ANOTHER JONAH< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Jonah 1

Rising in obedience to the word of God is not enough without rising and going in the direction of the word of God. Many have responded by rising but failed going in the direction of His word. Jonah, the son of Amittai, was a clear example. Jonah 1:1-3 ÒNow the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 ÕArise, go to < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.Õ 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.Ó Jonah did not have problem in hearing the Lord. He responded by hearing but followed the dictates of his heart. Jonah ended in the belly of a fish. It was a dark place; an unfamiliar ground for Jonah. An act of disobedience is to be disoriented. So many have started in the direction of their calling but failed to maintain the journey because of worldly diversions. Are you experiencing an unfamiliar encounter that does not settle well with you like when you first started? Jonah knew he has entered self affliction; He called on God. Jonah 2:1-2, 1ÒThen Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fishÕs belly. 2 And he said: ÔI cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me. ÒOut of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice.ÕÓ God answered Jonah and the word came back to him the second time. God will have mercy concerning your own affliction. The one that gave Jonah the second chance will give you another chance and He will not deal with you by your inconsistency.