Observation: Multiple times the Lord speaks to Jonah, with varying results. Twice he has to repeat himself, but interestingly his repeated messages are not the same.
The first is in Jonah 1 and Jonah 3. In both, the Lord tells Jonah to "go to the great city of Ninevah," but first he says, "and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me," but later he says, "and proclaim to it the message I give you." The first message gives both larger instructions (preaching, not just walking around proclaiming), and a clear reason (their wickedness). Jonah actively refuses, but when he is given a more vague instruction (and yes, he's been taught a major lesson in between!) he obeys and goes.
In the second example, Jonah is mad about God's forgiveness of Ninevah, and the Lord asks him if that's right. Jonah broods but doesn't disagree. Then the Lord grows then destroys a shade plant, and the Lord asks if it's right for Jonah to be mad specifically about the plant, and Jonah responds emotionally, declaring his right to be angry, and even wishing for his own death. The differences in the messages are subtle, however the Lord is doing something profound in the way he changes his messages.
In the "vague" versions - about proclaim a generic 'message' and the right to be generally anger - the message is dependent upon the Lord's nature. Is it okay to be mad at God because he shows mercy? Shouldn't we at least just generally declare the Lord's judgment? However, when the Lord gets specific, it is about real-world situations manifested on earth. The Ninevites are wicked! The plant actually died!
Jonah is examined for his struggle with the Lord, and this is perhaps how his struggle is similar to the struggle all believers in Yahweh face. Believers are good with the "conceptual faith" side of belief, where we revel in the Lord's love, rejoice in his mercy, and are thankful that his judgment is directed at those who deserve it. However, we get frustrated and even angry at what happens in the world every day, from the wicked who don't seem to actually get judgment, to the poor struggling to live, to world conflicts that drain our resources and stress our families.
Application: This summarizes my faith. I have so many wonderful thoughts about the Lord and his love, but I fret and struggle with the real world. In my heart, I see the Lord's creation, know his love first-hand, feel his guidance, and cherish his blessings. Then outwardly I get frustrated over even the most trivial of issues, experience hatred and lust and covetousness directed at social media posts by people I'll never meet, and feel stress about unknown futures that affect the daily living of myself and my family.
I am SO concerned by this truth ... I love the Lord's teaching as a vague concept, but I run from him when it comes to applying his word as a way of living.
That needs to change. I need to reorient my life to not just loving the Lord and Jesus, but to live the life he teaches. Yes, this means "obedience", but more than that it simply means applying the truth I know about the Lord to the specifics of this world and to my everyday real-life experiences, and not just to the vague concepts of faith and feelings in my heart.
Prayer: Lord, I know I am saying this prayer far too often these days. Please forgive my sins. I know my errors, and I do them anyway. I am sincerely sorry. I desire that my lived life, the things I actually do in the world every day, would always be aligned to you and your teaching, and not just the thoughts in my mind and heart. I thank you for your patience with me, and with the world. Amen.
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