When the Worst Evangelist Is the Best, Part 2

In Part 1 we considered one man's conclusion that "Jonah was the best evangelist God could have sent to Nineveh."

It is clear that Jonah is portrayed as a terrible evangelist. Think of it. He so detested Nineveh that he directly disobeyed God and ran the other way. He so resisted God's corrective pressure that he said, "Throw me into the sea," rather than repent and obey. He so focused on the coming doom that we have no record that he included the possibility of forgiveness in his message. He so desired Nineveh's destruction that he was angry with God for showing mercy. Who could have been a worse evangelist?

It is also clear that God is portrayed as a contrast to Jonah. While Jonah runs from, God sends to. While Jonah hates, God loves. While Jonah hopes for doom, God hopes for deliverance. God is seen as the one full of compassion toward His creatures. He is ready, willing, and able to save any who call on Him. By the way, this character of God is not only seen in the mercy extended to Nineveh, but also in the lives of the sailors. In the end, God's compassion is also seen when Jonah called on the Lord from the great fish.

Yet a key paradox in the work is how a God who is full of compassion seems bent on using Jonah, the terrible evangelist. Why would God call him, correct him, recall him, recorrect him, and ultimately use him to bring about the greatest revival in history? Can God want and use imperfect servants? Does God allow imperfect servants to remain imperfect?

On Tuesday, we conclude this series by answering those questions and discovering the implications for us.