Broken Beyond Repair - Pt 3

But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. (Jonah 1:3 ESV).

The disobedience of Jonah is stark in our reading today. When God spoke to Jonah and commissioned him to a task, instead of giving the Lord instant obedience Jonah fled to Tarshish, hundreds of miles in the opposite direction! Perhaps he felt inadequate; perhaps he did not like the Ninevites; perhaps he was afraid of losing his reputation; or perhaps he was afraid that God’s character would suffer. Regardless, there are three very important truths for us to note as we make our way through this New Year. Our disobedience may not be as widely proclaimed; however, it can easily be as destructive. First, note that it was deliberate disobedience. I have found that it is always easy to compare myself with others. In doing so, I am always able to find others that make me look relatively good. However it is not about the behavior as it is about the heart. Jesus has an important lesson for us to learn: He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14 ESV). Second, it was defiant disobedience. Jonah defied God. Sometimes we disobey through ignorance, but this was not the case. Jonah really said, “Yes, I’ve heard what you want me to do, Lord, but I’m not going to do it.” How solemn that is! Third, it was displeasing disobedience. As if disobedience could ever be pleasing to God! Jonah went through a series of decisions indicating the depth of his willful rebellion: he rose up and fled; he fled from the presence of the Lord; he went down to Tarshish at least twice; he paid money in order to facilitate his escape; and he threw in his lot with unbelievers. Surely Jonah is too broken at this point to be redeemed. The resounding answer to that is NO! We’ll see more about this in the next few days. Today, know you have not been so willfully disobedient to be disqualified. Turn to Him.