Recap

Have you ever felt something deep inside that compels you to act in a certain way? It’s hard to put into words, but it’s a push, a pull, a call that seems to rise from within, urging you to do or say something. It might come for a brief moment or it could linger for a week, a month, or even for your entire life. When that call comes, though, it often seems to be met with an equal force of resistance. A feeling that tries to hold you back from doing the very thing you know you’re supposed to do.

That call, I believe, is from God. It might be for a moment, or it might be for your whole life. Let me share a story that illustrates this kind of call. A few months ago, I was sitting in a coffee shop when I noticed an elderly woman in the parking lot who seemed to be in distress. Two teenage girls came to her aid, offering her a chair, retrieving her order from inside, and backing her car into a space so she could drive away safely. It struck me that these girls didn’t even know the woman—they were just helping out of pure kindness.

As I watched, something stirred within me. I felt compelled to thank them, to acknowledge their good deed, and even to give them some money as a token of appreciation. But then came that familiar resistance. “It’s not necessary,” I told myself. “You don’t need to do that.” The internal battle waged on as I watched them from my seat. But as they were about to leave, I finally acted on that call. I got up, handed them some money, and thanked them.

In that moment, I realized something important. I had been a reluctant witness. I followed the call, but not without hesitation.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be diving into the story of Jonah. Jonah is the perfect example of a reluctant witness. He’s not the hero we often think of. In fact, Jonah fits a literary archetype called the “anti-hero.” An anti-hero is a central character in a story who lacks traditional heroic qualities like idealism, courage, and morality. Jonah was complex, flawed, and resistant to God’s call. Yet, his story pushes us to question what we assume about right and wrong, obedience and disobedience, and God’s relentless grace.

Jonah’s story starts when the word of the Lord comes to him, telling him to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because of its wickedness. But instead of obeying, Jonah runs—he boards a ship headed for Tarshish, which was in the complete opposite direction of Nineveh. Tarshish wasn’t just a different city; it was as far as you could get from Nineveh at that time—about 2,500 miles away. Jonah wasn’t just avoiding the call; he was fleeing from it as far as possible.

But why? The text never tells us explicitly why Jonah ran. It leaves the question hanging, perhaps so we can ask ourselves: why do we run? Why do we resist God’s call in our lives? The story of Jonah forces us to grapple with the consequences of disobedience, both for Jonah and for those around him.

When we disobey God, it doesn’t just affect us. It creates chaos and consequences for those around us. Jonah’s disobedience led to a great storm at sea, threatening the lives of the sailors aboard the ship. They cried out to their gods, but the storm only grew worse. When they found out Jonah was responsible, they asked him, “What have you done?” His disobedience had brought danger to everyone on that ship.

Disobedience generates chaos, but obedience generates faith and power. There’s a story in the New Testament, when Jesus attends a wedding and turns water into wine. The servants didn’t know who Jesus was or what he was about to do, but they followed his instructions to fill jars with water. Their obedience didn’t just result in a miracle; it also generated faith. It says in John 2:11 that after the miracle, “His disciples believed in him.” Their faith was strengthened because they witnessed the power of obedience.

The opposite is also true: disobedience saps faith and power. It drains us spiritually and creates turmoil in our lives. Jonah’s disobedience brought about a storm, not just in his life but in the lives of others. Eventually, the sailors threw Jonah into the sea, and the storm calmed. Jonah’s disobedience had serious consequences, but even in that moment, God provided. A great fish swallowed Jonah, and he spent three days and nights in its belly.

In Jonah’s story, we see that disobedience leads to chaos and consequence, but we also see God’s grace. Just as God provided a fish to save Jonah, He has provided Jesus to save us from the consequences of our disobedience. Jesus is the better Jonah. While Jonah ran from God’s call, Jesus ran toward the cross to save us. Jonah’s disobedience brought a storm; Jesus’ obedience brought peace.

This story reminds us that God provides, even in our disobedience. He is ready to calm the chaos in our lives and bring us back to Himself. For anyone who feels like they’ve been running from God’s call or who is experiencing the consequences of disobedience, know this: the Lord provides. He provided Jonah a way out, and He provides Jesus as a way out for us.

So, will you respond to God’s call, even if you feel reluctant? Will you trust that obedience will bring peace, faith, and power into your life? Or will you keep running, letting disobedience bring chaos and negative consequences? The choice is yours, but remember: God is always ready to provide a way back.

 

Group Questions

Opening Reflection:

  1. Have you ever felt that internal “push” or “pull” to act, but hesitated or resisted? Share a time when you felt a call to do something, either big or small.
  2. Why do you think we sometimes resist acting on what we feel is a clear call from God, like Jonah did? What are some reasons you’ve experienced personally?

Jonah’s Story and Our Lives:

  1. Jonah ran in the opposite direction of where God called him to go. Have you ever found yourself doing something similar? What did it look like for you to “run” from something God was calling you to do?
  2. Why do you think Jonah resisted God’s call to go to Nineveh? How does his story relate to the ways we sometimes resist stepping out in faith or obedience?

Disobedience and Chaos:

  1. The sermon mentions that Jonah’s disobedience created chaos, not just for him but for those around him. Have you ever experienced a time when disobedience to God’s call caused turmoil in your own life or the lives of others?
  2. In what ways can disobedience sap our faith and spiritual power, as seen in Jonah’s life and the story of the storm?

Obedience and Faith:

  1. When Jesus turned water into wine, the servants’ obedience resulted in a miracle, and the disciples’ faith grew. How have you seen obedience to God strengthen your faith or the faith of others around you?
  2. Is there an area in your life right now where you feel God is calling you to act, but you’re hesitant or reluctant? What would it look like for you to step out in obedience, even if you feel unsure?

God’s Provision:

  1. The sermon highlights that God provided a way out for Jonah, and He provides Jesus as our way out of disobedience. How does this truth give you hope in moments when you feel like you’ve “missed the mark” or run from God’s call?
  2. In what ways have you experienced God’s grace in the aftermath of your own disobedience? How did that shape your understanding of His love and provision?

Application:

  1. How can we encourage each other in our group to be more responsive to God’s call, even when it feels difficult or unclear?
  2. What practical steps can you take this week to listen for God’s call and act, even if you feel reluctant? How can the group support you in this?

Closing Prayer:

  1. Spend time in prayer asking God for the courage to obey His call in your life, even in the face of resistance or fear. Pray for each other’s specific areas of struggle in obedience.