Having recently studied the Book of Jonah, I was once again reminded as I read this chapter of how God is able to use people for His purpose and His glory – even in our own stubbornness.
“But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying for the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord…….All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.” Jonah 1:3, 5 NIV
The Lord called Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach against it – but Jonah ran away from the Lord and His command. The sailors cried out to their gods and threw their cargo into the sea – but Jonah went below deck and feel asleep.
Not only does Jonah walk away from what is asked and required of him, he chooses to sleep instead. To me, Jonah almost sounds like how the youth are being described today – entitled and lazy with no desire to work for something or someone else.
However, in spite of who Jonah was, the chapter closes with this verse – “At this the men (the sailors) greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.”
Just as these sailors came to realize who God is, one day every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will acknowledge who He is – the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
Lock Your Wings 
Today what stood out for me was: “Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.”
Jonah 1:17 NLT
No matter how far we run, no matter where we try to hide, no matter whether we’d rather die than do what God tells us to…God is the God of redemption, forgiveness, and second chances. No matter how far we’ve walked from him we’re only 1 step back.
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