1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:1-4 (NIV)
15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)
1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV)
Though the Bible is comprised of sixty-six different books, it tells only one story and God continually communicates that message to us – even though we don’t always listen too attentively – it is the message of His love, His grace and His mercy. To be sure, God loves us and He is long-suffering toward us. Not only that, He always has our best interest at heart. I am reminded of God’s Words Moses penned in Exodus 34:5-7:5 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” Exodus 34:5-7 (NIV)
And again in Exodus 20:5-6:
5 For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:5-6 (NIV)
The book of Jonah is not so much a message about a great fish (mentioned only four times), or a great city (named nine times), or even a disobedient prophet (mentioned eighteen times), as it is about God – as all of Scripture is. God is mentioned thirty-eight times in these four short chapters, and if you eliminated Him from the Book the story wouldn’t make sense. The Book of Jonah is both about the will of God and how we respond to it, and also about the love of God and how we share it with others.
More than likely, Jonah was a popular man in Israel because of his prediction being fulfilled that the nation would regain her lost territory from her enemies in 2 Kings 14:25. As we said last week, everybody enjoys hearing good news right? Also, as stated last week those were the days of peace and prosperity for Israel which sadly were accompanied by moral decay and spiritual idolatry. Most people can handle little better than much. They were in their autumn days just before the terrible winter of God’s judgment. To be sure, God is often slow in judging but make no mistake about it, He does judge. He disciplines us to reel us back to Him and away from our sins. Discipline also produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:4-11 tells us:
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:4-11 (NIV)
Who among us does not want a harvest of righteousness and peace in our lives? It was during this time that the Word of the Lord came to Jonah with the marching orders to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against its wickedness. The Old Testament uses this Hebrew expression “dabar Yahweh” (Word of the Lord) about 438 times – 161 occurring in the prophetic books. It was the Lord’s major way of revealing his will to his people. Yet when Jonah hears the Word of the Lord – the message God intended for him to give to Nineveh - it obviously didn’t suit his fancy, and he high tails it for Joppa.
Just a bit of history before we proceed: Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire at various times during its history, including the time of Jonah’s visit in the eighth century B.C. Within a few decades, Assyria became dominant in the land of Palestine, Israel was carried into exile (772-721 B.C.) and Judah was nearly conquered (701 B.C.). This domination proved to be the peak of the Assyrian power. By 612 B.C. the great city of Nineveh was in ruins, and by 609 B.C. the Assyrian Empire had vanished forever. Both Nahum (Nahum 3:5-7) and Zephaniah (Zephaniah 2:13) prophesied this final destruction of Nineveh. As I said earlier God may be slow in judging, but He does judge. Peter tells us 2 Peter 3:8:
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)
We serve a merciful, loving and long-suffering God. But I digress…
Jonah did not like what the Lord had asked him to do so he flees. This popular prophet of Israel was not into warning Israel’s great enemy against its impending doom. Jonah had a wrong attitude regarding the will of God. Yet, obeying God’s will was as important to God’s servant as it was to the people he was to minister to – perhaps even more so. Pitifully, in seeking to run away, Jonah was seeking to run from God’s very best for his life. Ding, Ding, Ding!!! This is a lesson for us all as well!!! We must learn to embrace what He allows and I also add, with joy. Even if the task seems hard to us (and more often than not it is!). We are on display to the world to demonstrate Jesus - Whose life was anything but easy. And we are to do this through His power for His glory. God never owns what mere flesh can do. Also, obedience is for us! It is God’s best for our lives and, btw, whatever our pea brains can conjure up as the best way for our lives - if it is not God’s way - it’s like being in the sandbox in lieu of going to the seashore – at best! Also, the Prophet was God’s primary means of divulging His will – the Truth of God - to others. For the prophet not to do it, then, purposely prevented others from obeying as they would remain ignorant to the Truth. It is in obeying the will of God that we find our spiritual nourishment:
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34 (NIV)
Obeying is also for our enlightenment:
16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.” John 7:16-18.
Remember too, in obeying the will of God we are enabled through the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling us. He never gives us the task without the power. There is always grace sufficient to meet each need – you can count on it:
20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)
To Jesus, the will of God was the food that satisfied Him; to Jonah, the will of God was the medicine that choked him. However, when God’s Word commands us to do anything, we must listen and obey. Disobedience is not an option.
