# Modern-Day Jonahs

- Link: https://fontlife.com/modern-day-jonahs/
- Published: 2011-01-20T08:04:19-05:00
- Author: Victor Font

Jonah the son of Amittai of Gathhepher was a prophet of Israel who foretold the 
restoration of the ancient boundaries of the kingdom of Israel, a prophecy fulfilled
in 2 Kings 14:25–27, very early in the reign of Jeroboam II. For months now, the
Lord has been leading me to deeply study the Old Testament book that bears this 
prophet’s name. Let there be no doubt, Jonah was an angry, bitter and bigoted man.

If you recall, Jonah was called by God to preach to the Ninevites. Nineveh is first
mentioned in the Bible as a city that Nimrod built in Genesis 10:11. We don’t hear
of Nineveh again until the days of Jonah when it was Assyria’s populous and flourishing
capital city. We can’t be certain about the population of Nineveh during Jonah’s
day, but God does say in Jonah 4:11:

> “And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore
> thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand;
> and also much cattle?”

It’s generally understood that young children and infants are those that can’t “
discern between their right hand and their left hand.” Sixscore thousand is 120,000.
Now if the city had 120,000 infants and young children, how large was the entire
population? Some estimates place the entire population during Jonah’s time at 600,000
to 1,000,000 people. The prophet Nahum later foretells the city’s ruin and utter
desolation; and Zephaniah also predicts its destruction and the fall of the Assyrian
empire. Jonah was told to go and preach to these people before their destruction
was foretold.

Jonah’s response to God’s direction was to run and hide. He tried to get as far 
away from God as he could. Even if you’ve never read the Bible for yourself, you’ve
probably heard of the story of Jonah and the whale. Ultimately, Jonah ended up in
the belly of a great fish for three days and three nights before repenting and telling
God He would obey. The fish spit him out on dry land and Jonah went and preached
to the Ninevites. The city turned away from their sins and people got saved! And
Jonah’s response? He got angry because the people were believing his message.

There are many Christians today who are modern-day Jonah’s. I’m not sure about the
anger and bigotry part, but I am certain about the running and hiding part. Political
correctness has been so drummed into our minds that we are gripped with fear whenever
God presents us with an opportunity to share our faith.

Twice in a former job, I was led directly by a prompting of the Holy Spirit to share
the Gospel with a young woman who worked for me. Our policy at work forbade us from
initiating a conversation about our faith unless the other person asked us a question,
then we were free to answer. As a person with seven direct reports, I feared the
consequences of a potential job loss or disciplinary action if I brought up the 
topic of someone’s salvation. As a result, I ran from God’s direction. Little did
I know that just a few weeks later this young woman would leave work before lunch
not feeling well and die at home at the age of 33. I was devastated that I disobeyed
God.

I might not have spent time in the belly of a fish, but I may have been the last
chance for this young woman to hear a clear Gospel presentation. I purposed in my
heart right then and there that I would never disobey God again when He gives me
an opportunity to present the Gospel.

I want to encourage you today not to be a modern-day Jonah. Don’t run and hide when
God gives you an opportunity to share your faith. And please, don’t let the fear
of political correctness cloud your judgment and turn you away from obedience to
God. The ramifications may be eternal.