“Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.” —Jonah 4:5
Isn’t it interesting that the prophet Jonah—after reluctantly delivering God’s message—goes outside the city and waits? The text tells us he “waited to see what would happen to the city.” I can’t help but wonder: was he still hoping God would destroy it? Maybe this had been his plan all along—preach doom, watch the people ignore it, and then sit back with a front-row seat for the fireworks.
It’s a little revealing, isn’t it? Jonah still seemed to think he was in control. He was acting like God should be on his side, rather than humbly seeking to be on God’s side. Apparently, being swallowed by a great fish didn’t fully shift his perspective.
I just hope you and I can be a little quicker to learn.
Our God isn’t one who takes sides in human causes as though we were in charge. He is in charge. He defines the sides. That’s a lesson Joshua learned in dramatic fashion:
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” —Joshua 5:13–14
Joshua started that moment assuming his side was the one that mattered. He ended it on his face in worship, recognizing that the only side that matters is God’s.
During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln was reportedly asked if God was on his side. His response is both humble and powerful:
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
May we be people who care less about proving God is with us, and more about making sure we are with Him.
Josh Rose
Family Pastor