I think anyone who has any kind of a Christian or Jewish background knows the basic story about Jonah: how he was swallowed up by a great fish because he did not want to do what God told him. Most people focus on Jonah and use it as a lesson in what not to do, and rightfully so! That is, obey God when he tells us to do something. However, there is a lot more going on in that very short book. The book of Jonah is only four chapters long, and while they themselves are also very short, there is a lot to unpack in them. Let’s talk about one of several narratives in the book: focusing on people.
To be blunt, people get too focus on Jonah. Well, after all, the book is named after him though… But, that’s one of the key narratives that people miss in the story: being focused on the person, and missing God. God uses vessels; man is a vessel. And, man as a human is fallible. However, God and His Word are not! It is key in this story and vitally important for your salvation that you understand this!
Analyzing how Jonah acted in the story and God’s interaction with him, it is clear that Jonah’s heart wasn’t right. That was the vessel, aka Jonah. God’s Word/work still had to be, and was, done. Jonah’s weakness, failure, backsliding, or whatever you want to call it, in no way changed the power of God’s Word. The first argument that would come to mind is: “well it kind of did, because of his position and influence”. That’s exactly the point of the narrative in Jonah, to address that argument 🙂
When Jonah went to, and preached in Nineveh, his heart was in the right place. Nineveh, repented and they were saved because they listened. Afterwards, Jonah’s heart wasn’t “in the right place” again. But, did that (the status of the vessel) change the message (God’s Word/work) that he previously preached while under the influence of God when his heart was right? Absolutely not!
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. — Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
Unfortunately, there have been great people of God who have fallen throughout time, but their failures as vessels in no way changes the power of God’s Word/work. When a preacher/person of God falls, any mention of said person is met with contempt and a shutdown precedes. People pounce on it, they try to invalidate, negate, and ignore any of the previous works that, that person did. For some it even becomes a means to be complacent in their sin. All this while ignoring the fact that it was The Spirit of God who was actually doing those works. Can you imagine what would have happened to Nineveh if they said: “oh Jonah backslid. We can ignore his message and go back to what we were doing”?
Now, do not take this post out of context and do not think for a second that I’m making excuses for corrupt preachers! Once a person has fallen hard you should no longer follow their new works, as God can no longer use that vessel. Not that He can’t per se, but that vessel can no longer have the potency because it’s corrupted in people’s minds. That vessel should take a backseat and be quiet going forward. However, any prior works that they did under the influence of God, is still God’s Word/work! Again, it is key for your salvation that you understand that! Much growth, many teachings, and blessings are all missed out on because people fail to acknowledge the workings of God’s Spirit. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. This is still the key message in the book of Jonah: listen to what God says. Here we are looking at the message from a different angle/narrative.
If you are not saved/redeemed please do so today.
Come to God open, empty and without statements.
Ask him to be real to you and believe in Him.
Humble yourself before Him, confess who you are, and tell Him that you are sorry for your sins.
Ask Him to forgive you and to come into your life and start a personal relationship.
Believe this and be born again!
May God bless and keep all who read this.
May God bless and keep all brothers and sisters, new and old in the faith, in his name.
With his love and mine,
Chrom