Have you ever wondered what Jonah said in his message that convinced the residents of Nineveh to repent? It is not until 3.4 that we see the actual message Jonah that preached: “In forty days, Nineveh will be overturned!”
What does this message mean? Is it a prophecy or a warning? Let us examine the word “overturned” to better understand Jonah’s message. First, God has overturned cities in the past and it was not a positive experience. The most notable is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah when God “overturned” all the cities of the plain (Gen. 19.25). This seems to be how Jonah understood the message. When God relented from punishing Nineveh, Jonah became very angry because he wanted Nineveh to be destroyed (4.1-2). His reaction would make a lot of sense if he understood the message to be warning Nineveh of coming destruction. It could also be argued that the residents of Nineveh understood Jonah’s message as a warning. They understood that they were in danger of perishing (3.9).
Is this the only way to interpret “overturned?” Consulting a good lexicon will reveal that the word can also indicate a change, even a spiritual turning. When Saul was informed that he would be the new king of Israel, he was told that the Spirit of God would come upon him and he would be “turned” into another man (1 Sam. 10.6). With this is mind, let us ask: what if Jonah’s message was a prophecy? What if Jonah was proclaiming that the people of Nineveh would be “changed or turned from within” in forty days? Perhaps the residents of Nineveh understood Jonah’s message this way. This would explain why they went to great effort to repent and put on sackcloth (3.5-8). They saw the opportunity to be turned from within. Also, Jonah does not tell the Ninevites why they will be overthrown. If Jonah is pronouncing a prophecy, the absence of a reason for their destruction makes sense.
Perhaps both interpretations are acceptable. It is worth mentioning that Jonah understood the message as an “overturning” even though it resulted in a “turning from within.” Ironically, Jonah did not allow his attitude to be turned. We might even say everyone in the narrative turned (Ninevites and God 3.10) except Jonah. I gleaned a couple of valuable insights from this study. First, is it possible that I am like Jonah and don’t understand the message the same way as those listening? Second, this is a perfect example of why preachers need to be clear communicators. If Jonah was preaching a destructive message, he was vague in his presentation. The Ninevites chose to hear this message as an opportunity. Perhaps we could say that they took Jonah’s message and “overturned” its meaning.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
How Do I Know My God is Real?
Perhaps this is a question we have all pondered at some time or another. Isaiah has a very interesting section that helps assure Israel the answer to this question. Isaiah 41-48 is a court setting where God has called the entire pantheon of earthly gods together to present their respective case for deity. This section contains 3 fundamental principles that are necessary for deity. God's first challenge implies that a true God can reveal (41.21-24). He demands that the "other gods" reveal the course of human history. Tell the court about the future, tell us about the past, how about you tell us anything. Obviously, they are silent. Not only are they nothing, but it is an abomination to serve such a farce existence (41.24).
The second principle: a true God can create. 44.12-40 contains a detailed account of idol making and worship. I recommend reading it in the Complete Jewish Bible if you have access to that translation. This section describes the labor of a carpenter and a blacksmith as they work with great detail and care to create an idol. Half of the wood used to carve the idol must also be used for heat and cooking. The other half is fashioned and worshipped. The sad disillusionment of this practice is brought out in the CJB: "Not one thinks to himself or has the knowledge or the discernment to say, "I burned half of it in the fire, baked bread on its coals, roasted meat and ate it. Should I now make the rest an abomination? Should I prostrate myself to a tree trunk?" He is relying on ashes! A deceived heart has led him astray; so that now he won't save himself, just won't say, "This thing in my hand is a fraud!" How can that which is made by the hand of man, be the creator of man? A true God is not created, he creates!
The final principle comes from 45.1-4. As the children of Judah were being forewarned about the impending Babylonian exile, Isaiah goes a step further and tells them that God has already planned to deliver them; he even names the person who will deliver them (Cyrus). Not only is this pure predictive prophecy, here lies the last truth that proves YHWH is God. A true God can save. When Isaiah reveals the future exile that Babylonians will go into, he tells how the Babylonians loaded their gods onto beasts in order to save them. These gods do not save, they need saving (46.1-2)! How could a human possibly save deity?
We may not have the same temptation for idol worship as the Ancient Near Eastern world struggled with, but we do face the temptation of placing things above God. How do I know if my God is real? There are 3 fundamental truths that define the nature and ability of an infinite being: What does he reveal? What has he created? Can he save?
