Session 4

Obedience Calms The Storm

From Jonah: A 7-Day Devotional

Jonah was given a clear directive. There was no mistake about what the Lord had said: Go to Nineveh and preach against it (Jonah 1:2). Jonah's response, however, was to do the exact opposite of what he was told. Jonah was afraid, angry and prideful. He knew when the Lord told him to "preach against" Nineveh it meant God wanted to give that ungodly city a second chance, and Jonah's sense of justice demanded punishment for Nineveh. He didn't care what the Lord wanted, and he was ready to take the whole city down with him.

Repeatedly, Jonah was ready to die for his conviction. He was so against the Lord's compassion to others and even himself, so selfishly determined, he wanted to retreat into death. But the Lord's will always prevails.

Scripture tells us there is no sacrifice God delights in more than our obedience to Him (1 Samuel 15:22). After Jonah confessed his belief in God on the ship, the Lord calmed the storm and stirred faith in the hearts of the sailors. When Jonah preached the truth to Nineveh, the entire city repented in sackcloth and ashes, and God relented from destroying them. When Jonah turned from his stubborn disobedience, God saved him and everyone around him.

Obedience is better than sacrifice because God's ways are better than ours. He turns tragedy into resurrected life.

Reflect:

• What would you rather do than obey the Lord? Why?
• What are you putting off that He has told you to do? Why won't you do it?