YOU Can DISOBEY! GOD Will STILL Test YOU!!

[WISDOM]

Back in 1979, while I was stationed in Puerto Rico with the U.S. Navy, I did my first indepth study in a book of the Bible. The book was Jonah, and I never forgot how I was impacted by it. At the time I could really identify with his attitudes, and I believe this was our FATHER's wake-up call for me. You see.....when you look very closely at the book you see a strong air of disobedience on the Prophet's part.

Jonah was a prophet to the Northern Kingdom (Israel) during the nation's split into two Kingdom's. Judah was the Southern. This book is different from the rest of the "Minor Prophet" books because it is a narrative about Jonah himself and NOT a collection of his prophecies. It is NOT a fiction or an allegory. Jonah was a REAL, historical person. Our LORD JESUS CHRIST made reference to the Book of Jonah (Matthew 12:39-41.....Luke 11:29-32), thus placing HIS stamp of approval on this book.

As the book opens, our FATHER commanded Jonah to go to NINEVEH and preach there. Nineveh was the capital of ASSYRIA. It didn't take long for Jonah's disobedience to show through! He said "NO" to GOD and fled to Tarshish by ship! Now.....something we need to understand as GOD's children, when our FATHER tells us to "Go" and do a particular thing, "DO IT!!!!" You'll save yourself a lot of unnecessary pain, heartaches/headaches, and tears. Don't run from GOD. Walk by FAITH daily! Notice I did say daily....NOT weekly, monthly or annually. DAILY!!

When we run we always fall down. Wherever HE has called you or I to go, it is for the sole purpose of turning on the "LIGHT" and allowing HIS will to be done through us. When CHRIST commands us to do anything there is absolutely no reason for you and I to question HIS directive. HE cannot work through us UNLESS we are OBEDIENT. Like many of you when I gave my life to JESUS CHRIST in 1977, I thought everything would be "peaches and cream" from that point on. BOY-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y! Was I wrong!! I found out quickly that the minute YOU and I come into GOD's family ALL trouble breaks loose! Satan will try to assassinate YOUR character....but REJOICE! That is proof YOU and I belong to CHRIST! Our war is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). We are not where we are by mere chance. It took me several years to realize this, but I've since learned you cannot outrun our FATHER's callings. And man...am I thankful.

The LORD sent a storm after that ship Jonah was on to wake him. Anytime we as Christians get out of the will of GOD, HE will send a "storm" to wake us. It may be sickness, financial loss, or something else...loss of employment, etc. HE knows how to get our attention! In Jonah case his disobedience is the cause of the storm, and it doesn't only hurt him, but it also impacts all his shipmates! What about you? Does your disobedience impact your family? Friends? Fellow employees? Do they feel the storms of your life also because you run from your Christian responsibilities, and refuse to throw them a "lifeline"?! Because of the storm, Jonah is cast into the sea, but GOD was in the storm, and took care of Jonah. Our FATHER miraculously preserves Jonah's life in the belly of a "great fish" HE prepared.

Once inside there was no where to run! GOD had to get Jonah's attention again. This was it. In complete silence and darkness, except for probably the different bodily systems within the fish doing their jobs. When you read the second chapter of Jonah it is amazing how quickly he remembers GOD. Basically he prays primarily via quotations from Psalms and expresses REPENTANCE and confidence in GOD, because he is in great distress and danger. But isn't this just like YOU and I also whenever we become disobedient to GOD and become SELF-WILLED MEN/WOMEN?! We'll let others suffer and be a non-witness for CHRIST in all our actions, UNTIL our FATHER brings a "storm" our way to get our undivided attention, huh???!

I've had several of the "silent years" in my Christian walk, because of my being a knucklehead. Those "silent years" may not have been exactly literal years, but they were periods of time whereby GOD was attempting to "get-my-attention". I learned that many times GOD was doing this to broaden my horizon. Our obedience to HIM leads to spiritual maturity, and oftentimes this can be more difficult than we would expect. The good thing is HE has promised that HE will NEVER relinquish HIS familial relationship with YOU and I, regardless of our ignorance, mistakes, sin or "knucklehead-itis". It takes time to see the error of our ways. And our FATHER is in no rush. Moses spent 40 years in the desert, BEFORE his "calling". Joseph spent 13 years in Pharoah's prison BEFORE his "elevation". John the Baptist was "in the wilderness" BEFORE his "call".

