I AM JONAH
"The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son Amittai saying.." Jonah 1:1
I am Jonah.
I want to serve God,
as long as it is convenient.
I desire to do His will...
until it is a tad uncomfortable
I want to hear His Word...
as long as its message is one I'm supposed
to pass on to someone else.
I don't want to have my plans interrupted.
Oh yes, I am Jonah, and I suspect that in
one way or another, you are too.
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Let me start by asking you a couple questions I was asked yesterday during my study time...
Has your life ever been interrupted???
[ x ] yes [ ] no [ ] not sure
Have you ever run from God???
[ x ] yes [ ] no [ ] not sure
Think about it...
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Throught the years, many people have come to believe that the story of Jonah is too good to be true ( I know you've been told that if it seems to good to be true, it probably is), but in this case it is true!
People can't seem to believe that teh events could really happen - such as, a great storm, big fish swallowing a man, the city's revival, the east wind, and the plant that all make this story a role in this compelling narrative.
I can't help but believe that this truely happened because I am a firm believer in Christ and I know with Him, all things are possible!!!
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If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, then you are Jonah and his story is your story.
***I hate to be interrupted!
Now you say it... "I HATE BEING INTERRUPTED!"***
***Take a few moments to think about some of your life goals that you've yet to see become reality... How has life tampered with those goals???
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- I thought that I would be a teacher after I graduated college but when I got there I ended up changing my major four times and decided to get a degree in business. Even though I am uncertain what I am supposed to do with this, I have been able to hold a job in my degree since I was 18 years old and I am done with school and I am also married to a wonderful man who loves God. I believe that if I would have stayed with my original plan I would still be in school and I also would have never met my husband. We are now in the process of following a new path that God has set before both of us in ministry, and even though we are scared, we are excited to see what God is going to do in our lives.
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In my book Priscilla made the statement - Some changes we are delighted with, other disappoint us and leave us buried in questions. Without a firm belief in the goodness and the care of God, we can spend years mad at ourselves, others, and even mad at Him because we did not get to acomplish what we originally set out to do.
***Now take a moment and think of three adjectives that describe how you feel about interruptions you've faced in your life plans:
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- Excited
- Scared
- Surprised
I learned that often times we tend to define the word 'interruption" as being terrible, and we have good reason to because most of the time it is... But if we take a closer look, we realize that there is an issue of value. We generally put priority on the things that we plan for ourselves and don't like it when we have to steer away of that.
In II Kings 14:25 we learn what Jonah's priorities were:
II Kings 14:25 says, "King Jeroboam restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prohet who was of Gath-hepher."
***Do you remember what Jonah's job was? He was a prophet of the Lord
***Do you think he was successful at his job?
I believe he was because the verse states that the king restored the borders according to the word of God.
As a prophet to the kingdom of Israel, Jonah's priorities were:
- Hearing from God
- Declaring God's message to His people
- Being identified as a true prophet of God
***From you personal goals you thought about, would you say you gave highest importance to God and His will???
- I haven't...
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Now, you may be wondering what else we know about Jonah other than the fact that he is a prophet of God... Well, we don't really know much about his life prior to what is in the book of Jonah. All we know is that he foretold good things for his people so he must have been popular, respected, and appreciated and more than likely had financial security.
Jonah 1:3 says, 3But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from being in the presence of the Lord [as His prophet] and went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish [the most remote of the Phoenician trading places then known]. So he paid the appointed fare and went down into the ship to go with them to Tarshish from being in the presence of the Lord [as His servant and minister].
***What might this verse reveal about Jonah's financial security???
- To me, it seems that he was very secure because he was able to pay the fare, but I can't be 100% sure because it doesn't state how he paid the fare (ex. if it was through trade or money, etc.) ***
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At the beginning of this study we learned that Jonah's life was interrupted in the very first verse of the first chapter in Jonah when "the word of the Lord came" to him. His priorities and comforts were completely disrupted and set of the course he had planned.
***What do you think might have been some of the comforts Jonah had to leave behind in Israel to follow God's instructions???
- his family
- his home
- his job (if he had one other than being a prophet)
- I am currently still trying to figure out what my comforts are...
***What challenges doyou think you will face that will amke it difficult for you to see life interruptions in a positive way?
- my stubborness
- letting go
- not being in control of certain things
This study of Jonah is supposed to help me/us redefine interruptions when it comes to our relationship with God. If we make Him our priority and His will out primary purpose, then when "the word of the Lord" comes to us or when He allows us to see His hand in our circumstances, we must see it as an essteemed opportunity to participate in the kingdom purpose.
Priscilla redefined the meaning of "interruption" in her study book as this, "God's plan is a "Divine Intervention" not and "interruption".
She gave a few equations for me/us to consider:
- Insignificant Person + Insignificant Task = Interruption
- Significant Person + Significant Task = Divine Intervention
- To me, when we choose to follow our own path, we will never be able to succeed and be happy, but when we choose to follow God's path and accept His will, we will be able to be successful in everything we do and also feel satisfied.
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In closing, I would like to just take a moment and state a few other things that Priscilla has noted:
If you find yourself balking at God's instructions inyour life, it is an indication of the importance you place on God and His will.
Interruptions only become positive when we consider the person or the circumstances interrupting to be more significant than that which currently occupies our attention.
To handle life's interruptions appropriately, the prophet needed a fresh view of God!
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I pray that you take in what God is saying to you because it is a GREAT priviledge to be able to hear the voice of God!
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