Doing the wrong thing at the wrong time and in the wrong place is... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2023

Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down and was fast asleep.
Jonah 1:5.

Doing the wrong thing at the wrong time and in the wrong place is disastrous. But that was precisely Jonah’s situation. God had ordered him to go to Nineveh. But in disobedience to God Jonah went on board a ship bound in the opposite direction. At first everything seemed to go well. Jonah fell asleep in the ship. But his sleep did not last long. The Lord sent a violent storm, and the rougher the waves became, the harshness of the sailors’ tone increased, as they bombarded Jonah with questions. They criticised him for sleeping when he should have been praying. Jonah hardly knew how to reply.

Here is a lesson for us. If we truly believe what we tell others about God and the Bible, we need to be “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).

Those heathen mariners then cast lots to discover who was responsible for their misfortune. The lot fell promptly on Jonah. Further questions followed: “What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” (v. 8). Then Jonah owned up and confessed his guilt. He advised them to throw him overboard. At first they refused and made every effort to row to the shore, but in vain. God did not allow it.

As soon as they threw Jonah into the sea, the storm ceased. “Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows” (v. 16). God can use His servants’ disobedience for an opportunity to reveal His glory, so that people fear Him. Although He delights in us when we obey Him, even our disobedience will not deter Him: His ways are perfect.

Today’s reading: Zechariah 1:1-17 · Mark 12:13-17