Following God's Lead in His Calling for Your Life (Part 3 of 4)
We have read about Jonah and the big fish, but how does Jonah's story continue after God releases him safely from this situation? Continue reading to learn more about the book of Jonah and how his situation can be used to apply practical understanding to our life.
FAITH
Dani Fielder
8/11/20263 min read
This week we continue reading through Jonah. Jonah ran from God after being instructed to travel to Nineveh to preach to a people who needed to be reached. When Jonah ran from God, he boarded a boat that encountered treacherous waters because of his disobedience. Jonah, in turn, told the crew that he would throw himself overboard to save them from the storm. When he did, he was swallowed by a large fish, where he stayed for three days. At this point in the book of Jonah, God instructs Jonah again to do what he already called him to do before: go to Nineveh to preach.
Jonah chapter 3 (NIV)
Jonah Goes to Nineveh
1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
So, we see here that Jonah finally surrenders to God in obedience after first running from where God was leading him to go. So, what can we take from the chapter this week? How can we apply this to our lives now?
God gives us grace even in our disobedience after we repent and turn back to him.
Last chapter, Jonah prays to God in gratitude for saving his life despite his disobedience. Now, Jonah is still able to fulfill his purpose. Sometimes we are stagnated by disobedience or fear, but when we decide to trust in God and not ourselves, God can give us the grace to still be able to fulfill what he calls us to do. Likewise, with the people from Nineveh, God relented from bringing them destruction after they repented from their evil ways. God showed grace and mercy to both Jonah and the Ninevites, and he does the same for us as believers.
God's ultimate purpose through what he is calling you to do is to lead people to salvation
"9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).
What God is calling you to do is greater than you alone. Jonah was told to preach to Nineveh, and in turn, the people of Nineveh repented by turning from their evil ways. As a result, God did not bring destruction to their land. Our goal in everything we do should be to bring people closer to Christ and to be a shining light in this dark world (Matthew 5:14–16). Despite how difficult it may be to do what God has called you to, we should consider the people who may be touched through our obedience to him.