I have been thinking about and
reading the book of Jonah recently.
Because it is only four chapters I actually read it multiple times, and
in a couple different versions Monday. So,
while sitting in my hotel room waiting for a part to be delivered I decided I
would try to express what God has been speaking to me.
What initially got me thinking
about Jonah is the biggest thing God has put on my heart recently, the question
of “Who am I to try to limit God?” God
has really impressed on me that He “Is”.
What does that mean? I think
about when He told Moses to go the Pharaoh and say “I am” sent you. Or like the ebay commercial “whatever ‘it’ is”. God “Is”.
He is everything! He created everything! He knows everything! Is that enough everythings?
Jonah knew this, yet he, like I
often have, tried to force his will on God.
God told him to do something that he did not want to do, something that
made him uncomfortable (yes, God does do that).
And instead of doing it he ran.
He tried to hide from God.
We read later in chapters three and
four why he ran.
Jonah 3:10 When God saw what they had done and how they had
put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the
destruction he had threatened.
Jonah 4:1 This change of plans greatly upset
Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn't I say before I left home
that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and
compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are
eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”
(NLT)
Jonah let his pride get in the way of him
doing what God wanted him to do. He was
more concerned about looking foolish in man’s eyes than obedient in God’s! To top it off while he was in the belly of
the fish he cried out to God and repented and God showed him mercy. Yet when the people of Nineveh cried out and
repented Jonah did not want God to show them mercy. Not just because they did not deserve it but
because he did not want to be wrong! He
said he would rather be dead than be wrong!
At the end of the story Jonah still goes
up on a hill to watch and see if God will destroy the city. He still wanted God to do what he wanted Him
to do. He still tried to force his will
on God.
What God is saying to me through
this is that when I step out of His will I do open the door for the enemy to
come in and attack me (Jonah in the storm then the fish’s belly). However, He is faithful and just to forgive
me, 1 John 1:9, and He will redeem the plan that He has for me. I have to be willing to do what He is asking me even if it makes me look foolish. I cannot let my pride get in the way of His will.
As stated earlier, the other thing I continue to hear is
that no matter what happens He “Is”. If
the plan is not what I wanted or expected He still “Is”. If it did not happen in my timing He still “Is”. God is my everything and I cannot limit what
He is going to do.
