Sunday: The Disobedient Prophet
Not much is known about Jonah or his family background.
Image © Standard Publishing from GoodSalt.com
Second Kings 14:25 tells that he lived in the northern part of Israel and ministered during the eighth century B.C. The same text reveals that Jonah predicted a territorial expansion of Israel’s kingdom.
Nineveh was historically one of the three great cities of Assyria, an important country situated by the Tigris River. Because God is the Lord of all nations and all peoples are accountable to Him (Amos 12), He sent His servant Jonah to warn the Ninevites of impending destruction. God’s command recorded in Jonah 1:2 to “preach against it” (NIV) also can be translated as “preach to it.”
Assyrian cruelty was notorious. About a century later, the prophet Nahum called Nineveh a “bloody city . . . full of lies and robbery” (Nah. 3:1). Jonah was sent to deliver God’s message to such people. Among other things, perhaps it was fear of the hated Assyrians that prompted Jonah’s attitude. When told by God to make a trip east to Nineveh, the prophet refused and tried to flee west by ship to Tarshish.
At first, all things appeared to work well for Jonah, but then the Lord sent a great storm against the ship in order to teach His servant the lesson that no one can hide from God.
Jonah ran from God because he did not want to do God’s will. Even now people have many reasons to try to run away from God. Some do it because they do not know Him personally. Others reject even the idea of God and His Word; while their motives vary, in many cases they do so in order to not feel guilty about the way in which they live. After all, if there is no higher power to answer to, why not do whatever you want? There are even some Christians who avoid God when He calls them to do something that they do not want to do, something that goes against their inherently selfish and sinful nature.
Read Psalm 139:1-12. What’s the basic message there for us? What kind of feelings does this fundamental truth evoke in you? Or look at it this way: we believe that God not only sees all that we do but knows even our thoughts. Do we live with that constant realization, or do we tend to try and blot it out of our minds? Or, perhaps, are we just so used to the idea that we just do not pay it much attention? Whatever the reasons, how differently would you act if, at all times, you were keenly sensitive to the fact that God does know your every thought?
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No one can hide from God!We think we can easily avoid God by not wanting to accept any duties in church,most prefer to be spectators than doing GOD work, we are always ready for any excuses available on earth and I believe that is simply REJECTING his calling to us.
Lately I heard an idea that if there IS God every thing is permitted because a religiuouss man is "doing God's will" and is for that free of his personal responsibility. We can do sin because we have God on our side.
Fact that God is an allseeing God is a comfort for me not some treat.
If there is no allseeing God than somevere can be a place outside His intervention ability. That place is a potencial hell. I am glad that He sees all.
Jonah said that a reason for running away is from fear but not for his life but to be found a false prophet. He said that from knowlidge of God. He know God. God is senting a treat but is fast to change His mind for even few peoples He will spare a city.
God is constantly speaking to his children saying this is the the way walk ye in it. But our tendency as humans is to go against the small voice that keep pointing us it the direction in order to save us. But until we follow and do as GOD directs we will never find peace. GOD is Love.
That's very true Augustine. Actually there's no peace until we do as God directs. Thank You my brother for that notification. God bless you in Jesus name................ Amen.
The last question touches my heart deeply. The most of the time, lost in the middle of everyday occupations I tend to forget God is reading all I am, even my thoughts. Sometimes, on Sabbath for instance, I think of my weekly duties or obligations, I think of my studies and sometimes about how much I still have to do to pay my rent. Maybe just for a second, but then I remember where I am and the day of the week I am. I can't hide from God, but sometimes I just ignore God (unwillingfully) surrounded by the shadows and glows of this World. I still have a long path to cover... a Long path
There is no place that we can go to hide from God. We have to remember that when ever we are tempted to sin.
If we live everyday fully aware that God knows our thoughts, we would make sure that we are always within His will, and be constantly seeking to improve our relationship with Him. The warnings in these lessons are for us, but we need not fear the judgement if the judge is our friend. Let's all continue to study and pray for a personal heartfelt relationship with God!
night and darkness are the same in his eyes. So if when in darkness and we believe that no one can see us, thats one of the devil's tricks.
Amen that's true. Jasmine, remember: many Christians do good during the day not knowing that Light and darkness are one before God. If you want to know truly who you are, it's what you do when alone in Jesus name... Amen.
