Jonah: The Reluctant Revivalist

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah” — Jonah 1:1

Jonah was a revivalist, whether he wanted to be one or not. God commanded him, “Arise, go to Nineveh” (Jonah 1:2). What was his response? “But Jonah arose to flee” (1:3).   What a contrast to the New Testament revivalist Philip. God told Philip, “Arise and go,” and the next phrase says, “so he arose and went” (Acts 8:26-27).

Jonah’s calling was chasing him down. As soon as he began his unsuccessful escape plan, trouble followed him. When he got on a boat to Tarshish, away from the place he was called to go, God had other plans for him. When a storm arose, the godless heathen sailors wanted to know who Jonah’s God was. They figured if He was powerful enough to cause the storm, He was powerful enough to still it. There is an irony in the actions of the sailors. They began to call upon the name of Yahweh, the true and living God (1:6, 13-14). Notice “they” doesn’t include Jonah. The word “they” is actually intended to make a distinction between the sailors, who were calling out to the Lord, and Jonah, who was not. Everyone on the boat was having revival — except the revivalist. The pagans were out-praying the preacher. Why was there revival on the boat? Because Jonah carried a revival anointing. When he preached, people repented (Jonah 3:3-10; Matthew 12:41).

Apparently, all Jonah had to do was show up and mention the name of Yahweh, and people would repent. His sermon in Nineveh was cut-and-dry, and the region was rocked with revival. His message on the boat wasn’t even a sermon; it was an even more cut-and-dry discussion. However when he lifted his voice, the anointing on his life brought repentance all around him. Even though Jonah was fleeing, his calling was following him. When the Lord calls you out of your comfort zone, you could run, but why would you? You might look to Jonah and realize you stand a good chance of being outsmarted and re-routed.

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This blog is an excerpt from Robert Presson’s devotional book, “People Of His Presence,” available on Amazon: Click here to purchase on Amazon.  Alternatively, the book is available for free when you give a donation of any amount to City Revival Ministries at  cityrevivalnola.com/give. Please indicate that you would like the book when you give.