Obedience gets a bad wrap does it not? I am going to take a bit of time and delve deeper with you on the precious gift of “the way of obedience”. To make it a bit clearer, I have brought a wrapped package for you to consider. If we look at the way of obedience as a gift from God wrapped beautifully with the power of the Holy Spirit, rather than looking at it as servile or lackluster or boring or scary or not profitable, etc., etc., we will keep from continually falling back into wallowing in the world and holding on to its pathetic tenets. God has so much more for us than that. I want you all to know at the core what a gift from God is the “way of obedience”. He does not leave His children wondering about His ways – He is pristinely clear and desires for us to have the blessed benefit of walking in it. It remains His desire for us to grow up in Him – leaving our childlike ways behind – getting off of milk and onto solid food, so to speak. This will require our vigilant obedience.
Paul tells his beloved Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18-19:
18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight,
19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 1 Timothy 1:18-19 (NIV)
And again in 1 Timothy 4:7-8:
6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV)
And lastly, in 1 Timothy 4:16:
16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)
All throughout Scripture from the Garden of Eden in Genesis to the churches mentioned in Revelation God calls His people to obedience. This is NOT to be a kill joy (to say the least) it is sin that kills joy not obedience. Remember, it was sin that removed our original parents from the blessings that abounded in the Garden. It was sin that kept the Israelites from the land of plenty and remained wandering in the desert. And it is sin that prevents us from experiencing the abundant life God has for us in the here and now. Instead, obedience is always for our best and the best for those who come behind us. Our actions unless repented of can be generational. We don’t want to pass down our stinking bents to those we love rather we are to do the hard work of dealing with them ourselves. This is always for our good. It matters greatly how we live our lives. We do not live as unto ourselves alone. The tentacles of sin and disobedience are far reaching effecting many in our spheres. I know many of you can say “Amen” to that as everyone has seen this in their own lives and in the lives of their families. God has provided a way for us to take and He has promised to make that way clear just as He did for the Israelites. Moses tells us in Exodus 13:21-22:
21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. Exodus 13:21-22 (NIV)
And again in Deuteronomy 10:12-13:
12 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NIV)
In answer to Thomas’ question of “How can we know the way?” Jesus responds:
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)
“Deep in your heart it is not guidance you want so much as a guide.” John White
We are to follow Jesus and He has given us His power and His Word to accomplish this so great an endeavor. We are not left as orphans. He has not left us to do this great work on our own. He tells us:
15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15-18 (NIV)
Next Jesus adds:
21 “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” John 14:21 (NIV)
“Jesus is not just our Savior and Lord; He is our model.” Jon Thompson
“If you were to ask me point-blank: ‘What does it mean to you to live spiritually?’ I would have to reply: ‘Living with Jesus at the center.’ . . . When I look back over the last thirty years of my life, I can say that, for me, the person of Jesus has come to be more and more important. Specifically, this means that what matters increasingly is getting to know Jesus and living in solidarity with him.” Henri Nouwen
In regard to obedience, there is no need to readdress what God has already made pristinely clear in Scripture (IE: stealing, lying, cheating, adultery, murder, etc.). We got to know the Word girls! Ignorance to it is no excuse. We rob ourselves and our families when we neglect its Truths. We miss so much when we don’t know His commands to obey or His Promises to claim! God is clear on many issues and through them we can be better discerners of His heart and also know where God stands on many issues. We are to examine Jesus’ life. He came to earth to live a perfect life for us to follow – fleshing out all the commands of the law perfectly – something none of us can do. Apart from Christ, we all stand before the throne of God woefully wanting. Paul tells us in Romans 3:23:
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (NIV)
And Isaiah echoes the same message in Isaiah 53:6:
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)
Jesus came to fulfill all righteousness so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for my sins and yours. He came to demonstrate to us the way we should walk. Indeed, Paul tells us on Philippians 2:1-11:
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV)