Right now YOU and I are in the "belly of the Great Fish". It's called the "University of the HOLY SPIRIT" (Galatians 6:9). Each of us comes to the place where our FATHER wants our total attention, so HE can give us a clear understanding of how important our obedience to HIM is. When we're in these type of positions like Jonah was it isn't by accident. YOU can NEVER have a testimony WITHOUT a TEST! I honestly believe that our FATHER gave us Jonah's situation to tie in with the "heroes of faith" (Hebrews Chapter 11). They went through the same testings. Elijah the Prophet went through it too! (1 Kings 19:1-18) See....YOU and I have to become NOBODY for GOD to make us SOMEBODY. In order for this to happen we cannot run from the testings HE provides. We cannot become disobedient. We have to get to the place where HE is our security. (Romans 8:28)

Satan wants us to quit and give up when our FATHER is correcting us. DON'T THINK you are the only one who has problems. None of it is going to work if our FATHER is preparing us for a task. HE will test us (Hebrews 12:5-11). All of the heroes of faith had to press on. So the word for YOU and I is to be faithful, and be grateful. I believe Jonah realized this at this point in the "Great Fish". (Psalm 86:5) Then, the great fish vomited Jonah onto dry land. GOD recommisioned him and he performed the greatest revival in history! Nineveh was a huge city of nearly a million people.

So what was Jonah's reaction? He became angry because of GOD mercy on the Ninevites! Jonah hated the Ninevites. Ok...let's look at yourself for a moment. Ever felt this way about another denomination? How about another culture? Another race of people?? Another ethnicity?? Come on....you can be honest. I have. Yes, before I became a Christian, and even for a period after becoming one. But you know what I eventually learned? Our LORD/SAVIOUR does not attend our personal little "pity-parties". As long as YOU and I live in self-pity we will drive people away from us. Get your mind off yourself, because it is YOU who is the problem anyway.

You say you're not perfect. Well good.....our FATHER works through IMPERFECT people (1 Corinthian 1:27-29). Welcome to the club! A couple of previous members who have moved on to Heaven.....MOSES - Speech Impediment (He studdered, Exodus 4:10).....JEREMIAH - Claimed he was too young (GOD knew him in the womb, Jeremiah 1:5)......GIDEON - Self pity, too poor, least in his family (Judges 6:15), just to name a few. GOD says just be obedient. The message of the book of Jonah is our FATHER's love for lost souls. Jonah felt sorry for himself and for the plant that sheltered him before it died. However, he had no love or compassion for the thousands of people in the city of Nineveh. Our LORD sends warnings of judgement through YOU and I everyday to the lost, but if they cry out to the LORD and repent shouldn't we be happy?

Our FATHER says that is the way it is suppose to be. YOU should NEVER question GOD's Soveignty. It is what HE says, not what we think. (1 Peter 5:6) Be faithful and obedient to what our FATHER has called YOU to do. Don't ever try to shun HIS testings of YOU. Look closely...the pagan Assyrian emperor sets a BETTER EXAMPLE than the selfish narrow-minded Prophet. You have to forgive people who hurt you. Don't get bitter resentful. Don't waste your grief. Most important.....remain OBEDIENT. I know you are probably tired of the word by now, however, it impacts our work for the Kingdom greatly. YOUR work may involve more than the usual idea of service as Jonah found out. It may involve STEADFASTNESS in difficult circumstances. Regardless....remain obedient, and endure testing!

[Matthitjah]

Amen

Peace,

Dave

[JohnS]

Thank You, my brother!

Some more observations from Jonah:

The Assyrians were the enemies of Israel, a wicked and merciless people. Perhaps Jonah would have rather seen them destroyed than saved.

It is good to read your posts again, WISDOM.

[papasangel]

Amen Wisdom. Now I see where you got your name at. What rate were you in the Navy? I was a Hospital corpsman with a stint at Chaplains receptionist in Phila. PA. Chief was a gunnersmate CPO.

[traveller]

I think that one of the biggest steps we as humans can take is to realize a correction from the Lord when He gives it. So often we fail to see it soon enough. As least I am speaking for myself in this. It's so easy to get cought up in the "world" and not see the Lord's workings in our own lives. To see what everyone else is going through and to discern that, but to totally ignore our own shortcomings and missteps. I know that I have to make myself stop and look at ME many many times. And then I see that our Father has been guiding me and correcting me to get me back on course. If only I had seen it earlier! But too often in my own life He has to send out a storm or even a whale to get my attention. :down:

[WISDOM]

Dr. Luke......tyvm bruh. Your insight is becoming more and more keen!

