Jonah 1:5 – “The sailors were so afraid that each cried out to his own god, and they flung the ship’s cargo overboard to make the ship lighter. Jonah, meanwhile, had gone down into the hold below deck, had lain down, and was sound asleep.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, a word from yesterday echoed again in my heart and head. Repentance and Restoration!  The account of Jonah gripped my heart and challenged me.  Jonah heard a word of prophecy for Nineveh but ran.  Why?  We find the answer later, but his nonchalance initially is shocking.

The escape ship endured a fierce storm.   Everyone was terrified and crying out to the god they believed in, not Jonah.   Jonah 1:5: Jonah was asleep in the belly of the ship.  He had no fear of God.   He was comfortable in his rebellion.  His later acknowledgment of God’s character was possibly a part of it. He, like multitudes, took God’s mercifulness for granted.  His rebellion did not bother him enough to change.

He had a supernatural experience in the belly of a giant fish.   He asked for mercy and received it.   God gave him a second chance, and he obeyed. Nineveh repented, and God relented, and Jonah became irate.

Pride (personal embarrassment) infuriated him.  He later confessed that he had anticipated God’s mercy, and his desire to see his prophecy fulfilled was more important than restoration.

When Jesus was at the well, He spoke two important truths to focus on. John 4:32-35, He spoke of true food – obedience to God. He spoke of the true harvest – people.   That was God’s focus in Nineveh. That was Jesus’ focus on the Cross. That is God’s focus – people! Jesus came to save whosoever!

John 3:4-4 reveals the KEY to Jesus’ life of victory. He had the Holy Spirit without measure!  He was saturated with the Holy Spirit.  He was sensitive to and obedient to the voice of the Holy Spirit.   We try to be what only He can be in us and through us.  When will we give up, stop trying to produce righteousness, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit so Jesus can be Himself in and through us?   John the Baptist understood – He can only be who He is when I stop trying to be Him.  He can only increase in my life when I empty myself of myself.

So, give up and let Jesus take over!  We sing it; now let’s do it!

LORD, help us to make the right choice and walk in obedience!