THOUGHTS ABOUT JONAH
It depends on your point of view.
I do not sympathize or excuse Jonah's disobedience. But it is good to understand the dynamics that led him to make wrong choices.
Jonah was looking at life's problems from a carnal point of view. He expected to be hated, rejected, ridiculed, attacked by the people, to whom he was being sent to preach. He thought that the pains of natural suffering would be more tolerable than the persecution of men.
First, he left out the torment that goes with rebellion against God.
Second, he did not realize that suffering as a man of God is better than succeeding as a sinner.
Third, he did not trust God to be redemptive.
I am sure there are other points, but you get the point.
We need to reject carnal thinking and accept spiritual thinking; reject rebellion and embrace surrender to God; turn from doubt and turn to faith.
As believers we WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION. But it is better to suffer with the people of God than to lead the enemies of God
