This post will consider two different prophets God calls within a similar historical period. For a brief one page summary of Isaiah’s and Jonah messages, main themes, and importance check out these pages from Pastor Chuck Swindoll:
https://insight.org/resources/bible/the-major-prophets/isaiah
https://insight.org/resources/bible/the-minor-prophets/jonah
Will include relevant quotes from the sources above to encourage you to reflect on life application points. Quotes from Enduring Word Bible Commentary as well. Scriptural passages from Berean Standard Bible, all images created by Night Cafe Studio A.I and Canva Pro.
A fellow blog author provides a historical perspective and explains how Isaiah and Jonah are linked together (very detailed with explanation of Assyrian kings and history). He has a number of posts on Isaiah.
78. The Prophet Jonah Releases Assyria into Ministry (Jonah & Isaiah)
Fiery throne of God’s Presence. Who could stand in His presence?
God’s Call to Isaiah: Encountering Holy God
Isaiah’s vision and God’s call to him are found in Isaiah 6:
https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/6.htm
Isaiah explains his situation before a Holy God:
5Then I said:
“Woe is me,
for I am ruined,
because I am a man of unclean lips
dwelling among a people of unclean lips;
for my eyes have seen the King,
the LORD of Hosts.”
A seraphim comes to him with a “flaming “glowing coal” and touches his lips. This symbolizes God’s purification and removal of sins.
6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7And with it he touched my mouth and said:
“Now that this has touched your lips,
your iniquity is removed
and your sin is atoned for.”
God’s Light shines down on us when we are surrounded by brokenness and destruction.
Seeing God: Faced with our sinful nature
Enduring Word Commentary Explains (EWC): emphasis mine, link below for commentary on chapter
“ii. When Isaiah saw the LORD, he knew what kind of man he was. As poorly as he compared to the seraphim, that was nothing in relation to how he compared to the LORD. This vision (or actual experience) of the throne of God did not immediately make Isaiah feel good. The more clearly he saw the LORD, the more clearly he saw how bad his state was.
iii. Isaiah’s deep sense of depravity is consistent with the experience of other godly men in the presence of the LORD. Job (Job 42:5-6), Daniel (Daniel 10:15-17), Peter (Luke 5:8) and John (Revelation 1:17) each had similar experiences.”
God’s Holy Presence reveals our utter lack of holiness and righteousness. But God doesn’t leave us in this state. His Grace purifies us and prepares us for the role.
ii. Once Isaiah had met with the LORD, been convicted of his sin, and cleansed from its guilt, then he was ready to serve God.
God’s presence in radiant light. The light represents truth and His presence.
Hearing God
8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:
“Whom shall I send?
Who will go for Us?”
And I said:
“Here am I. Send me!”
Verses 9-13 explains the response Isaiah faces and the duration of God’s call. EWC points out:
Isaiah emphatically answered God’s call. He did not hesitate. Isaiah wanted to be the answer to God’s question.
Jonah’s Call: His Rebellion
God calls Jonah, unlike Isaiah, he heads as far away from God’s call to Nineveh as possible:
Jonah Flees from the LORD Jonah 1:1-3
1Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, 2“Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”
3Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
Unlike Isaiah who overhears God speaking and desires to speak, Jonah immediately flees. The book of Jonah unlike other books of prophecy consists primarily of a narrative type account. It’s the prophet of Jonah who understands yet despises God’s grace.
The Irony
When reading the four chapters of Jonah, it’s the prophet who rebels against God! One would naturally expect that the evil, wicked people of Nineveh would be the rebels. Yet, when confronted with God’s certain coming judgment, they repent! Jonah is the one who rebels and questions God. Why does Jonah struggle with God?
Jonah’s Anger
The biblical subtitle explains why!
Jonah’s Anger at the LORD’s Compassion
1Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and he became angry. 2So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster. 3And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
4But the LORD replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”
Jonah is angry with God because God is showing mercy and compassion in relenting from destroying the Ninevites. His anger is directed toward God’s nature and character traits. Knowing God and His nature leads Jonah to be angry. Knowledge leads to anger in Jonah’s case.
Destroyed village.
Outcomes of Prophecy
God warns Isaiah that the people won’t respond in chapter 6 verses 9-10. Enduring Word commentary indicates:
b. Go and tell these people, “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing but do not perceive”: God told Isaiah to go and preach to a people who wouldn’t respond so that their guilt would be certain. As Trapp wrote, Isaiah would “Preach them to hell.”
c. Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes: This is an unsatisfying audience and ministry for any preacher. Isaiah might not be satisfied with this ministry. The people might not be satisfied with it. But God would be satisfied with it.
The wicked Ninevites repent and turn to God, while God’s chosen people reject Isaiah’s and ultimately God’s message. This is tragic in later history as God sends Assyria to punish the tribes/people of Northern Israel (Northern Kingdom). Isaiah warns in Chapter 8 that God desires for His people in Judah (Southern Kingdom) to trust in Him by fearing Him instead of Assyria.
Jonah hoped for God’s wrath to consume Nineveh. In chapter four,
5Then Jonah left the city and sat down east of it, where he made himself a shelter and sat in its shade to see what would happen to the city.
God is the hero of Jonah! His love, grace, and compassion is on full display. God delights when we repent and trust in Him, turning from the darkness of our sins to His Light of Grace and Truth!
Ezekiel 18:23
23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
Luke 15: Jesus tells parables about rejoicing when the lost is found:
7In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
Can you discern the irony in Jesus’ statement? The ninety-nine righteous ones who don’t need to repent–how can a person be righteous without the need to repent? The Pharisees and teachers of the law viewed themselves as being “right” before God. Jesus confronts their false ideas of human religion based righteousness. May we seek to be more like Isaiah and less like Jonah in our response to God’s call!
Words of Grace & Hope 