Be Like Jonah

By Richard L Spangler

 We all know the story of Jonah, the prophet who tried to run from giving God’s message to Nineveh. But, there is much more to his story and that is why I titled this article “Be Like Jonah.”

   Never-the-less In Jonah chapter 3, he heads to Nineveh. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. A city 60 miles wide and a population of 120,000. The Leadership of Nineveh was brutal to their enemies and their own people. The leaders of Nineveh would use terror and brutality in order to maintain control over the empire. Their methods included, mass beheadings and making pyramids out of the heads, impaling people on stakes (an early form of crucifixion) and nailing bodies to the walls of the various cities in empire. The Assyrians did not worship God Jehovah. Jonah knew all of this, No wonder he didn’t want to go there.

   Jonah was walking into a very politically incorrect situation and one that could cost him his life. In Jonah 3:4 He enters the city and declares the Word of the Lord of its impending destruction. A wonderful thing happens, the people of Nineveh believed God. The people proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth. After that the King heard of the move of God in the city and he joined in proclaiming a fast for man and beast. Then the king led everyone from their evil ways and the violence they had done. The people and the king repented. When God saw their works and their repentance and He decided not to destroy them.

   We should be like Jonah, he preached God’s message in a politically incorrect situation. Political correctness says for the church, and individual believer to keep quiet and don’t speak out. If we speak God’s Word we can be branded uneducated, backwards and politically incorrect. But if we, like Jonah, speak the Word that God in power and authority, telling them message of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, to the people around us we too can have the same results. We can change our neighborhoods, our cities, our states and our nation.

   We do not need to look to the political leadership of our nation for change. The leaders of Nineveh did not change until they saw the people change. The same is true of our leaders, they will not change unless we lead the people to change.

   It is up to us to take the message of God’s love to the streets of our cities like Jonah did and expect greater results. The reason I say greater is that we have the Holy Spirit. We have the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). The combining of the Fruits and the Gifts of the Spirit creates a far greater anointing than any Old Testament prophet ever had, so we can expect greater results.  

We are God’s messengers to this nation and to the world. It’s time to put action to our prayers for our nation. Do not be afraid of those who call you names and say you are politically incorrect, stand your ground and speak the Word of God, demonstrate His love and power and expect change.  

 ©COPYRIGHT 2014 RICHARD L. SPANGLER