Avoiding the Belly of a Whale

Most of us are probably familiar with the Sunday School version of the story of Jonah.  God sent him somewhere, he refused and tried to run away.  God sent a storm to the area his boat was, he was thrown overboard, and then he stayed  in the belly of a whale before being spit out three days later onto dry land.  The morale of the story as I always learned it was to obey God when He calls or you’ll end up in some metaphorical or actual belly of a whale.

As I read the story this morning, I was overcome with how overly simplified this was.  Yes, it is true, but really there is a much greater story here about Jonah as a human being and the reflection it could lead to for us.

Jonah’s story doesn’t end there.  It is actually only half of the book of Jonah.  What happens next is that Jonah is sent to Ninevah to tell them that they will be destroyed in 40 days.  The people of Ninevah repented and changed their ways; so, God showed them mercy and changed his plans.

 

Here is where the story got interesting for me.  What was Jonah’s response?

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away…I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” – Jonah 4:1-3

For me, the lesson of Jonah is one of character.  I’ll be honest: I can’t help but not like the guy. He acted out of selfishness and pride.  He ran away in selfishness.  He didn’t want to do what God was asking.  His pride took away any compassion for others.  He was afraid of how he would look because of God’s compassion.  He was so wrapped up in himself, how he would look, and how he was affected that nothing else mattered: God’s plan didn’t matter and neither did the people of Ninevah.  He would have preferred that the 120,000 people in Ninevah had died than for his reputation to be questioned.

The story of Jonah ends shortly after this.  We aren’t really told if he changed or realized the error of his ways, but I hope so.

However, for me, the story of Jonah is a reminder about humility and priorities.  It was fear for himself that stopped Jonah from obedience and pride that led to his resentment and anger.  I want my heart, mind, body, and soul centered on the will of God.  I need to remember that all my work should be about Him and pointing to Him.  I’m human and I have hopes and goals as well.  However, I have to make sure that my earthly priorities and pride do not get in the way of what God is calling me to do or in showing compassion to others – not because I don’t want to end up in the belly of a whale, but because I want to live a life of intentional purpose.

-S

I Needed To Be In Love

I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!

How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.

I have tried hard to find you—
don’t let me wander from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart,
 that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119-:8-11 (NLT)

This verse meant something very different to me five (plus) years ago…

Five years ago, I was still in college (and no that doesn’t look like American Pie College Years – that means Friday night Friends marathons with my sister, pizza, Twizzlers, and Swedish fish, yes, we were rebels)

But more importantly, five years ago I wasn’t married and I wasn’t focused on God or Godly living.

I knew His word, I grew up with Him and His word. I’ve always believed and communicated with Him almost daily. But, I was carrying His word in my head, not my heart.

This resulted in behaviors, impurities, I am not proud of. I am hesitant to write this because I find it shameful and disappointing and my Gramma reads this. But it happened – I’m an emotional, physical person and that translated (in obvious ways) over to my relationships.

I used to pray Psalm 119:8

I will obey your decrees. 
Please don’t give up on me!

I wouldn’t change my actions though. God had to be sick of me! Did I even believe myself? I never stopped praying though, and He never stopped listening.

I’m not proud of my relational past or that my husband is not the only man I’ve been with. I HATE this. Truth be told, I just don’t think about it. I’m not sure why I’m blogging about it because it requires thinking more about it than I have in a very long time.

I thank God for His endless mercy and grace and complete forgiveness. Thank goodness He is fully God; a human couldn’t be so forgiving!

While I’m now faithfully married to a wonderful man, I still fight selfishness. (That’s ultimately what my previous relationships were about –me- they had nothing to do with God.)

Selfness looks A LOT different these days because I have refocused my life and marriage around my God. But it’s still lurking around every corner.

Every time I choose my will instead of God’s I’m putting me first.

Every time I don’t do something I know I should to benefit someone or something in His kingdom I am putting myself first.

These days verses 10 & 11 speak loudest to me:

I have tried hard to find you—
don’t let me wander from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart,
 that I might not sin against you.

Some people are head thinkers, some people are heart thinkers. I’m an emotional hopeless romantic. My favorite movies are The Notebook, Sleepless in Seattle, and Free Willy…that should say enough.

In the words of Frozen:

“The heart is not so easily changed, but the head can be persuaded.”

My point is, having Gods word in my head means nothing because I rarely listen to logic (my parents can attest to that).

I needed to get God’s word in my heart. I needed to be fully in love with Him and His plan before I could act like I knew His word.

And now that I’m here, thinking and acting in love, I still make a lot of mistakes. But I’m fighting daily to spend time together to keep our love kindled, so that I won’t wander from His commands.

– J