Joe Rogan is a popular comedian, podcast host, and author who interviews celebrity figures. What would it be like if the prophet Jonah sat down for an interview? Maybe like this imaginative conversation.  

Joe: Hello sir, it’s so good to have you on the show! I’ve interviewed a boatload of different people over the years, but I’m pretty sure you’re the first Prophet who’s everbeen on the podcast.  

Jonah: Really good to be here, Joe. Ah, funny you should mention boats…I’d be FINE never to get on another boat again! As for the “Prophet” title, I don’t really considermyself one, ok? I don’t carry around some crystal ball to predict the future. I’m a pretty ordinary guy. I try to tell the truth about things. I’m just someone whose life took a really, really wild turn. 

Joe: You can say that again. Could you say more about your story? It’s fascinating stuff.  

Jonah: Sure, so I was actually born almost 3,000 years ago. So yeah…I’m old. I started out with my dream job as a teacher in my own country, Israel. I loved teaching my own people. But then,something happened that rocked my world. The LORD spoke to me one day and told me to go to Nineveh and call out against it. Nineveh! Who in their right mind would go there?  

Joe: Well Jonah, it’s 2020 and Nineveh no longer exists, brother. But we can Google that. Let’s see…Says here that Nineveh was in modern day Iraq. The capital of Assyria. A powerful,ruthless nation. Woah. Doesn’t sound like a place I’d want to roll into. And you say that God told you to go there and call out against it? Isn’t God in the Bible like always really angry at bad people? Sendingdown wrath? 

Jonah: I hear that a lot. To be honest, I was hoping for a lot MORE wrath on God’s part! Imagine if some other country invaded your country and destroyed it…how would you feel? That’swhat Nineveh did to Israel.  

Joe: I’d be livid. I’d be furious. I’d expect a fair God to take MY side.  

Jonah: Exactly! But here’s the thing. I knew God wouldn’t take my side. The LORD I serve…the LORD is…forgiving. I just knew that if I went to Nineveh, God would use my message tochange the hard hearts even of THOSE PEOPLE with His grace. God’s grace and mercy are so wide that God even wanted to forgive Nineveh…Nineveh! So, I ran away. And that my friend, is how I wound up inside the bellyof a WHALE…   

Joe: That’s too funny…what do you mean by a whale? Oh wait…you’re actually serious. 

Want to hear more? Join us this fall as we get to know the Prophets of the Bible during the Community Bible Experience! The Prophets were ordinary people called to do hard thingson behalf of our good and loving God...a lot like you and me. Click HERE to watch a video made for Christ Lutheran by Cory Driver, PhD on why studying the Prophets is such an exciting gift! Or click HERE for more CBE information on our website.  

‍

Peace,
Pastor Drew