How do you flee the Presence of God? I guess, you believe that you really do know that you are in His Presence. But how is it that you think you can physically run away from God to Tarshish? Jonah 1:3. I know this--- We don't physically run away. We run away emotionally by shutting down and denying what's going on. We run away socially by distancing ourselves, busying ourselves. We run away relationally by proving I am right and you are going to pay for it. We run away from God because entitlement rears its head and says: God's not been good to us, given us what we've hoped for, dreamed for, worked for. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. I'm nowhere near where I thought I would be.
God's grace to Jonah was a Great Wind. Jonah 1:4. What is His Grace in my life this day?
Jonah's response to Great Grace: Just let me die. "Pick me up and hurl me into the sea." 1:12
So, the seamen attempted to murder Jonah by throwing him into raging waters.
Jonah rather faced the Rage of the Sea than the Rage of God against a city.
And a whale swallows him up. Another sure death sentence.
For three days, Jonah sits in a death sentence surrounded by grisly guts, nauseating stench, entangled in seaweed, in stark darkness. Blank.
Then, Jonah remembers the LORD, 3 days later
And calls out to the LORD, out of his distress
And there it is: Jonah 2:8
A verse that grabbed me in one of my darkest hours of life.
Don't cling to worthless idols, or
you will forfeit the Grace of God, forsake your hope of Love.
And the fish vomits Jonah up.
Nineveh repents.
God relents.
Jonah laments: I want to die again.
Angry enough to die.
"Do you do well to be angry?" Jonah 4:4
What about God's calling on your life to be a prophet lifting up the name?
If God used you to change the lives of 120,000 people?
Whose name am I more concerned about?
All because 120,000 people "who didn't know their right hand from the left," repented.
Are we like Jonah wanting God to do what we want Him to do?
Jonah 1:11 "What should we do to you that the sea may be calm for us" - I am surrounded by many storms, some are so rough, I think I won't survive, but I am calm in the midst of these storms when I choose to trust in God. It is when my eyes stray to the storms around me that it gets rough, ugly, scary and fear threatens.
ReplyDeleteHe hears us when we cry out in distress (2:2), He brings us up from the pit (2:6). Whatever it is I am clinging to (other than YOU), help me to release my grip on these empty and useless things (2:8).
I am sorry that like Jonah, I want punishment for those that I think deserve it. Thank you that You are gracious and compassionate (4:2), slow to anger and abundant in loving. How can I not want what You so freely give to me for others that need it just as much?
I teach a High School Sunday School class, and last Sunday we studied Jonah. Saying "Yes" to God isn't always easy, but it is the only way to have peace.
ReplyDeleteIn May, I went to a Missionary Conference. I am on the Mission Board at my church, so I thought it would be a great way to recruit Missionaries to speak at our church. I didn't really expect to be recruited. I found myself going forward when the call was given, God was really speaking to my heart to say, "Yes". For the first time in my Christian life, I am totally ready to be used by Him and to serve Him with all my heart in faith and trust.
He has been speaking to my heart, especially the direction of the Anti-Human Trafficking movement.
I have been reading and researching for the last 6 weeks,I am learning, praying and waiting.
Jan, how exciting! Looking forward to see what He will be doing through you!
ReplyDeleteNise, me too-don't always want everyone to be forgiven that easily, yet I want that kind of scandalous grace for myself...
Bev, praying for good news for you this day as you have waited so long to hear a report. You're in my prayers this day, my friend.
Jonah knew the people of Ninevah would repent and he didn't want to see them forgiven by his good and gracious God.
Help us Lord to learn that kind of forgiveness for others for You to forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us. We need more grace to be more like You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.