Who Really Knew God Best? (Part 2)

Now here's another one who really knew God well: Jonah!



When the king of Nineveh and his people repented of their sin, God had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened (Jonah 3).

But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry at God when their Assyrian enemies were forgiven.

Listen to these words of this runaway, disobedient prophet:

He prayed to the LORD:

"O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." (Jonah 4)


Jonah knew God really well - that he was forgiving and full of mercy.

He knew God so well that God's mercy became his own reason for disobedience! - that's knowing God really well!

But Jonah maybe did not know that God would keep after him - would pursue him relentlessly - that God would not leave him alone, even in that small shelter on the desert.

Jonah pouted and God stayed with him.

Jonah got angry and God stuck by him.

Jonah disobeyed and God came after him.

God never gave up on Jonah.


There is another priceless gem in Jonah, chapter 2, verse 8:  Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

The Ninevites did not cling to their worthless idols. They gave them up and received God's grace.

Am I still clinging to worthless idols of money, prestige, influence, power?

Psalm 145:16 tells us: You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

We can't receive God's gifts if our hands are already full.


But going back to our biblical lessons: Notice what these men knew about God:

Abraham knew that God, the Ruler of the earth, would act righteously - that He was holy. And that He was merciful and compassionate to and forgiving to His children.

David knew that God was forgiving and holy and merciful and compassionate.

Moses knew that God was holy, forgiving, merciful and compassionate.

Jonah knew that God was holy, forgiving, merciful and compassionate.

See a consistent current of truth here?

Pretty important things to know about God!


These men did not go to seminary. They didn't go to
catechism or new member instruction classes.

They learned what they knew about God from listening to Him, by talking with Him, by watching His actions.

They learned about God, because they came to know God.