A Day-by-day devotional

June 17, 2023

The ending to your story

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Jonah 1-4

Scripture of the Day: Jonah 4

Already as kids at children‘s church, we have been introduced to the guy who was swallowed by a whale. The original biblical text says big fish, so it is possible that the writer mistook the whale, which is a mammal, for a big fish, or it was not really a whale at all. Nonetheless, Jonah‘s story is one of the most popular biblical narratives.

Jonah doesn’t have a good reputation. He is well-known as the dude who ran away from God. The Lord gave him an assignment to go to Nineveh, but he sailed away to Tarshish. While on the ship, God sent a storm. The people he was traveling with became aware that it was due to him, how he was trying to escape his God. The people did not worship Yahweh in the beginning but through Jonah‘s actions, they later prayed to Him and feared Him.

When Jonah realized the mess he caused, he asked to be thrown into the sea. When they did, he did not perish. Instead, Yahweh sent a big fish to swallow him. In the process, his life was spared.

Having seen God’s mercy, when God called him to go to Nineveh the second time, he did. He proclaimed God’s message of judgement towards their sinful ways. As a result, the people repented and turned to Yahweh. God, in the end, no longer sent His judgment towards them. For this reason, Jonah became very angry – both about God’s action and God Himself. He felt that his journey to Nineveh was actually wasted. He proclaimed judgement, yet it did not happen. Due to God’s mercy, and their repentance, He withheld it from them.

In the end, God asked Jonah why He should not spare Nineveh from judgment when they have realized their sin. The narrative ended there. The bible did not give an account of what Jonah told God.

Hence, his place in history never got to be completely made known. It did not record God’s question to him being answered. Jonah‘s story ended with a question mark.

How would you want your life story to end? Would you like it to have a beautiful conclusion of your walk with God? Or would you be alright with it ending in a question mark like Jonah‘s?

Even though Jonah did not heed to God’s call the first time he was sent to his assignment, God’s plans still took place. Although Jonah resisted and said no to God, the events surrounding his life story led to the people on the ship believing in Yahweh. It also led to the people of Nineveh being spared from God’s wrath.

God looks for willing vessels to carry out His plans. He searches from among us. Nonetheless, with or without any of us, God is still able to fulfill His plans. He does not need us.

Our purpose in life, the reason we were created, is to worship God. Therefore, God offers us the privilege to act out this worship through obedience. The highest form of worship that we could offer is when we heed to His call.

God did not need Jonah. However, even if Jonah wasn’t the most willing of vessels, the Lord was still able to use him for His purpose. God’s plans would always come to pass, with or without us.

Reflection: Are you willing to be part of that plan by obeying? Or would you rather go your own way? We can spare ourselves from being thrown into sea and being swallowed by a fish. We can spare ourselves from the consequences of our wrong choices and actions. We only need to heed to God’s call and obey.

Prayer: Lord, please do not let me come to that point where I would be thrown at sea and dwell inside the belly of a fish for days before I realize that disobeying you brings me nowhere. Remind me everyday of the things I need to do, in order to be able to say yes to your call. Thank you for the privilege of serving you. Amen.