What has God placed before you to carry out? What has He called you to do? I love the story of Jonah. It is packed with so many life lessons and wonderful truths of God’s love, discipline, and second chances.
First of all: Jonah attempted to devise his own blueprint plan–instead of following the Lord’s call.
The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. (Jonah 1:1-3 NASB)
Next: The Lord pursued the runaway, Jonah.
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The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. (Jonah 1:4)
Next: The Lord used circumstances to bring his servant back to Himself and to the original path he was called to travel.
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And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)
Next: Jonah repented and God intervened.
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Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land. (Jonah 2:10)
Next: God gave Jonah a second chance to “arise and go.”
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“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” (Jonah 3:1-2)
Next: Jonah obeyed.
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So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. (Jonah 3:3a)
What is God calling you to do? Are you obeying? Or, are you currently a Jonah? Remember the truths of this passage. God’s plan will always be better than our own self-made course. Follow Him–no matter where He may lead you.
P.S. Don’t let the sun go down on what God is calling you to do. Surrender to His call today.
Written by O’Shea
On behalf of the Strong & Courageous Sunday school class (of First Dallas) we would love to invite you to join us, Sunday, May 24th, at 9:30 a.m. for a (live) Sunday school class. Visit the home page of Entrusted Hope Ministries http://www.entrustedhopeministries.org to find the link to the class. Thanks!
Credits: Picture of Whale and sky by: Richter