We are called to the highest standards in claiming to be children of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. So how is our family resemblance fleshing out in our day to day ordinary lives? Are we faithful? Hopefully our answer is to be obediently walking in His way, through the power of the Holy Spirit for His glory – not perfect, mind you, but seeking to be blameless even in the very mundane. Which most of life is that – is it not??? As I have mentioned (probably a million times before – and I sometimes can be prone to exaggeration) when in doubt or even knowingly choosing the wrong way of the world, it behooves us to follow out an action in our minds to completion and see if we are willing to embrace the “fruit” or the “consequences” that the action will bring forth. We will reap what we sow. The writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 6:7-8:
7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. Hebrews 6:7-8 (NIV)
There are blessings in obedience and just as certain, consequences always follow sin because the Lord does not want us to languish there. It is not for our good (to say the least!). His Father’s heart loves us too much for that. He is fully aware that there is always going to be a death to something when it comes to sin because every sin carries with it a death sentence – death to trust, death to relationship, death to whatever. We need a made up mind set before temptation knocks at our door. I think of the Apostle Paul’s words to us in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)
If the Apostle Paul thought it worthwhile to be vigilant in this, how much more so should we. While the repentant believer is always forgiven that does not erase the surety of the consequences that will follow. As stated earlier, most of the time people do not realize how far reaching the tentacles of their sin can go. We get to choose to sin but God chooses the consequences. Keep your accounts short with the Lord. Repent quickly as the longer we allow it to proceed the worse it gets. Just examine King David’s life. Hopefully, many will realize the consequences are not worth that bite of the apple. Run to Him and relish in His abundant grace and mercy which ever flows freely from His throne. He never turns a repentant sinner away – praise Him! Indeed, He never despises a broken and contrite heart. King David – who also had much to repent of - tells us in Psalms 51:16-17:
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:16-17 (NIV)
It is often perplexing to believers, desirous of being in God’s will, to know whether we actually are or not. Many times, I think it is because we are not on the “mission field” (per se), or preaching to great throngs of humanity or writing some theological treatise. All very good but certainly not all of us can fit in those molds. God has a plan for the life of each and every child of the King prepared in advance for us to walk in and we don’t want to miss it. When in doubt, do the next right thing. Seeking Him in prayer and asking Him to make His way plain. Just as Abraham’s servant did in seeking a wife for Isaac in Genesis 24 or the Apostle Paul when he sought to go east and God wanted him to go west in Acts 16. If your child came to you and asked you what the best way was for he or she to walk in would you hide it from them? I think not. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:11:
11 “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11 (NIV)
Actually, the “good gift” mentioned is the Holy Spirit. He is the best Gift as He leads us into all Truth through His power. This is the life of abundance. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:10:
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
It is God’s desire for us to take hold of the life that is truly life. Paul tells his beloved Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:18-19:
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NIV)
So sisters we get to choose – either our way or His way. The created’s way or the Creator’s? He seeks for us to faithfully be His Hands and His Feet in our very ordinary daily lives. Our ordinary faithfulness is no ordinary thing in God’s sight. Indeed, our ordinary faithfulness speaks volumes to others and to Him. It is also a supreme blessing for us. Sometimes He will do other things like call us to go to our Nineveh’s or teach to the masses or write a book or whatever. We will never, ever put God in a box and He very often changes our directions and our ministries. Simply be faithful where you are now and get your giftings ready and let Him lead you. Whenever I try to drag Him along to the delusions of my own mind, I end up wasting valuable time and resources and wearing myself out fast. No one is called to do everything. No one! I think of Peter’s words in 1 Peter 4:10:
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Actually, “Various forms” in the above passage basically means “polka dots”! Every believer in sweet Jesus has been given at least one gift and the body of Christ suffers – as does the believer – when we do not do our giftings. Our giftings are given to us but not for us – they are for the body, Also, whatever or wherever your gifting is, be in tune to His leading and unlike Jonah act quickly and do not flee but be obedient to do what He has asked you to do.