I agree with the auther that some thoughts of man can be decieved by the position hold thinkin can not serve their master but fact is that all we do is accountable b4 GOD en we must perform da duty of saving sauls bcoz He created da serving en saving heart in us to save our friends from destruction.can we all trust en believe wot GOD is willing to send us where to go.
What's good, refusing some duty or accepting yet failing to fulfil its demands?
The experience of Jonah remind me of my prodical experience. I was blessed to be brought up in a strong Adventist home. We have worship in the morning and evening during the week and afternoon worship on Sundays. My Dad passed in 1973 and left my Mom with 11 siplings to continue the vision. Four of us boys ventured out to the world and totally turn our backs against God. The will of God instilled in me from home stays with me through out my prodical experience. I later learned of what my dear Mother's prayer for all of her rebellious sons. "Oh Lord, may they be misserable in their lives of crimes and rebellious of Your will." God in His love and mercy towards Jonah made his life misserable to finally turn Jonah's heart back to God and abey God's will and calling. Oh what a merciful God we serve and He will never leave nor forsake us. God is only interested in our obedience to His will that will lead us to Eternal living with Him and in obedience, we may influence others in this dying world with the Blessed Hope of the New Heaven & a New Earth where we will live with Jesus forevermore. Thank you Father, Jesus & the Holy Spirit. Cheers!!!!
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i see how dim mind we are when we sin because jonah knew that God sees everything and if He want him to go niniveh He get him there at any cost
it is so good to be the son of The living God; because when everything seams to be going out of way you know that God is with you and He will never leave you on your own. This God of Abraham is so wonderfull that even if your sins are so ripe He will never leave you to die if you turn away from you wicked ways and come back to him. He open his arms and well come you home like what The father of the lost son had done. I love Him not just because He redeemed me but for dying on the cross of Calvary for my sins.
I understand that the lesson is about Jonah thinking he could run from God, but I don’t read Psalm 139 as God warning me: “I got my eye on you, boy, and I’m in your head.” Verse 6 says that God’s ability to know my every thought is “wonderful knowledge” and verse 17 says “how precious are Your thoughts toward me;” and verses 23 and 24 say, “Search me…and see if there is any wicked way in me…and lead me in the way everlasting.” I’m so glad that God knows my every thoughts, even the wicked ones. He’s the only one who can fix me.
This is an important lesson to the followers of God. This should be borne in our minds that, however much we want to run away from His duties, He is ever aware. our plans, action, excuses etc. May be those who have not chosen to be His followers will not know that He knows their wicked schemes.
The Lord is our Creator, and as such He knows our capabilities and limitations.
When called to duty, let us not do without inviting God to be with us. As christians we must be ready at all times. Nothing should be allowed to stand in our way. If God is with us, who can be against us? Jonah was a prophet of God who quite well knew the requirements of his Master, but decided to do otherwise. At times we see how the devil tries by all means to deter the will of God and how we can easily be swayed away if moment by moment we are not connected to our Saviour.
This should teach us a lesson that, it is not positions in church that can make us withstand temptations, but our daily surrender to the Lord. We must make a point to let His will be our will too, then only then can His will lead us to do His will with protection. When we make this as point in our lives, we will ever be obedient to His commands.
Since God sees all our ways and knows all our thoughts, we must allow Him to continously search our hearts and lead us in the way everlasting. We must know that any given time our thoughts are not heavenly connected, the devil takes advantage.
Before I learned the SDA teaching re: the state of the dead; my paternal grandfather died. I remember thinking he was larger than life as a little girl looking up to a giant. I loved and respected him dearly. When he passed away, I remember thinking how embarrassed I'd be if he knew everything about me and vowed to be better. Of course, I failed. I pray that I would respect and love God enough to do better and carry Him always with me. If I do, with God I will succeed b/c He will perpetually be improving my abilities in this life and will wipe away the failures in The End of this life to begin my next.
The lesson here is centered on the things which lead us to sin, but consider them little matters to God's work. Some times we even say, "let me do this thing for the last time" then revert back to God. We can not hide from God, that much we know, but we tend to make ourselves forget the truth about God. As I remind you and myself, we shall never be out side Gods sight....He is always with us, sees us, knows our plans, what we want to say, do etc. Let us replace our thoughts with Jesus, positive thoughts cometh.