After the big fish vomits him up on shore, the third chapter of Jonah starts like this:

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” (‭Jonah‬ ‭3‬:‭1-2‬ NASB)

He was disobedient. He knew what God wanted him to do. He knew where God wanted him to take His message for the purpose of redeeming lost people. But Jonah didn’t want to do it. He disobeyed.
And he faced he consequences…pretty messy ones at that!

But God gave Jonah a second chance. He still chose to use this outright disobedient man. God repeated His instruction like a patient Father.

I love verse two–the end of it. God tells Jonah to go to the city and tell the people a message God would explain later. Catch that? He expected Jonah to go because He told him to, details to come along the way.

I know I’ve had my times of disobedience to God’s clear direction in my life.

I know that He has mercifully given me second chances.

But there is something about God giving directions without all the details that I can find so scary at times. That can cause fear. That can cause me not to act, not to obey.

Yet, what makes me nervous should actually make me confident. If God tells me to do something, sparing the details, telling me He will show me along the way…that means He will be with me along the way!

Just like God told his servant Joshua not to be afraid because He will be with him wherever he goes, I can also be confident that God is with me wherever I go. Wherever He tells me to go. Wherever He sends me without a clear, specific plan.

Security in my self-created plans is a false security.
Security in the not-yet-fully-revealed-to-me plans of God is true security.

Praying that God helps me, and all of His children, to live truly obedient lives, trusting in His presence rather than disobeying because of our fear.

(Thoughts inspired from a Priscilla Shirer, Women of Faith, message at mini-conference at my church today.)