Jonah 4:1-22
His issue was his deep seated resentment toward the Assyrians. He had not left vengeance in the hands of the Lord.
The problem with his issues: Jonah didn’t control them – they controlled him.
God’s assignment for Jonah was an opportunity to be the Lord’s ambassador, to lay up treasures in heaven, be blessed, and be a blessing to others in this life. But Jonah’s issues got in his way. Jonah knew he wasn’t doing God’s will when he chose to go to Tarshish, rather than obey God and go to Nineveh.
Because of Jonah’s issues, when it came time to make the needed decision to do things God’s way, guess what showed up? Not Jonah’s belief of God’s Word; not his knowledge and understanding of God’s will; not his desire to serve and honor God; not his love for God and his neighbor; not his Christian convictions and faith, but his issues are what showed up and were in charge!
Issues are a leaven in the life of a Christian, often doing more damage to people’s lives, homes, churches, etc., than open sin. Issues are what divide and conquer God’s people.
Jonah’s issues quenched the work of the Holy Spirit. And at the same time, they fueled the fires of the unyielding spirit of his human nature.
Jonah found out it was impossible to resolve his issues to his own satisfaction. While Jonah hung onto his issues, seeking satisfaction for them, even God’s Word and God’s grace didn’t satisfy him.
The only answer for Jonah would have been for him to deny his issues and forsake them, as being a factor of his own sinful imperfection, that he needed God to forgive and cleanse him of. His disagreement with God’s will was the sure testimony that he needed to humble himself before God, with a broken and contrite spirit. Only Jonah could make that decision.
Because Jonah would not, of his own free will, forsake self and submit himself to do the Lord’s will, for the honor and glory of God, God had to subdue him. Jonah had to yield himself to the Lord’s will or face death in the whale’s digestive tract.
Issues arise due to our imperfect, sinful nature. The question is, what will we do with them?
SHARING
