Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

The story of Jonah begins in chapter 1 with a call to Nineveh. It is the capital of Assyria which has been an enemy of Israel and will ultimately conquer this northern kingdom. He did not want to proclaim Jehovah’s word there, so he embarked for a city in the opposite direction. He slept while a violent storm overtook the ship. The religious beliefs of the sailors are shown by their throwing dice to determine with whom the gods are angry.

Jonah seems unconcerned when he is singled out and suggests that he should be drowned to save the ship. The crew attempts to row out of the waves with no success. When he is tossed into the sea and it grows calm, a huge fish swallows him.

What would you do if you were inside a fish? In Jonah 2 the future prophet prays to Yahweh. He recounts to his creator the terror he feels at being in the water and his dread at residing in a fish. He did what we are called to do. He repented of the disobedience that landed him in this situation. Even as he does this, his hatred of the Ninevites is evident. This chapter ends with the release of Jonah from his captivity.

Our God is a God of second chances and Jonah gets his second chance in chapter 3. Jehovah instructs him again to go to Nineveh and call them to repentance. When he did, they listened and changed their ways. Even the King of Assyria believed this preacher straight from his three hardest days. If these idolaters can listen to what Yahweh has to say, why can’t we.

Have you ever witnessed a fit thrown by someone that you respected? That is what happens in Jonah 4. After Nineveh repents and Jehovah determines not to punish them at this time as He had originally stated, the prophet pitches a fit. He leaves the city and proceeds to pout about the great forgiveness of the Lord.

A plant grows near his shelter and provides shade from the heat. When a worm and the heat cause the vine to die, he once again asks to die. The point to this story is that even those called by God may not act in a manner that would be expected. Even ministers are human.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger