Considerations: Life Lessons from Jonah (Part II of III)

(Part II of III)

Jonah 1:1-3, The word of the Lord came to Jonah, son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 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.

In Joppa, Jonah found a ship ready to set sail out to sea and he boarded it. Shortly thereafter, the Lord sent “a great wind on the sea” or a violent storm. This “perfect storm” was so violent that these experienced sailors feared for their lives. Jonah’s disobedience to God risked the lives of the ship’s crew.

And so it is today. We have a great responsibility to obey God’s Word because our sin and disobedience can hurt and endanger others. We all need to consider honestly how our lives and our sins have impacted the lives of those around us.

And where was Jonah? Jonah 1:5, “...but Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.”

A deep sleep? During a storm? On a boat? Where’s the man’s conscience? Jonah’s actions apparently didn’t bother his conscience. Let’s not be like Jonah as we see him here. Just because we have no guilty feelings or nagging conscience doesn’t mean what we have done or may be doing is right. Never forget, the standard is God’s Word, not human feelings or human judgment. May we all have a Godly conscience and not a “Jonah conscience.”

The captain awoke Jonah and the crew began to question the prophet. When Jonah told the crew he was running away from his God, they were terrified, and eventually they were forced, with Jonah’s support, to throw him overboard.

Jonah 1:17, But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 2:1, From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God.

Inside the belly of the great fish, Jonah prayed a prayer, not of deliverance, but one of thanksgiving to God for not allowing him to drown. Even from inside “the great fish,” God heard Jonah’s prayer.

And so it is with you and me. We can pray anytime, anywhere and God will hear us. Even when we are running from God’s will, your sin, my sin, is never too great, no situation too late, for God to hear and respond. Pray without ceasing.

Next time: The importance of a consistent spiritual commitment and the God of second chances, all considered, in the conclusion to “Life Lessons from Jonah.”

--------------- Like on Facebook: firstchristianchurchdonnatexas. --------------- Chris Voss is a pastor at First Christian Church, 317 S. Main, Donna.