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 As most of you know, we’ve been studying the Minor Prophets for the past few months at Poquoson Baptist Church. Several weeks ago, we studied the book of Jonah. In that well-known story a reluctant prophet chooses to run away rather than preach in Nineveh. Why? He hated Nineveh and the Assyrians. He knew that if he preached in Nineveh God would forgive the Assyrians (Jonah 4:1-4), and he wanted them to burn. As you know, Jonah was right. God did deliver the Ninevite people. God’s wrath was not poured out against Nineveh, despite Jonah’s hopes (Jonah 4:5).

Interestingly, there’s a second book in Scripture about the city of Nineveh. 120 years later, the prophet Nahum also preached against the city of Nineveh. But this time there is no repentance. This time God’s wrath is poured out on Nineveh. This time, everything that Jonah wanted to see actually happens. But he wasn’t around to see it.

Why didn’t Jonah get to see what he so desperately wanted? Why did God not let Jonah preach the sermons that Nahum preached? No one would have loved to preach about the utter desecration of the city of Nineveh more than Jonah. But Jonah doesn’t get to preach that message. Not because Nineveh wouldn’t eventually be destroyed, but because God chose Jonah for a different purpose.

Why does God do things like this? Because God is infinitely wise. In His wisdom He will often refuse us what we want so that we will want nothing more than Him. What a glorious and gracious God. He uses Jonah to bring a generation of Ninevites to repentance. He uses Nineveh to humble a rebellious prophet. He uses Nahum to preach destruction on an unrepentant people. He uses us according to His glorious wisdom, not according to our desires. As Paul writes in Romans 11:33-36:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!  

For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”  

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.