Loving Difficult People in Difficult Places (Part 2 of 4)

Read Jonah 2

God's call to Jonah is to love difficult people in difficult places. His call to us is the same. A ship bound for Tarshish OR an overcrowded living room with my own kin; makes no difference to God. Today we will see how one begins to move toward the Call of God... It begins, curiously but not surprisingly when you consider our God, with confession.

Confession is not simply, "Oh crud, I got caught and I am sorry." It literally means, to speak in agreement with.

DARKNESS GOING DOWN

Jonah had hoped to go to an early grave to escape obedience.

The heaving storm, the angry yet terrified sea-faring men, and the gripping realization that "you just can't run from God" all permeate Jonah's mind as the cold water saturates his clothing. In a violent, but now welcome moment what feels like a swirling vortex of water clasps with darkness and immediate silence around him. The stench of half digested plant and marine life sucker punch his sense of smell. He can't see anything so sight is useless. Taste, out of the question; who eats what he cannot see? Everything feels slimy but at least he's alive. The background noises of gurgling and bubbles is like a symphony to his now thankful ears. But the smell, dear gracious, it's awful. 

Instinctively he knows what he ought to do. So in desperation he cries out to his God (Jonah 2:1). I caused this and I know you discipline the one you love (Hebrews 12:6, Proverbs 3:12). There I was sinking as fast as my sin would drown me; but I remembered You (Jonah 2:7).

GRACE RISING

One could almost say that Jonah seemed to begin his confession with a little misinformation, "For you cast me into the deep..."  Unless God manifests as a cursing sailor, odds are Jonah is off his rocker. OR IS HE? More than just a nod to acknowledging the sovereignty of God, he flat out confesses that God threw him in as discipline for his sin. Incredible! The limitless resources of our sovereign God include a large fish, a crew of sailors willing to chuck a complete stranger to his death, and the passage of time all to highlight what Jonah proclaims: "Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love... Salvation belongs to the LORD!" Think on the reality Jonah states so clearly, "...yet you brought up my life from the pit..." This is miraculous grace, transcendent mercy.

Truly the miracle of confession is what happens on the inside. Jonah at this point, is broken. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

How do you know if you are broken and ready to follow God's call to love difficult people in difficult places? Well, for starters you are DONE hiding and we all know what that means. Part of being done means you don't care who knows and you are willing to seek help because everything else has failed.

Often we let the merciless response of man control our confession. Remember, confession speaks in agreement... "In agreement with what?" you may ask. Well, in agreement with God. In grace God showed mercy to someone (Jonah) who deserved much worse. How? How is it that a righteous and perfectly just God can do such outlandish things? It would seem that His mercy is predictably present for the humble.

A number of years after Jonah's experience, his story familiar to the Pharisees (self-righteous and pompous spiritual leaders of Israel) they come with a baited statement for Jesus: "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." (Matthew 12:38). Wasting no time and no patsy for fools, Jesus summons their attention to Jonah. In effect, "Look, you want a sign and you'll get one. Just as Jonah was in the  fish for 3 days, so will I. Even the reprobate men of Nineveh repented at Jonah's preaching, and they are coming to judge you. You guys are in a heap of trouble if you catch my drift." 

JESUS, JONAH and YOU

Interesting isn't it? Both Jesus and Jonah went willingly (Jonah took a tad more convincing) to follow the call of God. Both felt abandoned. Both were saved and it takes faith to believe both of their stories. However, ONLY ONE tasted punishment unjustly for the sins of others. ONLY ONE wasn't going to the grave as a means of escape. ONLY faith in God's ONE is our means of escape from what the grave promises every human drawing a breath now. Jonah proves I will look out for number one. Jesus rescues those who prefer number one so they can love difficult people in difficult places.