Jonah. He had a clear calling from God to go and preach against the city of Nineveh… But he ran from God. Jonah headed for Tarshish, which is on the opposite side of the Mediterranean Sea.
Jonah didn’t just hang out where he was in disobedience. He ran the opposite direction. So here Jonah is, asleep in the middle of a storm, willfully walking in disobedience. All of the other sailors are crying out to their gods in fear and desperation. The captain goes down and wakes Jonah up and says “Get up and call on your god!”
I find this situation parallels my life all too often. I turn in disobedience to the Spirit and ignore His leading or His calling. Whether big or small, helping someone, fighting against my flesh, making life changing decisions… all too often I screw it up. Then comes a storm. Something happens and I need or I am asked to call upon the power of the Lord. I have to completely rely on God. Can I do it? I usually fall into the trap of my disobedience. I disobeyed God. I’ve run from God. Who am I to call on Him? How shameful am I? That’s when I must remember the faithfulness of God. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 are my favorite verses:
“If we died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
I have to trust the faithfulness of God. He tells me that He has no record of my sins (Heb 8:12). Scripture tells me to approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need (Heb 4:16). How great is our God! I must stop struggling with myself and my weaknesses and turn to God as my source of grace and power.
Even after Jonah’s disobedience, God still shows up. Before the men threw Jonah overboard, they cried, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life.” They knew that throwing Jonah overboard meant certain death for him. But God still had a plan for Jonah and disobedience didn’t stop that plan. God saved Jonah’s life in the midst of his disobedience and still used him as the one to speak to Nineveh. God didn’t change His mind about Jonah.
How great is it that God’s character never changes? His character and faithfulness are not dependent upon our obedience. So if you’re running from God, stop and turn around. Repent. He loves you and He still wants to boldly move in and through your life.
