03- 05- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Jonah 1:1- 2)
FAITH AND OBEDIENCE, THE LADDER TO GOD’S GIFT OF SUCCESS
1- “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2- Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
Moses during those times was dealing with the rebellious people, but now God was telling him (Joshua) that he has to take the lead and he has to start right away while they were still in mourning for his (Moses’) death. I imagined in my mind that Joshua could say that “ministry was not that exciting as he thought it was”. As many of the pastors and missionaries who may have said the same thing while they were in the field and went through tough times have said that “ministry is not always as exciting as they thought it was”. One day in one of the coffee shop here in Michigan; I was asked by a stranger that I was talking with after I shared to him that I am a pastor. He said, “Is ministry a very challenging place and work to be in?” I said, “No, it’s not just challenging, it’s exciting…” But how could you be excited when you have this message in your email, facebook or God’s Word revealing to you what God wants for you to do right away while mourning for your dead love one or friend. God said, “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan…” It was not just a message for him to “arise and go”, but a message for everybody during his time as well as this present time. What are the difference between Joshua and Jonah? I assumed that many of our readers will say that Joshua obeyed God while Jonah disobeyed Him which is really true. If you read and study their lives, Joshua and Jonah had 2 different circumstances, calling and crisis. Joshua was mourning when God called Him to “arise and go” while Jonah was mean and indifferent. There was no compassion and love in him. But they get the same command and message from the Lord. (Jonah 1:1- 2; Joshua 1:1- 2) 1- “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2- Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 1- “Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, 2- Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.”
Joshua was trying to comfort himself when the Lord talked to him about his responsibility and calling while Jonah was in his own comfort; he was very comfortable when the Lord commanded him to “arise and go…” He was even financially stable that he did not even worry about money and his fare. There are Christians who are in the same situation and condition as Jonah. They are financially and economically stable, but they are spiritually in a 50/50 condition. I don’t know about Joshua’s actual economic and financial condition, but I’m very much sure that he was a mature and responsible leader. He was a man of God who has a passion for his people and most of all for God. He did not complain when the Israelites including Aaron and Miriam complained and stood up against Moses. (Numbers 12:1- 9) 1- “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2- And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. 3- (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 4- And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 5- And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 6- And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 7- My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 8- With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 9- And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.”
