God’s Will and Ours

Calling, anointing, being filled with a prophetic word for an entire city: these were all things that Jonah did not want. If you’re in ministry you know that you need to move as the Lord directs your steps. He often asks us to do things that feel uncomfortable or challenge the norm – things that require faith. Jonah was extremely reluctant to follow God’s calling and His direction for Jonah’s ministry. In fact, he was so reluctant that instead of going out to Ninevah, which was 885 km (550 miles) north of where he was, he set out for Tarshish on the coast of Spain: a 4023 km (2500 miles) journey in the opposite direction.

Jonah’s reluctance

Although we often find that God’s called are a little weary at first to consider themselves worthy, most are able to overcome their fear with God’s help. Think of Isaiah calling out for cleansing, Gideon for reassurance and Moses for confidence. Jonah did not give God the courtesy of helping him to fulfill his calling. He was just plain disobedient. It’s only later in the text that we find out why:

“Ah Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.” Jonah 4:2 NKJV

Wait… what? Jonah’s reason for his running away from God’s call was that God is kind? How does that make any sense?

Jonah is clearly not new to God’s work. If you’ve been in ministry a while you will understand that this is God’s MO: mercy and abundant love. So knowing and understanding God’s nature was not Jonah’s issue. He was instead afraid that if he preached doom and gloom, and the people responded in repentance, that God would forgive the people’s sins instead of punishing them like Jonah was warning them. Jonah is saying, ‘God, you think you know what people need. You don’t. So I’m not going to do what you told me to.’ The source of Jonah’s discomfort with his calling is that he just doesn’t want to see God’s mercy and love poured out over people Jonah deems as unworthy.

Your ministry

Our own hearts may not be as blatant as Jonah’s in anger but the temptation to think we know what is better for people than God does is ever-present. Have you ever issued advice in a ministry situation before praying on it? Yup. Have you ever avoided helping someone with the justification ‘it will be good for them to figure it out on their own’? Have you ever been confronted by a question as to why you did things a certain way - liturgy or ministry plans - and shoo’ed the question away unable to justify your methods? Have you ever focused your time and attention on the saved Christians in your midst at the expense of someone who has never known the mercy and lovingkindness of God?

Heart Check

I’ll be the first to say I’m self-righteous just like Jonah. I don’t want to do things God’s way, I want to do them my way. I encourage you to search with me. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in contemplating this question: Is there anywhere, Lord, where I’ve considered my will and my ideas of how things should be done in ministry as more important than yours?