I love the book of Jonah; it reveals the incredible patience God has with his stubborn servants and the great compassion He has for the wicked. This book also affirms in many different ways the theme that God loved the nations even in the Old Testament.
Jonah was definitely one prophet with a mind of his own. When the LORD sent him to Nineveh (known today as Mosul in Iraq) to warn them of God's coming wrath, Jonah ran the other way. His disobedience caused havoc in the sea while he was sailing away from Nineveh towards Tarshish, dragging the foreign sailors into trouble with him. When the sailors found out Jonah was a Hebrew and that he worshipped the one true God of heaven, they were terrified. (Jonah 1:9-10)
The sailors' reaction affirms that the Hebrew people had become light: that God had been made known to the neighbouring people through His relationship with the Israelites (the theme of yesterday's blog). And when the raging sea grew calm after they threw Jonah overboard as instructed, these men became God fearing followers; Jonah 1:16 indicates that they made sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to Him, entering into a covenant relationship with God.
So, even in his disobedience, Jonah helped made converts. If we are ever concerned that our conduct may turn away would-be God seekers, this story should assure us that God can use anyone in anyway to save the people He wants to save. Our performance is not the limiting factor with God's salvation of other people. We may suffer for our own disobedience, but He is wonderfully creative in bringing the lost ones to Himself.
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