Thankfully Suffering Loss

“But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” (Jon 2:9 AV)

It is one thing to sacrifice.  Another to do so with thanksgiving.  The former doesn’t exact a great price.  The later does.  This is vow of which Jonah is promising.  A sacrifice that doesn’t challenge one to be thankful while offering it is no sacrifice at all.

One must know a little history in order to understand Jonah’s challenge.  Nineveh was the neighbor from the dark side.  The were to the east of Israel and repeatedly invaded the eastern tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh.  The stole cattle, enslaved women and children, and abused what was left.  These were a wandering miradors of men with no clear understanding of war.  They were thieves first.  This caused a natural bias on the part of the prophet.  A dislike for the very people to which he was sent.  Secondly, Jonah as a good ministry back in Israel under the reign of Jeroboam II.  A secular king who did not interfere with the ministry of God’s prophets and brought prosperity to the kingdom.  Jonah was asked to give up a lucrative ministry and go to a place which he would rather not.  All the while being thankful for it.

 A sacrifice is not the surrender of something that we wouldn’t miss.  Sacrifice is supposed to hurt.  Sacrifice is supposed to cost us something.  Sacrifice is supposed to be uncomfortable.  Sacrifice is supposed to challenge the heart above all else.  Jonah, like us, was asked to surrender a part of himself that was going to hurt and be thankful for it.  I am reminded of a small child who is asked to give up his favorite toy for the benefit of a guest.  He may throw it at his guest because he is angry.  He may hand it to him while pulling back a little because he is resentful.  He may drop it on the floor in a bed of tears because he is envious.  Rarely does he hand it over with a smile and maybe even help his guest to figure out how to play with it.  When we are asked to sacrifice, it will reveal our level of maturity.  Will we do so with thanksgiving?