Resist Not God's Holy Will

Having just completed a wonderful week at camp I have a renewed appreciation for the characters and prophets presented in the Old Testament. As we did with the children, from these men and women we may draw many lessons and indeed better prepare ourselves to be of service to our King.

Today, I was directed to the book of Jonah wherein we read the story of a man who mightily resisted his God-given charge. In fact he resisted so much that he endangered the lives of others and found himself cast into the seas. The particular verse that I want to focus on is Jonah 2:4 (NIV)
4 I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’
[1]

If you can imagine, Jonah is sinking into the dark sea as a result of his disobedience. Surely at the time, he knew that he was in deep trouble and that his life was in peril. Yet in his recount of his experience as we read here, that was not his focus. Rather his focus was the abject terror of being separated from God by his actions; he described his experience with ‘hell on earth.’

Jonah, in an intentional act of disobedience, had sought to flee from the presence of the Lord, not just from a particular task to which he had been assigned. He wrongly thought that on a ship headed in the opposite direction from his God-given destination he could escape God. In the hysteria of his human emotions and humanly flight he forgot that God would go with him wherever he may go.

Nevertheless, as a consequence of his own sin, Jonah achieved the very goal to which he labored. Not that he had escaped the unswerving gaze of God but that he had escaped the favorable position in God’s sight that he (Jonah) had previously enjoyed. As he sank into the abyss, he realized what he had done and in anguish ‘he said, “I have been banished from your sight...”’ Having enjoyed a wonderful relationship with God myself, I can imagine no pain or suffering that could compare with the loss of God’s friendship and ‘favorable regard.’ The pain of such a situation and the realization of such would be more than man can bear. And indeed, Jonah suffered the consequences of his sin; having turned his back on God, God turned His back on Jonah.

Yet even in such abject despair, Jonah did not lose sight of the holiness or sovereignty of Jehovah. Even in this moment, as he realized his sin he repented and cast his spiritual eye (if not his physical eye) to heaven; envisioning his reunion with God. This he characterized as ‘yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’

From this we must draw understanding of at least two points; first, that the natural consequences of our disobedience, our sin, is the loss of ‘favorable regard’ in the sight of the Lord. This yields the bitter fruit of separation from God. Secondly, we must remember that no matter the severity of our sin, whether it be intentional, volitional or accidental, even as we suffer the consequences of our choices, we can turn our eyes to God. There is ample opportunity, even as we sink to the floor of the ocean, to repent and be restored to a right relationship with God.

Friend, do not think that the task set before you by God is optional, it is not. strive with every fiber of your being to accomplish the task before you no matter how difficult it may seem, for the perseverance of your mind and body will yield the sweet fruit of God’s pleasure which in no small measure is the very essence of heaven. Though you may in fact lose the favor of men or even your very life, that will only serve to enjoin you to the ranks of the saints and our Savior.

Do not listen to the lie’s of our enemy, Satan. Neither give heed to the yearnings of your sin nature. When God commands, obey. And if, in your ineptitude or deception you fall, do not think that your sin is so great as to be unforgiveable; that is a lie from the pit designed to keep you separated from God. Instead repent and secure life everlasting in the favor of the King of kings.

שָׁלֹם

Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.