The Word of the Lord Came to Jonah a Second Time

“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time,…”                      Jonah 3:1 (NASB)Have ever gotten a letter that said something like, “This is you second notice?” or worse yet, “This is your final notice?” I know this much, without a couple of those we would have lost our home owners and car insurance a few times. Somehow we simply forgot to do our part and send in the payment.Jonah hadn’t forgotten, he didn’t like what God told him the first time. God had given him an assignment that challenged his prejudices, his patriotism, his dreams for the future. It wasn’t that he was ignorant about God, he just didn’t like the way he knew God operated. He wanted his and ancient Israel’s enemies dead and out of power.Jonah didn’t just put what God told him with the stack of all the other “bills.” No he tried to get as far away as he possibly could from doing what God wanted him to. Somehow, with all he knew about God he fooled himself into thinking that he could actually get away from God. He couldn’t anymore than you and I can.When God speaks to us, when “the word of the LORD” comes to us, we can be certain that God really means it. When God directs, when He assigns, when He says, “Go do …,” He is not asking us for our opinion or inviting us to discuss things. He is not trying to figure out how we feel about it, nor is He trying to generate some kind of buy-in on our part. He is looking for faith that responds with obedience.The “second notice” Jonah got was an act of God’s mercy and grace. God does not owe us any second chance, any second word. Jonah didn’t really get that either. He finally did what God had asked him to do but about as grumpily and ungrateful as possible. To my amazement God spoke to him a third time (4:9) addressing his proud and cold heart. How quickly he forgot his rescue prayer in the belly of that fish.Enough about Jonah, has God sent you a second notice? Is there something God has clearly told you and you have been pulling a Jonah? Have you have discarded the “word of the LORD” and are doing what you want? What are you going to do? Run some more? Act spiritual when you are totally out of sync with God? There is only one way to get back on track: respond with gratefulness and an obedient faith to what God has said – preferably the first time, but definitely if God has had to repeat it.To God be all glory, Pastor Hans