When God Says Go

Consider

When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, there were plenty of people who needed to hear the message about repentance in Jonah's own homeland. Israel and Judah were divided, and their lives were constantly leaning toward rebellion, disobedience, idolatry, and violence. Jonah certainly could have stayed and met the need at home. And yet, God sent him to Nineveh, the hub of the Assyrian empire.

No one expected Assyrians to follow God. Their sinfulness was legendary. Unlike Jonah’s people, those living in Nineveh wouldn’t have even claimed to follow God. They were unaware they even needed to change. And then Jonah showed up on their streets, preaching a warning against their sinful lives. The king and all those in Nineveh believed, grieved, and turned to God. Through Jonah’s obedience, more than 120,000 people were saved from destruction.

Despite this amazing moment, their return to God was short-lived. Just a few generations later, the prophet Nahum predicted the final destruction of Nineveh, claiming that God’s patience with the city had run out and their evil would not be endured. This time, the city ignored the warning and was annihilated.

Maybe God sent Jonah to shape him and prepare his heart for obedience. Maybe it was all to create a prophecy that only Jesus could fulfill. Maybe God had a very specific person in the city who was ready to be rescued at that exact moment. We don’t always know the reasons why God sends His people to a specific place at a specific time. But we know that when He says to go, our best option is to be faithful and obedient.

Obey

Have you ever thought, “God would never ask me to…” and then later God did ask you to do that very thing? Share your experience, including if you obeyed gladly, reluctantly, or not at all.

Are you interceding for those who don’t know the Gospel? Choose an unreached nation, city, or government to pray intently for this week. Ask God to send believers into that group and pray specifically for their repentance, salvation, and obedience to God.

What roles is God asking you to fill in the Great Commission? Is He giving you the opportunity to support and encourage those who are serving in unreached places? Is He urging you to fervently intercede for the lost world? Is He calling you to surrender your plans and go share Jesus with those who have not yet heard of Him? Share what you think is your next step of obedience.