on ending up in Nineveh

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”  Jonah 1:1-2

Sometimes God gives us clear instructions.  Maybe you feel prompted to speak to the lonely looking person across the waiting room.  Perhaps you get the sense you need to apologize to someone you really feel owes you the apology.  Or perhaps God simply tells you to trust and rest - stop talking, stop pushing, stop trying to figure it out, just be still and know that He is God.

The last instruction is one God has been giving me for nearly three years.  It may have been longer and I just didn't realize it, but it has been unmistakable since sometime in the fall of 2013.  At times, I've really tried.  I've started.  But life goes on, I get busy, new blessings or challenges come along and something happens and I get distracted and go right back into my habits.  I stop listening, resting trusting and go right back to my way of doing things - striving, worrying, trying to plan and plot and predict.

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 the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Jonah 1:3

I'm starting to realize you don't have to run in the opposite direction to disobey God - you just have to stop moving in step with Him.  You just fix your eyes on your deal instead of His.  You might just get distracted or lax in your prayer life.  But inevitably, God will have his way.  He will get your attention. 

Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17

In my case, there is always some circumstance (stress, fear, heartache) that comes along and drives me back to my knees.  I end up crying out to God for direction, wisdom, help.    

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. Jonah 2:1

And when I finally get quiet and seek Him, the message is still the same: Trust.  Rest.  Wait.  Believe I'm good and I have good plans for you.  God hasn't changed His mind and He hasn't decided to give me a watered down instruction.  He simply restates the original instruction and waits to see if I want to pick a different response this time.

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”  Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh.  Jonah 3:1-3

As I reflect on the last few years, I wonder where I would be or what my life would look like if I had just obeyed the first time God asked me instead of taking all the detours and pit stops I've taken.  Because the reality is if God wants to send you to Nineveh, you WILL end up in Nineveh.  You can take the direct route or the "scenic route" through the belly of the fish and it will likely be more painful, more costly, more time-consuming and more challenging.

Thankfully, God is bigger than our disobedience and His grace and kindness are mind-boggling.  He promises to use everything - even the detours - for good if we let Him.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

I know God is working all things out for good and I'm excited to see what He will do with everything I have to surrender - the good, the bad, the ugly.  And I hope that next time He gives me instructions, I will just go straight to Nineveh.