For 40 Days – Day 29: Doomsday: Conclusions

Key Episode Scripture: Jonah 1-4

Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” (Jonah 1:14 ESVUK)

It’s about a guy who stays in a whale for three days, isn’t it? That’s a very crude summary of the book of Jonah. This book goes into so much more about God’s mission, man’s responses, and, most importantly, learning more about the character of God. We explored the context of why Nineveh was given 40 days til Doomsday. We outlined the content and previously shared some contextual points. Rich though this book is, here are some points that can be used in conclusion.

God Rules

There is something awe-inducing reading about God in the book of Jonah. The runner prophet knows God is the maker of the seas and land. He knows that God can talk to the animals and can talk to nature and direct it however He wants. God rules over nature, over the affairs of man and over history. He orders and orchestrates all things to work in a manner that gives Him glory and no one else. Strangers on a ship to Tarshish and in a city in Assyria acknowledge that what He says goes and that He rules. Acknowledging this can save money on rushing to go in the opposite direction of His instruction. It can also help when we want to dispute how He rules.

Better Get Right With God

Knowing that God rules should affect how we relate to Him. Those who go astray from His rule run the risk of His wrath. When the sailors discovered they were harbouring a runaway, they knew it was time to get right with God. When Jonah acknowledged that he was drowning because of his rebellion, his prayer acknowledged that he better get right with God. When those in Nineveh heard about impending doom from God, they knew they better get right with God. It’s a reality expressed in repentance where we understand we’re heading towards Tarshish when God called us in the opposite direction. If we want to avoid the fatal consequence, it’s in our best interests to get right, Get Right, GET RIGHT with God.

Recognise the Reach of God

We can write off people and dismiss them as having no hope. Maybe because of their background, maybe because of their experience, maybe because of their limited ability or quality. We might write them off, but God does not. God’s reach extends to those who are ignorant. God’s reach extends to those who are rebellious. God’s reach extends to those whose track records might have disqualified them in the ways of others. God’s reach gets to places no one else can reach – even the very murky depths of the sea. That desire to relent from doing harm is why He reaches with His Word of warning.

Rest in God

When those on the ship got right with God, they experienced real rest after the storm eased. When those in Nineveh got right with God, they experienced reprieve, and God relented to offer rest from the woe. When Jonah repented from doing the runner in the opposite direction to God’s call, he experienced a degree of rest in being returned to carry out God’s mission. Jonah’s problem with God is how he refuses to experience rest because he doesn’t do what’s right. He holds his anger to the point of death because of the rest God grants those who repent to get right with Him.

Next, we examine some of the consequences of this episode as we take God seriously in the mission.

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom