Why do we run from the truth? What are we afraid to face? Don’t we realize it’s unhealthy to run from doing what’s right?
Jonah, a prophet of the Lord, was not obeying God in what he was told to do. Here’s what he was told by the Lord, “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.” (Jonah 1: 1)
That certainly is a hard thing to do, to preach against something or someone. Jonah, as a messenger of the Lord, was put into an uncomfortable position. Do we obey every time God tells us to do something? Do we justify our disobedience and try to make a deal with God, by sacrificing in another area.
- To obey is better than sacrifice.
Why didn’t Jonah obey? God was sending him to a city that God wanted to save. Maybe Jonah didn’t want the people to receive God’s mercy?
Jonah ran from the assignment. He boarded a ship and sailed for Tarshish, to flee from the Lord. Can we go anywhere where God doesn’t know where we are? He sees and knows all!
As Jonah is on his sailing adventure, a storm starts brewing. Where did the storm come from? This was not a day for blue skies ahead!
“The Lord sent a great wind on the sea and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.” (Jonah 1: 4-5)
- The storms in our life are not always sent from the enemy.
The storm the Lord sent was not just a little one. It was shaking and rocking that vessel so violently that the experienced sailors were afraid and began praying.
Meanwhile, Jonah’s downstairs sleeping, thinking this storm will pass, pretending it didn’t even exist.
- At times, the storms in our life are to draw attention to something, not for us to deny everything.
The sailors learned that Jonah was the reason this storm occurred because he told them that he was running from the Lord.
To help lighten their load, Jonah requests to be thrown overboard. They take him up on his courageous offer. As soon as he touches the water, the storm calms down.
- It’s better to run into the storm, instead of running from it.
- Whatever we are trying not to face, God will give us the courage to face.
Jonah thought it was over, but God had another plan. He provides a great fish, to swallow him up. Many have taught, it was a whale, but it’s not clearly documented. It was big and great enough to let Jonah live in his belly for three days and three nights. I see a symbolic reference here.
- Jesus on the cross, for there days, died and swallowed the entire sin of the world.
- Our God redeems. (Shared from Jonah 1, Paraphrased)
The Apostle Paul is teaching about spiritual gifts. These gifts that God has given, are tools He uses to call us to obedience and growth. Every spiritual gift, “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.” (1 Corinthians 12: 11)
Every gift God has given, apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, gifts of healing, gift of helps, administration, tongues, and interpretation of tongues, are for building up the body of Christ.
If you’ve never done a Spiritual Gift Test, I recommend one. It’s a great place to see where you are called and where your strengths are. Whatever gift God gives, He says, “And now, I will show you most excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12: 31) What’s that way? My favorite way, the way of love.
(Shared from 1 Corinthians 12, Paraphrased)
The gifted prophet, Elisha makes an ax head float. He and his prophet friends were building a new meeting place near the Jordan River. “As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water. Oh my, lord, he cried out. It was borrowed. (2 Kings 6: 5)
An ax head at that time was a very expensive tool. Having lost it, the borrower faced the prospect of having to work as a bondservant to pay to have it replaced.
How were they going to retrieve this? Elisha asks the man where in the water did it fall? He then throws a stick into the water near the same place where it dropped, and suddenly the ax head, this piece of iron, begins to float.
- What you thought may have bottomed out, or sank, can be retrieved by the Lord. Maybe He wants some things to come to the surface.
These men were faithful servants of God who were His messengers. God was pleased with them, so He wanted to provide and show his wonder-working power.
- God opens our eyes to see His goodness and to see a spiritual reality.
He delights in using His people and to show His love and mercy. He is longing for a people to see His faithfulness and work on the earth. He uses our gifts, the Holy Spirit has given, for us to use and implement in building His kingdom.
There is no need to run from Him. He is for us, not against us. Stay the course with Him. Run toward Him, not away from Him. His arms are always open.
(Shared from 2 Kings 6: 1-7: 2, Paraphrased)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
You can find all of the Unbroken Love series posts by clicking the button below.
