Advent: Peace & Obedience
Excerpt from The Urban Christian Woman 31 Day Advent Devotional. Read it here!
“Therefore they called out to the Lord, ‘O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.’” Jonah 1:14
The book of Jonah is about a prophet sent by God to bring the message of repentance and hope to a people who are evil. God wants to warn the Ninevites through the prophet Jonah. These are the torturous enemies of the Jews. They are a people known for the horrible treatment of their enemies. As Jonah, a Jew, is assigned to bring good news to his enemies, he decides that he is not the man for the job. Jonah goes in the opposite direction of God’s assignment. He flees, bound for Tarshish, jumping on a boat, inciting the wrath of God upon himself and those around him. The other sailors on the boat knew that there was something wrong. They petitioned everyone in the boat to cry out to their god to quiet the storm. Jonah fessed up.
“And he said to them, ‘I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.’ Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, ‘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 1:9:10
The men believed. They understood the power and majesty of God in that moment and sought Him for direction and forgiveness.
“Therefore they called out to the Lord, ‘O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.’ So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.” Jonah 1:14-16
Eventually Jonah makes it to Nineveh on the Sea Creature Express. He preaches a one-sentence sermon warning the Ninevites to repent. They obey. The forgiveness of God comes to those who were once His enemies. God forgave, Jonah did not. The peace of God, though temporary, came to this nation because of their obedience.
God initiated each encounter we see here; God’s encounter with Jonah, with the sailors and with Ninevah. In each encounter, God offers His peace through confession and obedience, but not everyone obeys. Not everyone experiences His peace.
Are you obedient to God? Peace comes with obedience. Sometimes we try to figure God out. We lean on our own understanding rather than obedience. It didn't make sense to Jonah to go to his enemies and offer peace, but the mission of God is, and has always been, to bring peace to a dying world. The love of God turns enemies to friends. Jesus is the greater, perfect, obedient Prophet who has come to extend salvation and peace to us, his enemies, that we may be called His friends. Let this peace find its home in your heart as we celebrate and await the coming Savior, the Prince of Peace.
Let's read about it:
Take some time this week and read the book of Jonah. Notice the work of God in the lives of all who are involved in the story. Where do you see God? How is He moving despite Jonah’s disobedience? Take a moment to listen to Season 6 of The Urban Christian Woman podcast on Jonah. Dig in and see God reveal Himself as we celebrate this Advent Season.