SCRIPTURE: Jonah 1:1-17

OBSERVATION:

The word of the Lord (v.1) is God’s communication, in whatever form it took (angel, dream, vision, other prophet, etc.).

God’s message to Jonah is to ”go and preach” (compare Matthew 28:18-20). He was being called to preach to his nations oppressors, the capital city of Assyria.

Jonah rejects God’s call – too demanding? to scary? Its like asking a French person during WW2 to go to Berlin and preach judgment against the Nazis. Jonah runs away from God.

God directs the circumstances against Jonah, but doesn’t stop him.
Jonah claims to still worship God (v.9), even though he is running away.

God uses Jonah’s disobedience for His glory, leading the sailors to worship Him (v.16).

Swallowed by fish – impossible? only if we rule out the hand of supernatural God.

APPLICATION:

God is concerned for all people, not just church people. I hear God challenging me to look beyond my own closed circles to see the people around me who need to hear about God, His judgment and His mercy.

God is calling me to ”go and preach”. Am I running away?

If I am running away, then maybe this can explain some of my struggles. Maybe I am being “swallowed” not by a fish but by other circumstances: boredom, distractions, feelings of defeat, depression? Is this God’s way of getting my attention?

I still claim to work for God, even though I am running away, avoiding the hard parts. God has called me to follow Him, not just believe in Him. Jonah believed, but he also ran away, he did not follow God. Am I/are we guilty of believing without following?

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I hear Your call to be Your witness to all people, yet I find myself hiding in the church. Help me to discern if I am running away from Your calling, and if so, send Your storm and fish to bring me back to You, and to Your purpose for my life. Amen.