MDM4M - Special Article Series - Jonah: Disobedience in Action

Modern Disciple Magazine for Men (MDM4M), published in Canada

Friday, November 21st, 2008

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Let's talk about a loser. No, I'm not talking about Jonah, I'm talking about me. That's right, I'm a loser. I've lost many, many things in my lifetime: friendships & relationships, to start with. I've been kicked out of the same university twice and out of college once. I'm divorced with no custody of my only daughter. Sad tale? Maybe, but it's of my own doing. That's what happens when you rebel against God and His perfect will for your life. He only asks us to obey. It's as simple as that. I've failed Him, and subsequently failed horribly in life.

So, that's it, eh? I'm done for…well, no, that's not true at all. Sure I could jump on the pity party band wagon and live the rest of my life in 'quiet desperation', always trying to find out 'who' I am and 'where' I am going. Well, I already know who I am, and why I was created and placed on this Earth. My life is an offering to God, to be used for His glory and honor alone. All He asks is that I obey Him. Failure that I am, God still loves me, and desires and commands me to serve Him with my entire being. Let's look at Jonah, who was disobedient to God, and was still used Him to do awesome things for His glory and praise.

Jonah 1:1-3 "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD."

Right from the very first time we hear about Jonah he is disobedient. God comes to Him with a command to obey Him. Jonah totally relies on his own understanding, and not God's and decides to go his own way…not too smart. Jonah missed a few key attributes about God: omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence.

Jonah 1:2 "But Jonah rose up to flee…from the presence of the LORD…" God is everywhere, dummy. Good luck with that. Have you ever 'run from God'? It can't be done, you know. You can make your own path, but God is always there. You can charter a boat to the other side of the world, but God is there. He's everywhere.

Another thing that Jonah missed is God is omniscient; He knows everything. He knew that Jonah was going to get into the boat. So…along comes a storm, just by chance…or not? Jonah 1:4 "But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken." That's what you get, Jonah. For being disobedient you have endangered not only your life, but also the lives of everyone on that ship. Not too smart. But God isn't mean or uncaring; He's a god of love. In fact He is love. Look around you at all the things He's blessed you with: James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…" So, God makes a way for the men on the ship to be spared and to glorify Himself. Jonah 1:15, 16 "So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows." It's pretty awesome that the Lord can use our disobedience to further His kingdom. He can use us in spite of ourselves.

Well, the rest of the story is pretty well known: Jonah gets swallowed by a big fish and is in the fish for 3 days and nights, finally being spit up on the beach near Nineveh, the very place he didn't want to go. Jonah preaches to Nineveh and they repent of their sin, and God saves them. Moral of the story: God will put you where He wants you, so stop fighting. Quit being disobedient, because it's a complete waste of time and you'll only end up hurting yourself. God will use everything for His honor and glory, no matter what you do.

Have you lived a life of disobedience to God? Have you done your own thing even though you know that God wants something else for your life? Look at your life for a minute. Are there things that happened that could have been avoided if you did what God wanted you to do? Living in obedience is freeing. You are in God's perfect will, following Him and Him alone.

continued on page two --->