together for what is right in the power and peace of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.  He is calling us to repentance for our negativity and our angry spirit.  He is calling us to declare the word of the Lord with our lips and to demonstrate His love and mercy in our lives. 

Isaiah 60:1-2 (NKJV)
¹  Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
²  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.

Make Me a Blessing

Ira Bishop Wilson

Out in the highways and byways of life,   Many are weary and sad; Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,   Making the sorrowing glad.
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing, Out of my life may Jesus shine; Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,   Make me a blessing to someone today.
Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,   Tell of His power to forgive; Others will trust Him if only you prove   True, every moment you live.
Give as ’twas given to you in your need,   Love as the Master loved you; Be to the helpless a helper indeed,   Unto your mission be true.

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[i] http://biblehub.com/summary/jonah/1.htm