The second principle: a true God can create. 44.12-40 contains a detailed account of idol making and worship. I recommend reading it in the Complete Jewish Bible if you have access to that translation. This section describes the labor of a carpenter and a blacksmith as they work with great detail and care to create an idol. Half of the wood used to carve the idol must also be used for heat and cooking. The other half is fashioned and worshipped. The sad disillusionment of this practice is brought out in the CJB: "Not one thinks to himself or has the knowledge or the discernment to say, "I burned half of it in the fire, baked bread on its coals, roasted meat and ate it. Should I now make the rest an abomination? Should I prostrate myself to a tree trunk?" He is relying on ashes! A deceived heart has led him astray; so that now he won't save himself, just won't say, "This thing in my hand is a fraud!" How can that which is made by the hand of man, be the creator of man? A true God is not created, he creates!
The final principle comes from 45.1-4. As the children of Judah were being forewarned about the impending Babylonian exile, Isaiah goes a step further and tells them that God has already planned to deliver them; he even names the person who will deliver them (Cyrus). Not only is this pure predictive prophecy, here lies the last truth that proves YHWH is God. A true God can save. When Isaiah reveals the future exile that Babylonians will go into, he tells how the Babylonians loaded their gods onto beasts in order to save them. These gods do not save, they need saving (46.1-2)! How could a human possibly save deity?
We may not have the same temptation for idol worship as the Ancient Near Eastern world struggled with, but we do face the temptation of placing things above God. How do I know if my God is real? There are 3 fundamental truths that define the nature and ability of an infinite being: What does he reveal? What has he created? Can he save?
Monday, August 4, 2008
The Word of God Shines in All Times
Is it possible to grow up in a godly home and not know God? Is it possible to be part of the Lord's community and not know God? The answer would be Yes! That was just the case in the life of the young Samuel. Samuel grew up in a good home. His parents periodically worshipped the Lord. They met the necessary requirements to purge their sins. They even dedicated Samuel to temple service. Samuel even grew up in the Tabernacle in the service of the priest Eli.
But, in 1 Samuel. 3.7 we are told that Samuel did not yet know the work or person of the Lord. Samuel lived in a time when divine revelation was rare. It was a time of poor spiritual leadership. The Elide dynasty was corrupt and immoral. But the lamp of God had not gone out, both literally and spiritually (3.3). The Lord had great things in mind, through Samuel. Samuel did not need a better family, tabernacle, or teacher, he needed the word of the Lord.
Notice how Samuel progresses as time passes in this narrative. At first, the Lord's word was rare in those days (3.1). However, in one night Samuel came to know the Lord as God spoke to him. The next morning Samuel had something he never had at that point. He had divine knowledge. Yet, he was reluctant to share with Eli because it's message convicted Eli. Even though this message contained judgment, Samuel shared it with Eli. Samuel kept growing in the subsequent days because he kept a relationship with God through his word.
Is it possible to grow up in a Christian home and be a part of the Lord's Church and not know God? Yes! Is it possible to live in a "evangelical society" and have a deficiency in spiritual leadership? Yes. The Samuel narrative teaches us that God remedied Israel's spiritual deficiency and Samuel's relational deficiency with his Word.
But, in 1 Samuel. 3.7 we are told that Samuel did not yet know the work or person of the Lord. Samuel lived in a time when divine revelation was rare. It was a time of poor spiritual leadership. The Elide dynasty was corrupt and immoral. But the lamp of God had not gone out, both literally and spiritually (3.3). The Lord had great things in mind, through Samuel. Samuel did not need a better family, tabernacle, or teacher, he needed the word of the Lord.
Notice how Samuel progresses as time passes in this narrative. At first, the Lord's word was rare in those days (3.1). However, in one night Samuel came to know the Lord as God spoke to him. The next morning Samuel had something he never had at that point. He had divine knowledge. Yet, he was reluctant to share with Eli because it's message convicted Eli. Even though this message contained judgment, Samuel shared it with Eli. Samuel kept growing in the subsequent days because he kept a relationship with God through his word.
Is it possible to grow up in a Christian home and be a part of the Lord's Church and not know God? Yes! Is it possible to live in a "evangelical society" and have a deficiency in spiritual leadership? Yes. The Samuel narrative teaches us that God remedied Israel's spiritual deficiency and Samuel's relational deficiency with his Word.
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