JohnS......tyvm bruh. Long time no hear, perhaps that was my fault for not being here! *lol* The honor is our FATHER's.

papasangel (I love that name)......Your words are kind Sis. I'm a retired admin Chief. You were stationed in Philly (Mmmmmmmm cheesesteaks!) once, huh? I was born and raised in New Jersey. And you married a "gunnie"....man! (only kidding)

Sis (Trav)......those storms can be a killer! But if we look at it and ask GOD what HIS purpose is in sending it into our lives vice WHY, in the end it will always serve its purpose in broadening our Christian horizon. Example: when the shipmates threw Jonah overboard per his request, Jonah didn't realize that because of his and their actions they came to a saving knowledge of WHO the living GOD is! (Jonah 1:10-16)

Our FATHER has a purpose behind EVERY "storm" that HE sends into our lives, and it does not always center on just YOU and I!

[WayneB]

Awesome testimony/teaching WISDOM.

So what was Jonah's reaction? He became angry because of GOD mercy on the Ninevites! Jonah hated the Ninevites. Ok...let's look at yourself for a moment. Ever felt this way about another denomination? How about another culture? Another race of people?? Another ethnicity?? Come on....you can be honest. I have. Yes, before I became a Christian, and even for a period after becoming one. But you know what I eventually learned? Our LORD/SAVIOUR does not attend our personal little "pity-parties". As long as YOU and I live in self-pity we will drive people away from us. Get your mind off yourself, because it is YOU who is the problem anyway.

I recognize myself here. As a once right-wing, ultra-conservative, law-abiding, "let them hang" sort of fella, I detested the criminals who were destroying the very fabric of our society. So what did God do? He sent me into the jail to minister to those criminals. At first, I said, "NO". He whispered, "Yes". I said, "NOT ME!" He said, "You". When His will is unmistakable...so obvious that even a dummy like me can see it, I learned that I had better obey...and I did. Five years later, I can honestly say that I am a changed person as a result...not so quick to judge and more apt to show compassion.

I am but a lump of clay in the Potter's hands.

Praise God!

Wayne

[WISDOM]

And Wayne, isn't that a tough pill to swallow sometimes? The fact that GOD knows what's best for us and others (through us), if only we'll be obedient?!

Like Satan, PRIDE carries the grim disadvantage of independence! We want the right to say yes or no. We want to be able to choose the advantages. Sometimes I wonder why our FATHER even puts up with us. Then the HOLY SPIRIT whispers softly in my spiritual ear...." Because I want you to learn to be an overcomer".....

I use to wonder how GOD could call King DAVID a man after HIS own heart. But the deeper I studied David's life, the clearer it became to me why HE did......David was an overcomer. David was no more "perfect" than you and I. The difference was he had learned the secret of staying drenched in the love of our FATHER daily. Yes, he was an adulterer....yes, he was a murderer. However, he was a praying man, who overcame all the obstacles GOD allowed to enter his life. He never once in Scripture turned his back on the LORD. He made a Ba-jillion mistakes, but he learned the importance of repentance and obedience. All evil is arrogant and self-sufficient, while all virtue is humble, obedient and totally dependant on GOD.

Wayne, GOD called you into the position of having a prison ministry because he saw through your facades a long time ago. And I mean that in a positive sense. It takes a humble person to do what you are doing. I don't believe I could do it. Yet our FATHER sees potential in us for many things like we do with our own children. We Christians especially believe what we WANT to believe! It is a lust with us, although many may disagree. We sometimes choose to escape (like Jonah) hard choices in life by manipulation.

[nebula]

sung to the tune of "A Drunken Sailor"

We sail a ship with a man named Jonah

We sail a ship with a man named Jonah

We sail a ship with a man named Jonah

Earli in the morning

Lord, Our God

Have mercy on us

Lord, Our God

Have mercy on us

Lord, Our God

Have mercy on us

Earli in the morning . . .

What I've always loved about the story of Jonah is the men on the boat.

Here's righteous Jonah disobeying God because he doesn't want heathen Nineveh to repent and be saved.

Now you have these heathen (false god worshipers) men on the boat with Jonah risking their lives trying to save his life (after Jonah tole them he was the reason for the storm), and they only throw Jonah over when they realize they cannot save him. Then when the great fish swallows Jonah and the storm stops, the men begin to worship the God of Israel!

So, here we have Jonah running away in disobedience to God, and yet God still uses him win a boat load of converts!!

:a:

(And he didn't even try! )

[WISDOM]

Hello nebula!

Very good insight! And it was one of the points I was driving at in an earlier post here. We never quite understand everything our FATHER is purposely doing in the background through utilization of our actions.

I cannot begin to tell you how many times (shamefully) my disobedience to a circumstance involving the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT for me to CHOOSE to do has led to others being blessed in a supernatural way. I didn't realize it until I looked back and saw GOD's hand resting upon ALL who were involved!

There is not one of us who is perfect and without disobedience at least once in our lifetime with CHRIST (multiply mine by thousands!). Have any of you ever taken an honest, good look at yourself and found where you're really no different than Jonah? Please be honest!!