- January 4, 2008.
Jonah, the prophet of the Lord. There can be no question about his calling to the office of a prophet. When he was in obedience the Lord blessed him with the warnings of the Lord to the people. Consequently, he was responsible for the deliverance of the whole city of Nineveh. The book of Jonah pictures him as having a rough and tough disposition. Not much polish in his personality. The Lord never hides the character of those whom He uses. Jonah was no exception. Jonah 4:9.
The Lord confronted an angry Jonah. No wonder the Lord had dealt with him in such an extreme measure. He thoroughly understood the man whom He had called to be a prophet. Hopefully, a new testament prophet would have much more of the grace of the Lord in them and in their ministry. We do not look for the message to change but definitely delivered by one who had fully partaken of the mercy of the Lord. Did Jonah really have a right to be mad about the death of the plant. It was his ease and comfort which had been disturbed. The plant was just another plant and nothing more.
Always ready to justify his emotions and actions Jonah was to insist, before the Lord, that his point of view was correct. He was convinced that he had every right to be perturbed about the plant and was all set to argue his point of view. Is there anything which sounds familiar about this? Self justification does not get very far with the Lord.
The Lord said; you can show pity on a plant (we even have such today) But you show no pity on a large city with one hundred twenty thousand Infants dwelling in it who as yet are unable to care or fend for themselves. Note Deut. 1:39 The closing statements of the book of Jonah magnify the mercy, the grace, and the compassion of the Lord toward mankind regardless of their sinful condition, if they will but turn from their wicked ways. It is interesting that the Lord would use the number one hundred twenty here. This number is typical of the completed work of the Lord after a last day revival, such as took place in Nineveh. Solomon having finished the building of the Temple and having brought the Ark into the most Holy Place, removed the staves by which they carried it. Signifying that it had reached its final resting place. One hundred and twenty trumpets plus the singers blended their voices and sounds together in perfect harmony and unity, as one man. As they made one sound in blessing and praising the Lord the glory of the Lord entered into the Temple and the Lord acknowledged that it was accepted by Him. 2 Chron. 5:7-14 We see in this number the completion and dedication of the house of the Lord, the body of Christ as His bride. The perfect and absolute unity which can only be accomplished by the Spirit of the Lord. The Lord has tremendous plans for the end of the age. END