The story of Jonah captures a few realities that are so true today:
- Our generations and societies are not ignorant of God, rather they simply are disobedient.
- People would rather acknowledge the hard truth and run, rather than stay and work through it.
- We in the church constantly want the next “Holy Spirit” moment than actually soaking up the Word already given to us!
Basil of Caesarea fought diligently against Arianism, which is the belief that Jesus was a powerful “created being” and not equal to the Father. He is quoted saying this about Jonah:
“We still hold fast to our earnest endeavors as much as possible, sensible of the fact that he who was swallowed by the whale was considered deserving of saving because he did not despair of his life but cried out to the Lord. So then, we ourselves, having reached the uttermost limits of evils, do not give up hope in the Lord but watch and see his help on all sides!”
Key Doctrine:
The doctrine of Guilt– The reality is that we are all worshipping something and loyal to something. Why? Because we are inherently aware that we fall short, so we try to fill the gap with earthly items, places, or people. We cling to these things as if they bring forgiveness/ comfort or at least purpose to the guilt we feel of being less than perfect. All the while we are okay for a season until those temporal things are taken from us or fail us. There is but one remedy to this reality of guilt, and that is the Gospel of Jesus.
Romans 1:19, Isaiah 44:9
Points:
1. If you are His, all trials, hardships, and utterly crazy situations have a purpose!
2. Stop running! The grace of God is way more peaceful than the pain of guilt!
Questions:
1. How is your view of God’s grace in comparison to your guilt?
2. Where do you naturally run to when it seems that following God is too hard?
3. Are you guilty of seeking the experience and signs of God over faithfully soaking in God’s word?
