Why Have You Done This?
Jonah was a believer, who deliberately ran from the presence of the Lord. Instead of doing what God told him to do and going to Nineveh to preach, he went the other way on a ship. He even told the unbelievers on the ship what he was doing. Then, when the storm arose, the unbelievers were asking Jonah why he would do such a thing.(Jonah 1:9,10) You know it is bad when the pagans see things more clearly than the believers.
Why does a believer decide to flee from the presence of the Lord? I am sure there is more than one reason, but Jonah's reason is the main one I have seen in my life. When a believer holds a sinful attitude or is involved in sinful activity, he or she will try to get away from God's presence. He will stop going to church. He will stop having contact with other believers. He will go back to the things he did before he was saved in an attempt to ignore God and to get away from Him. One truth of the book of Jonah is that no one can get away from God. Even the pagans knew that, but sinful Jonah thought he could do it.
Jonah hated Ninevites. He was a racial and religious bigot. That is a terrible sin. He was more concerned for his comfort than their salvation. In fact, he was more troubled over the death of a bug and a plant than he was of the people of Nineveh dying and going to Hell. He just wanted to do things his way. He thought he feared God, but in reality, he only gave him partial obedience which is sin, too.
Please, don't be under the false assumption that you can hide from God or that you can harbor sin in your heart and be OK. It did not work for Jonah, and it won't work for you. If you have been doing this, repent like the Ninevites did, and God will forgive. He is merciful, and He is Lord of all.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Micah 1-4.
Why does a believer decide to flee from the presence of the Lord? I am sure there is more than one reason, but Jonah's reason is the main one I have seen in my life. When a believer holds a sinful attitude or is involved in sinful activity, he or she will try to get away from God's presence. He will stop going to church. He will stop having contact with other believers. He will go back to the things he did before he was saved in an attempt to ignore God and to get away from Him. One truth of the book of Jonah is that no one can get away from God. Even the pagans knew that, but sinful Jonah thought he could do it.
Jonah hated Ninevites. He was a racial and religious bigot. That is a terrible sin. He was more concerned for his comfort than their salvation. In fact, he was more troubled over the death of a bug and a plant than he was of the people of Nineveh dying and going to Hell. He just wanted to do things his way. He thought he feared God, but in reality, he only gave him partial obedience which is sin, too.
Please, don't be under the false assumption that you can hide from God or that you can harbor sin in your heart and be OK. It did not work for Jonah, and it won't work for you. If you have been doing this, repent like the Ninevites did, and God will forgive. He is merciful, and He is Lord of all.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Micah 1-4.