Devotion 1: God’s Response To Jonah

Pastor Mitchell Holmes

When I was a child, I hated one rule that my parents had more than any other: the sweets rule. You see, my parents only allowed us to have sweets a few times a week, so it was common for us to be told that we couldn’t have dessert because we just had it last night. Being the sweet tooth that I was, I wouldn’t always abide by this rule. It was not uncommon for me to wait for my parents to go to bed, then sneak out and take some candy or pop back to my room to enjoy. I deliberately ignored my parents’ instruction and hid what I was doing from them. Of course, my parents only had my best interest in mind, but that didn’t stop me from trying to do things my own way.

Jonah attempted to do the same thing, except he tried to do things his own way by running and hiding from Almighty God. Just like our parents here on earth know the things that we try to hide from them, there is no outrunning or hiding from God. In Jonah 1:7-17, we see Jonah on a boat, trying to run in the opposite direction from Nineveh, where God has called him to go. When the storm comes and the crew begins to discuss their coming demise, it is revealed by Jonah that he is running from God. “So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:15-17

Here we see God’s response to Jonah fleeing from what God has appointed him to. First, we see that God does not give up on Jonah. Instead, He has Jonah spend time in isolation for three days so that he can properly align his heart to match what God has tasked him with. Secondly, we see the sailors worship the Lord as a result of the events beginning with Jonah’s disobedience. It brings me great comfort to know that even when I am far from God’s will or I’ve missed the call to be a part of His mission, He still uses it for good and for His glory.

We all have moments in our lives where we choose disobedience to God. Perhaps He has tasked us with sharing the gospel with someone that we know will make things uncomfortable, so we avoid the conversation. Or maybe, we are ignoring His nudge to make a change in our life to better focus our minds on Heavenly things. Whatever it may be, God’s response to Jonah shows us how God does not give up on His children, and instead gently (or not so gently) redirects us back to what He has for us. Take time today to prayerfully ask God how you need to surrender to His will. Where are you running from Him? What have you convinced yourself that you’ve successfully hidden from Him? Turn back to His way, the way that leads to life.