The Calling

Jonah 1:2 says, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.”

Have you found your calling? This could refer to an occupation, a ministry, or in Jonah’s case a call to preach. While at the Bible College I met all kinds of men, young and old, who felt called to preach. Some I wondered about—myself included. In a chapel service one of the professors gave an illustration about a farm boy who looked up in the sky and saw the clouds forming the letters “PC.” He knew God was telling him to “preach Christ.” After some time at the Bible College, he realized the clouds were telling him to plant corn. It made me laugh, as it did others, probably because the truth was hitting home. Perhaps you have missed your calling, or are about to. A call to preach is a very serious matter. A call to a specific church must be unmistakeable for pastor and people. Let’s see what we can learn about this from Jonah.

It was not a cloud or a premonition, but the word of the Lord who called Jonah to go to Nineveh (Jonah 1:1&2). Was it a voice out of the clouds, an angel, or a bright light from Heaven as in Paul’s case? How would you expect the “word of the Lord” to come to you? Have you ever read Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every living creature”? You just did. Was this a command only for them? If so, was salvation only for them? Could it mean you? This verse caused me to answer the call.

Jonah’s call was clear, “…go to Nineveh…cry against it.” His immediate response was to flee (V. 3). The sad thing was that he fled from the presence of the Lord. He was then able to have rest, he thought, and went to sleep in the ship traveling away from Nineveh. You can’t run from God’s call to preach and be happy. The shipmaster found him, called him a sleeper, and told him to get up and pray (V.6). The real wake-up call came when it was discovered he was putting everyone’s life in danger (V. 12). He witnessed to the sailors that he was a Hebrew and feared God (V. 9). The sailors ended up praying and making a sacrifice to God—besides Jonah who was sacrificed to the fish (V. 14-16).

In chapter 2 we see Jonah praying and preaching in the belly of the whale. It must have made the fish sick, but he only had to stomach it three days. Then God Himself gave the fish permission to vomit Jonah out. (Three days in his first church was enough for Jonah, too.)

In chapter 3 we see Jonah’s attempt at city-street evangelism. He had only an eight word sermon: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (3:4). Everyone believed God and repented (V.5). God spared the city. Jonah became bitter. You might say he blew in, blew off, and blew out (Ch. 4).

1 Corinthians 1:21 talks about the foolishness of preaching. Has God really called you to preach? If you are looking for a career, planning to spend seven years in education, hoping to rise to the top—maybe you should plant corn. It is not about you, me, or Jonah. God does the calling!