Jonah 1 -- State of Denial

Four chapter book with a total of 48 verses. It almost reads like a moral inventory, or a confession of racism, by that honest man of God, Jonah.

I'm struck by the variety of forms that Jonah's denial of God's call shows itself. All in a single day. Unfortunately, I can relate.

Verses 1-3: Jonah tries fleeing
but the storm catches him

Verses 4-6: Jonah tries sleeping
but the shipmaster catches him

Verses 7-10: Jonah tries silence
but the lot catches him

Verses 11-17: Jonah tries dying
but the fish catches him

Chapter 2: God catches him and says, "Please step into my office."

The Word of the Lord came to Jonah...Oh how I desire that I would have ears to hear the word of the Lord Himself, rather than my old tapes or the judgments & opinions of others. And that I would not only have the ears to hear, but the strength to live it out.

Arise, go to Nineveh...But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish...How often I only follow through with half obedience. Jonah certainly arose, but he went his own way after that! That's what I mean, the strength to live it out fully!

He went down to Joppa...
He went down into the ship...
Jonah had gone down into the lowest part of the ship...
Jonah went down into the belly of the fish...
Talk about spiraling downward! And what a God-awful depression...down into the lowest part.
And yet, there must be some comfort in knowing that "the Lord prepared the great wind on the sea" (4) and "the Lord prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah." (17)

Every man cried out to his god...but Jonah... Jonah is the only one who missed the prayer meeting, the very one who was to be the witness to those around him. But because of his choice to avoid God's call, things got all out of whack.

Thankfully in chapter two we shall see Jonah awaken from his denial...there is hope!!