Difference of Faith And Obedience
But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. Jonah 1:4-5
The account of Jonah and his defiance toward God is well known and a common story. Most lessons about him arefocused on the disobedience of Jonah and how God got his attention through a storm and a large fish. These events are true, but one unique aspect about Jonah that is often overlooked is he was a man full of faith and confidence in God. Jonah is not admired for his faith, but more so remembered for his disobedience. It was not his faith that wavered, but his disobedience that arose.
Consider, in the middle of the storm, Jonah went down into the hold of the ship and was fast asleep. Do you remember the other time someone was asleep in the middle of a violent storm? In Matthew 8:23-27, Jesus was fast asleep and stayed asleep in the middle of a brutal storm.
When Jesus’ disciples finally woke Him up, Jesus did not thank them or encourage them, but He instead rebuked them. Jesus asked why they were full of fear, and where was their faith. With Jonah, he knew the storm was intense and wrecking the ship. But he also had faith in Yahweh, and Jonah knew that he was not forsaken. Yahweh was with him, and Jonah was at peace that no harm will come to him.
There is a stark difference between having faith in Yahweh and obeying Him. Jonah had full faith in Yahweh, and at the same time, he was disobedient to God’s will. Through his disobedience, Jonah was attempting to change God’s plan to meet his own agenda. Much like a child who will pout and disobey rebelliously, hoping their parents will relent. We all have seen it! Those young kids disobeying their parents, wanting a toy or candy. At first, the parents put up a good stand, but some will relent and give in. The child has faith in hisparents but chose to be disobedient for his own selfish desires. Jonah was doing the same thing.
So, as you start your day, consider your faith and your obedience to Yahweh. Sometimes it is not a lack of faith on your behalf, but a choice to pursue your plans and not His. This is when you get in trouble, much like Jonah. Therefore, strengthen your faith, but make sure your will is submissive to His plan.
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29