“What is ‘good’? Just as Pilate asked Jesus ‘What is Truth?’ while all the while looking straight at Truth Incarnate, we as humans often misconstrue ‘What is good?’ and end up missing out on God’s best by ‘kicking against the goads’ and not walking in His ways. We so often buy into what the world believes as good. Do we believe it’s all about more – More clothes in the closet? More comforts in the den? More money in the bank? More health in the body? More buildings, marquees, publications or whatever’s bearing our names? More children in the home? And on and on and on it goes. “Good” is not merely “wants”. “Good” can be as varied as the people who populate this dusty earth. Simply put, ‘good’ is always God’s best for a life. The Maker of all humankind has a plan for each life and our best is always to walk in it – be it ever so hard. His will is revealed in a myriad of ways from His Word, from the Holy Spirit’s promptings Who indwells every true believer in Christ, from prayer and petition with thanksgiving, from fellow sojourners – why God can even use a donkey or a great big fish! And believe me, you always want to be in the center of His will as it is good and pleasing and perfect. Don’t fight against God’s best because it is hard. Allow Him to conform you to the image of Christ. We are the ultimate losers if we don’t. It is the life of true blessedness.” BHY
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
At last, back to our protagonist! Jonah was unhappy over God’s calling as the Assyrians were cruel and abused Israel greatly. He would much rather have seen God’s Hand destroy them as He had done to Sodom and Gomorrah than for him to warn them of their certain doom if they did not repent. His narrow patriotism took precedence over his theology. Jonah forgot that the will of God is the expression of the love of God, and that God called him to Nineveh because He loved both Jonah and the Ninevites:
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Psalm 33:11 (NIV)
“To doubt the good will of God is an inborn suspicion of God with all of us. Besides, the devil...goes about seeking to devour us by roaring: ‘God is angry at you and is going to destroy you forever.’ In all these difficulties we have only one support, the Gospel of Christ. To hold on to it, that is the trick. Christ cannot be perceived with the senses... The heart does not feel His helpful presence. Especially in times of trials a Christian feels the power of sin, the infirmity of his flesh, the goading darts of the devil...the scowl and judgment of God. All these things cry out against us, death thunders at us, the devil roars at us. In the midst of the clamor the Spirit of Christ cries in our hearts, ‘Abba, Father.’ And this little cry of the Spirit transcends the hullabaloo of the Law, sin, death, and the devil, and finds a hearing with God. The Spirit cries because of our weakness...(and) is sent forth into our hearts...to assure us of the grace of God.” Martin Luther
Jonah also had a wrong attitude toward the Word of God. When the Word of the Lord came to him, Jonah thought he could “take it or leave it.” However, when God’s Word commands us, we must listen and obey. Disobedience is not an option. Jesus tells us in Luke 6:46:
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46 (NIV)
And adding in Matthew 7:24-27:
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)
Jonah forgot that it was a great privilege to be a prophet, to hear God’s Word, and to know God’s will and he turned tail to Joppa to catch a boat to Tarshish– the total opposite direction of Nineveh. Indeed, Tarshish represented the farthest point west from Palestine. Tarshish was west and Nineveh was east. Yet in reality Jonah’s ultimate destination was from the face of God. He was a national hero who became a fleeing prophet, fearful of the consequences of God’s message for the pagan city of Nineveh all the while surely knowing that he could not run away from Gods presence. King David tells us in Psalms 139:7-12:
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:7-12 (NIV)
Still he felt he had the right to turn in his resignation forgetting that “God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable”:
29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 (NIV)
At one time or another during their ministries, Moses, Elijah and Jeremiah all felt like giving up (as well as Job and quite frankly often us as well!) but God wouldn’t let them. You see Jonah needed Nineveh as much as Nineveh needed Jonah. It is in doing the will of God that we grow in grace and become more like Christ and that is what we all long for be it ever so hard. And that is our VERY purpose here! Resist flight.
“Nothing great was ever done without much enduring.” Catherine of Sienna
King David writes in Psalms 55:5-8; 16-18:
5 Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. 6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest-- 7 I would flee far away and stay in the desert;” Selah. Psalm 55:5-7 (NIV)
16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. 17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. 18 He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. Psalm 55:16-18 (NIV)
So Jonah heads down to Joppa and then down into the ship then down into the water then down into the belly of the whale as we will later discover. Make no mistake about it, a journey away from God’s Presence is always a journey downward. We are not stagnant people and we do not stay the same in our walks – we will either be going upward or downward. Remember how low the prodigal son went before he looked up. There is nothing new under the sun.
Remember God’s definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13 penned by the Apostle Paul:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)
“Maybe you are feeling the weight of your circumstances closing in on you. You have longed to be free, but you have remained shackled to this world in ways that only God knows and understands. If you seek Him, He will set you free from the sin of worry, doubt, fear, hopelessness, lustful feelings, and more. When you pray with a sincere heart, the Lord will be found by you. Then your witness and testimony will become a way to glorify God and lead others into His throne room of mercy and grace.” Michael Youssef
“We’re pilgrims on the journey - Of the narrow road - And those who’ve gone before us line the way - Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary - Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace - Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses - Let us run the race not only for the prize - But as those who’ve gone before us - Let us leave to those behind us - The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives - After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone - And our children sift through all we’ve left behind - May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover - Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find - Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful - May the fire of our devotion light their way - May the footprints that we leave - Lead them to believe - And the lives we live inspire them to obey - Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.” Steve Green
These are Beth’s personal notes, due to this fact sources are not often stated.
