Reaching Out to Everyone: Jonah
Almost
everyone knows the story of Jonah – how a big fish swallowed the prophet and
after three days spit him out onto dry land.
Many also know that this happened because Jonah was running away from
God.
But fewer know why Jonah fled God’s call to go to Nineveh,
one of the most important cities in Assyria, and tell people there to repent
(Jonah 1:2). He didn't run away because
he felt inadequate to be a missionary or because he was afraid of leaving his
home. Jonah resisted God’s call because he
was a racist – he wanted all of the Assyrians to die and suffer eternal
punishment with no opportunity to hear the Good News of a Sovereign, Merciful
God (Jonah 4:2). His prejudice sent him
on a foolish game of hide-and-seek from the Almighty God – and you can guess
who won.
It is true that the Assyrian Empire was an aggressive and
oppressive political regime. It is true
that their people had different cultural and moral standards. Their generals were guilty of some of the
most heinous war atrocities that can be imagined. But with all that being true, God still had a
plan to offer them the opportunity to repent – no society is too degraded to be
redeemed by God. No sinner is too bad to
be made good by God’s Grace.
Racism is unbiblical for two reasons. First, we all come from the same parents –
Adam and Eve – who were made in God’s image (Genesis 1:25-26). As God’s image-bearers, all people are
worthy of our respect. Second, racism is
forbidden because, in Christ, God has destroyed the barriers that divide races
(Ephesians 2:14). We must share the
Gospel with people from every tribe and nation because God’s goal is to create
a body of worshipers from all over the world (Revelation 7:9-10). Racism has no place in the hearts of those
who love the Gospel and believe in God’s worldwide vision for His Church.
From the Discover God Study Bible by Bright Media Foundation
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