Recently a friend recommended a book by Dale Ralph Davis titled The Word Became Fresh: How to Preach from Old Testament Narrative Texts. Since I am planning to begin a new series in the Old Testament this fall, I purchased a copy of Davis’ book and began reading it.
Davis’ take on one section in Jonah provides some especially good insight. When God told Jonah to go preach in Nineveh, Jonah hopped on a ship and sailed in the opposite direction. Davis picks up the narrative at this point, drawing out a powerfully relevant lesson from the next two verses:
“But Yahweh [emphatic] hurled a great wind on the sea” (1:4). Jonah disobeys and God starts throwing things! … The ship looks destined to smash up, the sailors are scared out of their wits, “but Jonah had gone down below deck, had lain down, and was sound asleep” (1:5). Kind of disposes of the myth of the tortured conscience, doesn’t it? Perhaps we’ve heard someone warning that one can turn one’s back on God’s call but “you’ll never have peace about it.” Didn’t seem to affect Jonah’s sleep. … He seems to have perfect peace about running away from God’s call. Sometimes, to be sure, one of the Lord’s fleeing servants may be in great turmoil over such disobedience. But not necessarily, not always. Have you ever had a church member who’s leaving his wife for another woman tell you that he’s having the best “quiet times” he’s ever had? I have. Blatant disobedience and subjective peace can bed down together. … Jonah’s peace is no accurate indicator of the true state of affairs. That can be a bit scary.
Indeed. What a warning this is to us! Feelings are feelings but “[God’s] word is truth” (John 17:17).
Our feelings can’t be trusted because they are constantly in flux and are affected by sin. “But the word of our God will stand forever” (Isa. 40:8). So, trust in him! Do what’s right regardless of you how you feel. Biblical counselor Lara d’Entremont correctly states,
In the end, it is God and His Word that should inform our feelings, not the other way around. When you are tempted to listen to your feelings or your feelings are overwhelming you, stop and look to God’s Word. Compare what you are feeling to what He says.
Do your feelings line up? Great — follow what God’s Word says. But if your feelings contradict God’s Word, you need to say “no” to them. … Though they may feel strong, they’re not trustworthy. God’s Word is your source and foundation. Live by it, not your feelings.