Pursuing Those Called to Tell
Jonah 1:1-4, 7-12, 17; 2:1-4
Many people think it is an absurd idea that God wants to communicate with human beings. Believers, on the other hand, know that God wants to communicate with all people. He wants all people to know the truth about His salvation in Jesus Christ and His judgment of sin. Believers also know that God expects them to be the channel through which others come to know about Jesus. Unfortunately, many are reluctant to obey God and share His truth with others. We have many reasons, excuses and good intentions which we will gladly talk about, but sharing Jesus may still be left out of the conversation. God wants and expects His people to be obedient.
Which way are you going? (Jonah 1:1-3). When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach against the people’s wickedness, Jonah fled in the opposite direction and boarded a ship. God called, and Jonah ran away. Why would Jonah run away? The question is still very relevant today. Why do believers refuse to share what God is doing in their lives? Why do we refuse to tell others that Jesus is the answer to the deepest needs of the human heart and all of life? Jonah had his reasons. He did not like the people to whom God was sending him. He did not want them forgiven. He wanted them destroyed. So he ran in the opposite direction. Believers have the responsibility and privilege to share the good news of Jesus Christ. We do not have the privilege to decide whom to leave out.
What will it take? (Jonah 1:4; 7-12). God sent a storm to get Jonah’s attention. God wanted Jonah to take responsibility for his attitude and refusal to serve as God’s messenger. The sailors were paying attention to the storm. Jonah was down in the ship, asleep. How many believers are sleeping while the world is being ripped apart by indifference, violence and other sins? What will it take to wake us up? When Jonah woke up, he said, “It’s me, I am the cause of the storm.” It’s a scary thought, but will God have to throw the church overboard to get our attention? We need to recognize and repent of any attitudes we harbor, or actions we have taken (like running away) that show our unwillingness to be a part of God’s redemptive mission.
To whom will you turn? (Jonah 1:17-2:4. The Bible says God disciplines those whom He loves. There are several ways Christians may respond to His discipline. We may despise it as Jonah did. He stayed in the fish three days, refusing to repent. To rebel against God is to ask for trouble. Finally, Jonah submitted, prayed and trusted, and God forgave him. Jonah teaches us that the Lord is a forgiving and restoring God, and that He will help us get back on the track of faithfulness when we humbly turn to Him.
Davis– Lessons in the ETB series for the winter quarter are being written by Ron Davis, director of missions for Greenville Baptist Association.