FAITH CAPSULE: Turning away from the word of God is turning away from His presence.
Jonah 1
The word of God is God. The way of God is in His word. The way of God is His presence. Asking to know His way is asking to know His presence. Moses’ asking for God’s way is indirectly asking for His presence. Moses requested from God, “Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” (Exodus 33:13) God responded to Moses’ request, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14) Obviously, the word of God is His way; His way is His presence.
When God speaks, His word cannot be denied. He is God whose word does not return back to Him void. (Isaiah 55:11) Turning to the word of God is the evidence of obedience and it adds blessing with no evil. Joshua 21:45 testified of God’s word stating, “Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.” Obeying the word of God is what delivers the promises inside of His word. However, turning away from the word of God that sounds in man’s direction is an act of disobedience that sets man up for self-destruction. Interestingly, man is constantly and consistently violating the word of God consciously or unconsciously by turning away from His word. Turning away from the word of God is turning away from His presence. There is no excuse to turn away from where God is turning man to but painful consequence is always the reward for turning away.
The book of Jonah 1:2-3 recorded, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 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.” Half obedience is same as failure to obey. In the above scriptural verse, the word of God was referred to as God’s presence. Jonah rose as commanded by God but his rising was in opposite direction to the presence of God. Are you rising in opposite direction to the word of God? Know to always turn to the word of God and maintain His presence. In getting to expected end in the journey of life the presence (word) of God is deliverance and preservation to see man through. It is time to turn back to God from where you have turned away from His presence.
Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of constant and consistent obedience to His word.