Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” Jonah 4:5-11

Let’s do an imaginative exercise today. If you don’t view yourself as a very creative or imaginative person, no problem. Let me paint the scene for you. Imagine Jonah going out of the city and sitting in the dust and the dirt. He then begins to construct a shelter for himself – what’s it made out of? Wood? Branches? Some other material? Now imagine a plant growing instantaneously to be tall enough and large enough to give the pouting prophet some shade. What must have that been like to witness the growth of a plant that large within a less than 24 hour period? Think about Jonah’s response to the plant, how glad he was for the provision of comfort. Now, picture night falling and the sun rising the next day. With the new day comes a completely opposite experience for Jonah. Destruction rather than comfort. A gnawing little worm to destroy the plant. Picture this scene and Jonah’s reaction to it. As if that disappointment isn’t enough, think about what it would have been like for Jonah to have a scorching wind beating against him as well as a sun so strong it sapped his strength. These situations combined with Jonah’s inner turmoil over God’s treatment of the Ninevites leads Jonah to desire death. He wishes for an escape from the reality of his circumstances and the reality of the character of God.

Now, take a few moments and relate this scene to your own life. What could be compared to a plant in your set of circumstances? What seems comforting? What are you treasuring right now? What would it feel like to have it suddenly taken away? What could be compared to a worm in your life right now? What feels like it is eating away at your happiness, your comfort? What is your stance toward that “worm”? How about the howling wind and the beating sun – can you relate these to any circumstances in your own life? As you ponder these questions ask yourself how similar or different your reaction is to Jonah’s. Pause for the Holy Spirit to speak to you and direct your heart into repentance of any anger or jealousy or fear or bitterness. Call out to Jesus to speak life to you and bring you out of destruction and into gratitude and peace.

By Ellen Rosenberger

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” Jonah 4:1-4

Find a quiet space to read and reflect on God’s Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to empty your mind of all distractions and competing thoughts. After a few deep breaths in and out, prepare to read the passage out loud. As you read, notice any word or phrase that seems to be highlighted in your mind. Don’t overthink this; just observe what surfaces for you.

As you read the passage a second time, imagine the scene in your mind. Take on the perspective of either Jonah or God. What does this part of the story feel like? Use your five senses to picture it in specific detail.

As you read the passage a final time, recall the word or phrase that stuck out to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight as to why this was highlighted to you. Ask him to show you what action or attitude you could take today based on the impression you had from this passage. Close with a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s timeless Word which teaches us, reproves us and sharpens us.

By Ellen Rosenberger

Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” Jonah 3:4-10

And the people of Nineveh believed God. Yes, I know, I’ve heard it all my life, seen it on the flannel graphs and heard it in Sunday School. Just like the fish swallowed Jonah whole and spit him out after three days. That’s what’s supposed to happen in the story. My familiarity blinds me to the miracle of it all. The fish swallowing Jonah was an extraordinary thing! The wicked, pagan Ninevites humbling themselves before God and acting out their repentance was no less of an extraordinary thing!

We’re meant to be surprised by this incredible response of a godless people. How could they, first of all, believe God and then respond to him by turning from their wickedness in repentance? These people did whatever pleased them; they were known for their cruel violence and the last people we’d expect to yield to a holy God.

If you’ve grown up around the story of Jonah I challenge you to drink in the story in a whole new way. Pretend it’s the first time you are hearing of it. Close your eyes and imagine yourself as one of the Ninevites. Take yourself through their steps of repentance. Imagine what it must have been like for a whole city to decide together to take visible steps in seeking forgiveness from an unseen God. Now, call to mind anyone in your life you may have considered beyond God’s reach of forgiveness. Confess your hypocrisy and remind your heart of the relentless love and mercy of God available to all people.

By Ellen Rosenberger

When my life was fainting away,
I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you,
into your holy temple.
Jonah 2:7

Oh, I love a good walk. Whether it’s a brisk morning walk as the world awakens or a hike with my energetic kids, or strolling hand in hand with my husband as the light fades from another day. Why is walking so enjoyable to me? One of the reasons is because I feel free. I can stretch, I can move, I can enjoy fresh air. Can you picture the opposite experience Jonah was having in the pitch black, stench-filled, closed in belly of the whale? Nowhere to go, nowhere to turn but to the God who has limitless power and authority.

Today, take a walk. It could be around your neighborhood, down the hall or in your favorite spot outdoors. As you breathe in fresh air remind yourself of the freedom you have to live and to follow after Jesus’ heart. Remember the Lord as Jonah did. Remember his promises to you. Remember his kindness. Remember his relentless pursuit when you were in your own version of a whale (perhaps trapped in addiction, stress, or despair). Remember his compassion and forgiveness. And as you walk, may your prayer rise to his holy temple. Though he may feel far away, trust as the Psalmist did that he is near to those who call on him in truth (Psalm 145:18).

