For Sunday, September 20, 2026

JONAH 3:10-4:11

BACKGROUND

This passage is the conclusion of a famous Old Testament story—Jonah and the Whale.  At least that’s what we called it in Sunday school class.  This and last week’s story about Joseph are fun and interesting.  We enjoy focusing on the details of the “whale” and Jonah, but in doing so, miss the point of the story.  What’s the God Lesson in this tale? 

By this point in the story, the “whale” is long gone, and Jonah has completed his task.  What follows is a curious story about a prophet with a bad attitude and a God with unfailing love and patience.  But first, let me give you a rundown of the whole story.  You may find this story in the first two chapters of Jonah.  It is a fun story, and I encourage you to read it for yourself.  But look for the God Lesson.

The setting for the story is post-exilic Jerusalem.  The Israelites have endured their 60 years in exile, and have returned to the Promised Land for a fresh start.  The prophet Jonah has been commanded by the Lord to go to the Assyrian city of Nineveh, to preach a word of repentance.  Nineveh was not a Jewish city; they worshiped pagan gods.  So, this was dirty work, and Jonah did not want to do it.  Jonah does head out on a journey, but not to Nineveh.  He heads for Spain on a boat.  Spain is in the opposite direction!  A storm kicks up, and everyone fears for their lives.  They draw straws, and Jonah is thrown overboard to lighten the load.  It doesn’t stop there, it gets even better.  A “big fish” (no mention of a whale) swallows Jonah whole, and drops him on shore—right where he needs to be to begin his walk to Nineveh!  So, Jonah begrudgingly resigns himself the task, and goes to Nineveh.  When he gets there, he doesn’t even go to the city center—he stops short, says a one-sentence prophecy, and leaves.  The king hears of the prophecy, and everybody repents—even cattle!  Our story is about what happens after this pitiful but effective prophesy.  This is where today’s passage begins.  It is not about Nineveh, but about Jonah’s reaction to Nineveh’s repentance, and about Jonah’s attitude.

DETAILS

• First of all, God saw that they were repentant, and did not destroy them, He forgave them. (verse 10)
• Jonah’s reaction might surprise you. He was angry and upset!  He prays to God, telling him that’s why he headed for Spain; he knew that God would forgive them.  He says “… you don’t like to punish anyone, not even foreigners.” (Italics added for emphasis.  Jonah has had it; he’s fed up.  He just wants to die.  Now THAT’S a bad attitude!  (vv. 1-3)
• God appears to be shocked at Jonah’s anger. (v. 4)
• The story takes a few twists and turns in verses 5-9, with a shelter and a vine.
• God tells Jonah that he has no business being angry. What happened was all from the hand of God.  (vv. 10-11)

TAKEAWAY

In our story, Jonah represents the self-centered attitude of the people of that time.  God calls him (and His people) to a higher calling; they are to be a light to all nations.  Jonah/Israel doesn’t want any part of it.  They just want to keep their own backyard clean, and nothing more.  God’s response to this stubbornness is steadfast love.  He grows Jonah some shade, at least for a little while.  His words in verse 11 show his love for all people, not just the Jews.  It is not enough for us Christians to “keep our noses clean”.  God has high expectations for us.  For some, it is spreading the Gospel.  For others, it is caring for others, teaching, giving, and loving one another.  This includes those who don’t believe in God exactly as we do.

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

What is God calling you to do?  Are you simply keeping your own backyard clean, like Jonah, or are you acting on this call?  Either way, God is there beside you, to help you along.

 

PHILIPPIANS 1:21-30

BACKGROUND

Paul is in prison.  We’re not sure exactly where, but many believe he wrote this while in prison in Ephesus.  We do know that he is there because of his preaching the Gospel.  This is a letter to his beloved church in Caesarea Philippi.

 

DETAILS

• He starts right off with something astonishing. He says that he has a choice to live or die, and he is considering his options!  Interestingly, he would prefer to die, to be with Jesus.  A friend of mine at White Oak would tell often tell me that her nightly prayer was to die, and go to heaven to be with Jesus and her husband.  God finally answered that prayer.  But Paul is young and healthy.  I think he’s just weary of the trouble he runs into, trying to spread this wonderful Good News.  But Paul chooses life, “…to help you grow and be happy in your faith.”   It is because of his mission that he chooses to press on.  (vv. 21-26)
• He then encourages them to stand firm in their belief in the Gospel. They should not be frightened by the opposition.  (vv. 27-28)
• That they are suffering for their faith in Jesus now becomes obvious. He even calls their suffering a privilege, reminding them that he, too, suffers for his faith as well.  (vv. 29-30)

 

TAKEAWAY

Paul was dedicated to his mission to spread the Good News, regardless of cost.  In the end, it would cost him his life.  Most of us are fortunate in that we don’t have to risk our lives to share the Gospel message.  So, what’s holding us back?  God is calling us to share the Good News, and love those around us.

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

I’m thinking of the words to the song “This Little Light of Mine”.  Let’s sing it like we mean it, and show it in our actions!

 

MATTHEW 20:1-16

BACKGROUND

Jesus is teaching his disciples about how it works with God, about how God’s way of thinking is not like ours.  In the verses preceding this parable, a rich man asks Jesus how to get to heaven.  Jesus tells him to give away his possessions.  When the man walks away, Jesus tells his disciples that it is easier for a rich man to go through the eye of a needle than to get to heaven.  Peter complains, saying that they have sacrificed a lot to follow Him.  Surely, their sacrifice earned them something.  Jesus then tells them this parable.

DETAILS

The parable starts out easy enough.  The landowner needs some work done in his vineyard.  He hires workers at the usual pay.  They start working that morning.  As the day goes on, he hires more and more workers.  At the end of the day, everybody gets a full day’s wages!  It doesn’t seem fair to the workers.  The landowner basically says that what he pays is up to him.

TAKEAWAY

Jesus does not interpret this parable, other than stating that “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last”.  Maybe Jesus sensed that the disciples were expecting special treatment for their sacrifice; they were chalking up brownie points for their heavenly journey.  Jesus makes it crystal clear.  Salvation is a free gift; you can’t earn it.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

It is easy for us lifetime Christians to be resentful when someone who has led a wild and evil life, and comes to Jesus in their old age.  That is not fair!  Where’s the justice?

Let us be more like God, and less like Jonah.  Let’s rejoice in the recovery of the lost as well as having the privilege of serving the Lord for a long time.