Scripture:
Jonah 1:7-10 ESV
[7] And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. [8] Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” [9] And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” [10] Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.
Observation:
This should be an easy SOAP to write. Maybe not so easy to read. Jonah had other plans he did not want to do what the LORD had told him to. First, because he had resentment in his heart. He knew that if he went to Nineveh and said what GOD had told him to… they would come to a saving knowledge, and the LORD would redeem them. He saw how evil Nineveh really was and thought they should pay for their sin. This is a very dangerous stand to take. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD. Not to mention that Jonah had no idea that by running from the LORD’S calling on his life, he was in sin himself. An unforgiving heart is not something you want to stand on. Most of us know the story. Because we heard it at church camp as a kid or Sunday school class. It’s really an interesting story that can catch our attention. But I want to zero in on something. You can’t run from GOD. Jonah found that out the hard way. GOD reveals to those men around him that he was the cause of the trouble they had run into. Asleep in the front of the boat as the ships crew deals with the issues he caused by not submitting to the call. The men come to him and wake him with a line of questioning. Who are you? What do you do for a living, and how did you end up on our boat? The men had already known the tempest had come about because Jonah was with them. GOD had revealed that. However, even in Jonah’s confession, his hope was that the actions of the men would lead to his death so that he wouldn’t have to do what the LORD asked of him.
Application:
I truly understand this story. I can’t honestly tell you how long I have tried to get away from what GOD has called me to do. Only to find myself in the belly of a stinky old fish. In fact, by looking at my life, everyone else knew I was running before I did. So many times, the LORD sat me down to get my attention. Jails institutions. The only other option was death. A price that at some points I was willing to pay. However, I believe my running from GOD was a little different. It wasn’t because I had unforgiveness in my heart. I was more afraid that I would have to walk worthy of the calling. Now, that’s not to say that I have never had unforgiveness in my heart. Because I think we can all sign on for that if we are honest. The point is that our troubles are of our own making. What I have noticed is that when I am truly seeking after the calling that GOD has placed on my life. Even the hard times are not that difficult. Because I know that my Father is there with me. It’s when I try to run away from HIM that things get really tough. I don’t know about you, but I really just don’t like the hard life anymore. It hurts. I just want to walk with GOD and allow HIM to move the stones out of the path so I don’t stub my toe anymore. The fish life stinks. HIS way is the only way. I could go on and on with this SOAP because there are so many of us that run from GOD and end up in a stinky old fish wondering how we got there when everyone else around us knew from the start we were running from GOD. A word of advice… stop running, it hurts, and you’re doing it to yourself. Your submission is a blessing, not a curse. Now that I have stopped running, I live a life I never thought possible. The amazing part is I know GOD’S not done yet. So get on board, let’s go to Nineveh and save some souls by telling them about Jesus.
Prayer:
Father, we don’t want to run anymore. Right now, today, we stopped running and asked you to forgive us. We surrender to the call you have placed on our lives and pray that you will allow us to walk worthy of it. Just show us the next step and light our path. We want what you want for us. We are tired of the stinky old fish. It’s honestly no way to live. Help us to be the men and women you have called us to be. Let us see that the path you have for us may not be easy, but as we focus on you and your desires for us, you will clear the stones from it. We love you, Father. Today is the day when we say here we are send us. It is in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.