Should you encounter others on your prayer walk why not whisper a prayer for them? Ask God to meet them in their darkest hours and cause their eyes to be lifted to his holy temple. Pray for God’s deliverance from whatever trap they may be in today.

By Ellen Rosenberger

Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. Jonah 1:8-10

As we read this passage in our Daily writers meeting, I had to chuckle at Jonah’s answer to the pagan sailors. He declares, “I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Really? I thought to myself. Do you? How does running in the opposite direction and openly disobeying God demonstrate that you fear him? It seems as though Jonah’s answer is primarily an automated response born out of head knowledge rather than heart-living. He’s got the statement of faith correct, but does that matter if he isn’t living it?

What about me and you? How often do we verbally articulate all the right jargon about what we believe about God yet our lives don’t match it? I’ve been challenged recently by a book called Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren. The author writes about her struggle to choose to sit in silence for the first few waking moments of the day. She says, “We have everyday habits – formative practices – that constitute daily liturgies. By reaching for my smartphone every morning, I had developed a ritual that trained me toward a certain end: entertainment and stimulation via technology. Regardless of my professed worldview or particular Christian subculture, my unexamined daily habit was shaping me into a worshiper of glowing screens.”

It may not be screens and entertainment that are capturing your attention and luring you into creating daily habits around them. Perhaps it’s recognition or achievement. Maybe it’s productivity, pleasure or purpose. If you’re chasing after any of those things, or perhaps others, ask yourself an honest question “Does what I do and think everyday reflect a person who fears the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land? Or am I only saying so?”

Take a moment to lift your eyes to the mountains (if you can get a view of them). If not, picture their towering beauty in your mind. I invite you to pray this prayer of confession: Father God, you are a powerful, merciful, personal God who created these breathtaking mountains. Just as creation does your bidding, aid me to do your bidding as well, to fear you not only in word but much more in deed. Keep me aware of the ships to Tarshish I keep running to and help me turn in full repentance to live in your way with your heart (not merely say “I agree with your way and I like your heart”).

By Ellen Rosenberger

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

If you were to ask me who I worshipped, I would probably give the pat Sunday School answer: Jesus, of course. But if I were to sit and honestly think about that question I might have to answer a bit differently. I’d have to admit that worship isn’t just my acknowledgement of who is worthy of praise, but it’s actually where I’m daily putting value, time, and energy. It’s running toward something I value. In the story of Jonah his attempted escape from God was furnished by his paid fare to Tarshish. In my life there seem to always be many different available boats sailing to Tarshish. What are mine filled with? Comfort? Entertainment? Affirmation? Purpose? How about for you?

I want to challenge you today to pull up your bank statement for the past month and just notice the trends in where your money has gone. You could even pull up your calendar and ponder where you’ve spent significant time last month or last week. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any ships to Tarshish in your life, areas where you’re placing high value on possessions or people or feelings – going after them harder than God (or in place of him).

Now, take a moment to ask the Spirit to remind you of some treasures in your relationship with Jesus. What has he done for you? Where has he met you? What is he teaching you? Write those down as declarations of praise. Worship your maker who is always present with you in times of great trusting and in times of rebellious running. Proclaim that he alone is Lord over your time, finances, and affections. He is worthy of all your attention and adoration because he is good, he is holy, he is trustworthy, he is all-knowing, and much more!

By Ellen Rosenberger

But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. Jonah 1:3

Last weekend our family enjoyed watching The Sound of Music together. In a scene I hadn’t paid much attention to before, Baroness Schraeder and Captain von Trapp are discussing why he has been spending so much time away from his beautiful countryside home. He says, “Activity suggests a life filled with purpose.” To which she replies with a question, “Could it be you’re running away from memories?” He thinks for a moment and says “Or perhaps just searching for a reason to stay.”

It wasn’t until this moment of prodding and introspection that Captain von Trapp realized he could be running from something and to something else. He recognized he could be running from memories of his late wife while also desperately trying to find a reason to stay at home with his children. Though our life story may be very different from that of Captain von Trapp, we are all running from something and to something.

Today, grab a pen and paper and fill in these blanks: I’m running to _____________. I’m running from _____________. I’m running because ______________. May this exercise be helpful as you spend a few moments getting painfully honest before God.

I’ll share mine here with trepidation, but with hope that my example will inspire you to do some honest soul-searching and confession.

I’m running to the satisfaction of perfection in my home, my relationships and myself. I’m running from fear of failure. I’m running because I believe that if I’m perfectly productive and successful I will be worthy of love and attention.

Once you’ve written your sentences down, offer up a prayer of confession: Lord, you see me and know me. You know what I’m running to and from. Show me the futility of my ways and change the direction of my heart to run toward you.

By Ellen Rosenberger