Success Like Jonah

A couple of months ago I heard the Lord say, “You know Jonah was the most successful Old Testament prophet.”

The comment surprised me. My quick recall on Jonah was that he was the guy who literally ran away from sharing God’s word.

A little confused, I responded, “Please tell me more.”

The Holy Spirit nudged me to turn in my Bible to the book of Jonah. As I sat and read the familiar story of Jonah fleeing God, the storm at sea, and the eventual large fish incident, I began to understand what God meant by, “most successful” OT prophet.

It’s not that Jonah’s word came to pass, it’s that it didn’t. 

At first glance, Jonah doesn’t look like a successful prophet. He heard from the Lord, but then went radically off course, boarding a ship sailing in the opposite direction of where God was sending him. It was only after a storm that terrified professional sailors, and a very dark and smelly incident inside of a fish that Jonah was willing to share God’s message with the people of Nineveh.

Jonah arrived at the great city of Nineveh and began sharing his message of doom and disaster (Jonah 3:4). There’s no doubt about this prophetic word: Nineveh was going to be overthrown in just over a month’s time.

Except it didn’t. Jonah’s doomsday word never came to pass. And therein lies his success: Instead of the death and destruction Jonah prophesied, there was widespread repentance and turning to the Lord. Nineveh was saved from her enemies (Jonah 3:5-10).

I believe that success to God is when his children turn their hearts to him and receive the mercy, grace, and life he offers. A successful prophetic word isn’t one that necessarily happens exactly as spoken (Jonah clearly missed that mark), but one that produces grace for repentance and the fruit of the Spirit in those who hear it. A successful word empowers and emboldens the hearers to turn their hearts to our really good Father in repentance and love.

Now don’t misunderstand—prophetic accuracy is important and we never casually share a word we believe is from God, but I venture to suggest accuracy to the Lord first means accurately representing his heart to people, a heart that desires that “none should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). When you give or receive a prophetic word, talk about what you think God may be doing, or even as we describe the character and nature of God to others, it’s important to first filter it through a ministry of reconciliation check (2 Cor. 5:18): 

·      Does this word accurately represent the Father’s heart?

·      Does this word leave opportunity for repentance and connection to God?

·      Is there hope attached to this?

If the word doesn’t make it through the filter, take it back to God and ask for clarity. There are times God asks us to share hard things, but we share these things with Godly success—repentant and reconciled hearts—as the desired outcome.

Jonah’s word didn’t come to pass just as he said, but a whole city turned to God. I bless you in this specific moment of history to speak, pray, and prophesy with incredible, even ridiculous success: Hearts coming alive and glory to the Lord Jesus.