(Again) Direction Is Not Enough

Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. [Jonah 4.5]

You know what's really interesting about this verse? God had already told Jonah He decided not to destroy Ninevah. But, Jonah went away from the city to a place where he could watch to see what would happen anyway. Was he somehow thinking the city would be destroyed anyway? Did He think God didn't know what He was saying?

Jonah was a unique character. It seems he had a bit of a death wish too. First, he told the crew of the ship to throw him overboard. He did not ask for mercy or forgiveness, just simply said, "Throw me overboard." Then, when God relented from destroying Ninevah, Jonah said, "Just kill me..."

The thing is though, as I understand the Old Testament laws, any prophet whose prophecy was unfulfilled was, at best, supposed to be ignored, and, at worst, supposed to be stoned to death. So, it is sort of understandable that Jonah fell like his life was useless.

I wonder why Jonah did not stay in the city to declare God's Word that the city would be spared because they had repented? In my mind, that would have been his only course of action (as damage control for his "ministry"). Did the inhabitants of the city understand that God decided not to destroy them (after they repented)? It is certainly not unlike the character of God to do so, but in most other instances of this, there was some notification that that was indeed what was taking place.

I kind of get the idea that Jonah was just a rebellious sort. He was focused only on himself and gave little to no thought about God's purposes. Sure, he got some irrefutable direction by the whale intervention, but it seems Jonah's heart remained untrue to God's real purpose.

God's direction in Jonah's life accomplished God's purpose, but Jonah never 'got it' as far as God's purpose.

Father, help me to understand Your purposes on the earth and not just what serves me best.