WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!

“What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from
the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. —Jonah 1:10

The boy was asked to do his chores before he did anything else that day,
but he left with his friends to go to the beach. He was quite surprised to
run into his parents there. He did not want to be seen by them, but was.
They asked how he could be at the beach so quickly when he had chores to do
first. Of course if came out that he had not done them and his parents told
him to return home to do them and that there would be consequences for his
disobedience.

Jonah fled in disobedience to the Lord. This reminds me of Adam and Eve
when they disobeyed the Lord’s command. They also did not want to be in the
presence of the Lord when they had been disobedient. How about you and I?
Is there something the Lord has commanded us to do and we are in
disobedience to Him? This can really be seen by our desire not to be in his
“presence.” We will not want to be in His Word and speaking with Him until
we repent or if we are it will only be going through the motions.

The sin of Jonah affected many others on the ship he was fleeing on. His
disobedience brought the consequence of a storm that put the lives of all
those on board in jeopardy. The situation was so dire that even the cargo
was thrown overboard in a desperate attempt to stay afloat. Man and
merchandise were impacted by Jonah’s disobedience.

“What is this you have done!” The men were in amazement that Jonah who had
said “I fear the Lord” was not being obedient to Him. Jonah acknowledged
that the storm was upon them because of him. But, after being thrown into
the sea and swallowed by a giant fish, Jonah came to the point of repentance
and the Lord gave him another opportunity to obey.

Jonah’s disobedience impacted many, but on the other hand, when Jonah
obeyed thousands turned to the Lord (Jonah 3:6-10). Just as our
disobedience can impact many in a negative way, so also as we obey the Lord
many can be impacted in a positive way.

So, are you or I “fleeing from the presence of the Lord” in disobedience?
May we stop, repent and be obedient to what He is calling us to do. May
this be so!

Dear Father, help me to obey those things You desire of me. Oh, in areas
where I am disobedient I repent and desire to honor You in the authority of
Your Son, Jesus.