GOD SAID “GO”
Brenda Lineberger
Today’s Scripture: “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1:3, ESV
Theme: We have all felt the urge to run from God.
JONAH SAID “NO”
I don’t know if Jonah actually said “no,” but his actions certainly did.
As children, I think we all had some experience with disobeying our parents and can identify with Jonah. And if you have children or have had children in your care, I don’t doubt that you can identify with this type of disobedience as a parent.
Now, a little background on Nineveh. It was the capital of Assyria and a longtime enemy of Israel—to the point that they tortured and killed Jewish people. I couldn’t help but compare that to the Holocaust of 1933–1945. I must admit it would be hard to face an enemy like that and show mercy for their souls.
But that’s the kind of mercy God has. And we who have received His mercy are commissioned to let His mercy flow through us to all people—literally, all people. It is not for us to judge who deserves mercy and who doesn’t.
THE RELUCTANT MISSIONARY
After God got Jonah’s attention—being thrown into the ocean and swallowed by a giant fish will do that—Jonah did pray and received the mercy that God also had for Nineveh. He obeyed the second time God told him to preach to the Ninevites, and the whole city responded. While Jonah wasn’t happy about it, God’s will was accomplished.
I’m struck by God’s grace and mercy for Jonah. He didn’t just throw him away or destroy him. He reasoned with him and gave him another chance—not to run away, but to obey.
Make It Personal: What calling have you wanted to run away from? God doesn’t call everyone to go to a hostile country to preach His goodness and mercy, but He does call all of us to the mission field around us. So, who or what is your Nineveh? Someone who is different from you? An enemy? Someone who hates you? A political party?
Would you rather choose who to bless? Are any of us qualified? No. Are you willing to look beyond the differences, or what they’ve done, and see them as lost sheep in need of a Shepherd? Can you let the forgiveness, grace, and mercy that you received from Jesus flow through you? Yes, you can.
Pray: Lord, thank You for being a kind, merciful, good Father. Thank You for forgiving us when we fall short and forget that we are saved because of Your love and forgiveness, and that Your love and mercy are free to anyone who believes in Christ, Your Son. Lord, search our souls and cleanse us of any pride that would cause us to “choose” to whom we will witness or serve. Give us the heart of the Perfect Missionary, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read: Matthew 9:36–37; John 3:16
Weekly Memory Verse: “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1:3a, ESV