Cry Against It (Jonah 1:2)

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” (vs2-3)

Wisdom is doing what God says, and we are wise to obey because it brings good our way. Obedience is the only way that God refreshes us, by “the obedience of faith” (Rom 16:20). And, in due time, faith is rewarded: we don’t believe in vain. In I Kings 17:13, Elijah told the woman – “make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for you and for your son”, and the Lord fed them all. Jesus told Martha, “Said I not unto you, that, if you would believe, you should see the glory of God” (John 11:40-41).

I read something on the Christian Hedonist, and it is good for believer’s to love pleasure, because God motivates us by reward – “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul (Matt 16:26). He sets forth good and evil, blessings and cursings, so that we can choose the right way – “See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil… I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live” (Deut 30:15, 19). The flesh produces sorrow that we repent of, but obedience is NEVER repented of, because we receive SATISFYING grace – “Yes, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and you shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen” (Joel 2:19).

Jonah thought himself wise to disobey… he thought it would bring the happiness that he desired… but, he learned in the belly of the deep that salvation is of the Lord, and for salvation, we’ll do what God says – “But I will sacrifice unto you with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9). We trust Christ unto good works of love, in order to be spared the consequences of sin.

Just as Jonah is forgiven, so are you and I. And, just as Jonah does it God’s way, so will you and I, if we will be blessed.

Salvation makes us follow Christ, and God won’t give up on us, because we rebel: He will guide us in the way, and love us by chastening us into the truth.