relationships (Jonah 1:1-17) Healthy Fear vs Being Afraid

(Jonah 1:1-17) 

The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it, because their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship that was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and boarded it to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of the Lord.

4 However, the Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea, so that the ship was about to break up. 5 Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried out to his god, and they hurled the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the stern of the ship, had lain down, and fallen sound asleep. 6 So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”

7 And each man said to his mate, “Come, let’s cast lots so that we may find out on whose account this catastrophe has struck us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us, now! On whose account has this catastrophe struck us? What is your occupation, and where do you come from? What is your country, and from what people are you?” 9 So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.”

10 Then the men became extremely afraid, and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 11 So they said to him, “What should we do to you so that the sea will become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. 12 And he said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, because I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” 13 However, the men rowed desperately to return to land, but they could not, because the sea was becoming even stormier against them. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life, and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, Lord, have done as You pleased.”

15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 Then the men became extremely afraid of the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

17 And the Lord designated a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Notice in verse 9, Jonah told the men that he feared the Lord God of heaven who made the land and sea.  Obviously, the Creator of everything is then able to have dominion over what He has created!  While Jonah knew this, and said that he feared the Lord, he did not fear Him properly!  Jonah was more afraid for himself, because he wasn't fully trusting in God's plan.  When we fear the Lord properly, we will have an awesome respect for who God is, and for all that He is able to do, and for whatever He tells us to do.

It is typically our selfish efforts for self-preservation, or maintaining the level of "comfort" that we currently have, that will try to prevent us from fully living in, and carrying out God's will.  But who are we to question God's plans, since we do not know what the future holds.  God does!  And not only does the Lord know what is going to happen, He also loves all people very deeply, and desires that all come to know Him.

The Lord knew that the people of Nineveh would repent and turn to Him, and the Lord even knew that Jonah was going to run, but God didn't give up on the people of Nineveh, or Jonah.  Sure, the Lord could have found someone else to take Jonah's place, but as a loving Father, He disciplined and guided Jonah along in his own spiritual journey, which is to foster a deeper understanding and love relationship with the Lord.  God already loves us!  But it is to our greatest benefit to love Him back!!!  To fear Him - to awesomely respect Him and what He says - because it is the Lord who is working all things out for good!

Let's look at this as one loves and respects a parent, who is not afraid to discipline their children... because they love their children!  The parent doesn't discipline their children to make them suffer.  It is because they want their children to understand that there are consequences in life.  They desire that their children grow up to become "well-adjusted" adults who contribute to society.  Parents discipline their children because they love and care for them.  My parents disciplined me, and I was not afraid of them.  In fact, I love them for it!  Therefore, in the same way, we are not to be afraid of the Lord.  Quite the opposite.  Because...

(1 John 4:18)  There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

Therefore, those who are afraid of the Lord and run away from Him, are simply running towards punishment and consequences.  For believers who stray and run from the Lord, while we cannot lose our salvation, there will be discipline and consequences.  And for those who strive in obedience, we will still experience tests and trials, but we will understand that the Lord will equip us and guide us through.  These are awesome opportunities to see how God is going to work in our lives, as well as in the lives of those around us.  Because, fearing the Lord with the deepest of love and respect, and striving in obedience, demonstrates our faith, trust and belief in the sovereign Lord God who has dominion over everything!