How God Used an Unfaithful Servant Like Jonah for His Glory

God is an expert at using disobedient, unfaithful people for His cause. One of His more famous unwilling servants? Jonah.

Jonah thought he was an expert, too—at running. Despite being a prophet of God, he was disobedient, unrepentant, and unfaithful.

From the four chapters in the book of Jonah, we can learn a lot about Jonah’s lack of heart and how God used him to transform hundreds of others’ hearts—Ninevites who had done some downright-awful things.

God’s Mercy vs. Jonah’s Condemnation

Jonah knew the Ninevites’ reputation. If you remember the story, you’ll know that Jonah hopped on a ship to a city in the opposite direction of Nineveh. While God had in mind repentance, Jonah wanted to escape (Jonah 1:3). And if he went, he wanted those people to suffer. They were evil, so why would God warn them of judgment?

God knew the people had done worse than splash in a mud puddle, but He offered to wash them.

Jonah reminds me of someone I know. Someone who desires personal comfort, agenda, and retaliation. Someone who resists or even runs—spiritually, physically, or emotionally—from God’s call. Maybe not often or noticeably, but certainly when He calls us to do that thing.

That thing we say we could never do.

That thing we think couldn’t possibly be in God’s will because it’s too hard.

That thing we keep resisting.

If you learn anything from Jonah, remember that God’s plan is better than yours. And don’t run the other way.

Jonah’s Escape vs. God’s Deliverance

God called him to one city, but Jonah ran to another in the opposite direction.

He didn’t get far.

A storm tossed the ship, terrorized the crew, and made Jonah realize his sin.

How often do you run from God’s plans? We convince ourselves we’re doing God’s will. He wouldn’t bother calling us to anything bold or far away, and living for him in the mundane is easy.

All the while, we avoid Him in prayer, let our Bibles collect dust, act like the world, and don’t expect Him to show up in our lives. We make excuses to justify our idols and idleness.

What if He calls you somewhere new? What if He tells you to do something difficult, unheard of, or unexpected?

What then?

Just like Jonah, you get another chance to change. My advice is to take it.

God Offers Second Chances, but Jonah Doesn’t

Jonah recognized his sin and God’s power. To calm the storm, he asked the crew to toss him overboard. For a while, they resisted—but eventually, the storm became too much.

They threw him into the sea.

In another example of God’s mercy and gift of repentance, He had already prepared a giant fish to save Jonah (Jonah 1:17). Yup, save him by swallowing him whole and taking him straight to Nineveh. He stayed in a fish’s belly for three musty, icky days (Jonah 2).

Did you notice in Jonah 2:2 where Jonah mentions “Sheol”? He wasn’t talking about the name of the fish but “the realm of the dead”. It was likely miserable inside the fish. No sunshine, no clean air, and little hope.

By the time the fish vomited Jonah onto land, he was probably shaken but repentant. Maybe he decided that telling the people about God’s judgment wasn’t so bad in light of what he had experienced.

Knowledge vs. Heart

Jonah had run, jumped ship, nearly drowned, been swallowed and vomited, and gone into a wicked city to—what? Tell the Ninevites of their evil?

He knew the storm was because of his disobedience. He knew the fish was because of his disobedience. He knew God had given him a free ride to Nineveh because of his disobedience.

All the while, God wanted one thing: obedience.

Jonah didn’t lack knowledge of his predicament, and even if he had, that wasn’t his problem. His problem rested in his heart.

Did he care about the people? No. (Jonah 3:10–4:1)

Was he prideful? Yes. (Jonah 4:2–4)

Yet God still used him. (Jonah 3)

Jonah’s Anger over a Plant

Jonah was pretty miffed. He expected God to wipe the Ninevites out of existence. He didn’t. He did offer shade by way of a plant. Jonah was so happy—until the plant died, too.

Uh-oh. Is anyone else sensing a temper tantrum coming?

Jonah was not happy. He begged God to bring back the plant, kill him, anything to keep him from the mess he was in. Oh yes, it went there.

Jonah’s problem? He loved comfort—in the form of a stupid, silly plant that meant nothing in light of eternity—but hated the very souls God had created.

The book doesn’t carry far enough for us to hear Jonah’s response to God’s reprimand, but I’m guessing that was also less than pleasant.

Jonah’s lord was comfort, not God.

Are You a Jonah?

Do you see yourself in Jonah’s predicament? The sad reality is that some of us could care less about people but more about our comfort. So here’s your reminder…

When God calls you somewhere, go.

When God withers the plant, rejoice for the people who are left.

When God uses a fish to save your life…

Well, at that point, maybe start wondering where you went wrong.