Discover the Serious Consequences of Disobeying God

Introduction: Reflection Through The Life Of Jonah

The story of Jonah, found in the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament, is a captivating narrative that offers profound insights into the consequences of disobeying God. This account follows the journey of a reluctant prophet named Jonah, who was called by God to deliver a message of repentance to the city of Nineveh. However, Jonah’s initial disobedience set in motion a series of events that would ultimately teach him valuable lessons about the importance of obedience and the grace of God.

Obedience to God’s will is a recurring theme in the Bible. Knowing God’s purpose for your life is one of a Christian’s most fulfilling experiences. Some are miserable because they don’t know their purpose in life. And some know God’s purpose for their life, yet they still choose to disobey God. This article will show the consequences of disobeying God, as seen in the story of Jonah.

The call and disobedience of Jonah

God’s call to Jonah was clear and direct: “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” (Jonah 1:2). However, instead of heeding God’s command, Jonah chose to flee in the opposite direction. His act of disobedience stemmed from a misguided belief that the people of Nineveh, known for their cruelty and wickedness, did not deserve God’s mercy.

Understanding and knowing God’s will is an important teaching in Christianity. As believers, we must align our lives with God’s will, surrender our own desires, and submit to the wisdom of God. Understanding and obeying God’s will is essential for a life of spiritual fulfillment, inner peace, and happiness.

But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

Jonah 1:3

The Bible is full of stories of individuals who defied God’s will and the consequences they faced as a result. One of the most well-known examples is the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Their decision to disobey God’s command and eat the forbidden fruit led to their expulsion from the garden, the introduction of sin and suffering into the world, and the need for redemption through the sacrifice of Christ.

Similarly, the Book of Jonah recounts the tale of a prophet who attempted to flee from God’s will, only to be swallowed by a great fish and ultimately humbled by the consequences of his disobedience.

Related Topic: How To Know God’s Will

The consequences of disobeying God as seen in Jonah’s story.

God wanted Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach His Word. However, Jonah chose to disobey God and go to Tarshish. He knew what he was doing. But he didn’t care about the consequences of disobedience. What are the consequences of disobeying God?

1. You become a hypocrite. – Jonah says that he fears God in Jonah 1:9. However, his words contradict his actions. If he really fears God then he would not disobey God.
2. You invite storms (problems) into your life. – Jonah knew that he was the reason God sent a storm over them (Jonah 1:12.)
3. The people around you will suffer because of your disobedience. – Jonah was not the only one who was troubled by the storm. Even the mariners had to experience the consequence of Jonah’s disobedience (Jonah 1:4-5.)
4. God will put you in an uncomfortable situation. – Jonah stayed in the belly of the whale for three days and nights. It must have been an uncomfortable place with all the digestive juices, darkness, and stench.
5. You reveal your spiritual isolation from God. – When the storm came, instead of praying to God and turning back to Him, Jonah proceeded to sleep. This shows Jonah’s pride and refusal to submit to God’s will.

Why do Christians choose to disobey God?

Many Christians are the same as Jonah. They know what God wants them to do. They know that there are consequences for their disobedience. But they don’t care about the dangers of disobeying God. Firstly, Let’s examine why Christians choose to disobey God.

Unable to resist temptation.

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Genesis 3:1

The devil is always busy tempting us to disobey God’s commandments. Some can resist the temptation, just like Joseph, the dreamer. But many Christians struggle with temptation and are not able to fight it.

Like in the example of Eve, the devil takes advantage of the lust of the flesh, eyes, and the pride of life. Eve continued to converse with it instead of leaving the serpent to avoid temptation. So to resist temptation, we must avoid every appearance of it.

The fear of man.

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

1 Samuel 15:24

God commanded Saul to conquer all of the Amalekites. However, Saul spared the king and some cattle to offer to God. His intention seems to be good. But it doesn’t matter what your intentions are. If it’s against the Word of God, then you’re disobeying God. He also revealed that his decision was because he feared his men.

Christians also are willing to go through the dangers of disobeying God because they fear man more than God. Remember that you will obey the one that you fear. If you fear man more than God, then you’ll abide by man and disobey God. And if you fear God more than man, you will obey God whatever the circumstances.

Being carnal (worldly.)

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Romans 8:7

The carnal mind will never submit to the Word of God. It is worldly and controlled by lust. Because of that, it will always go against the commands of God. That’s why many Christians constantly disobey God because their mind is carnal.

These are just some of the reasons why people disobey God. Now let’s take a look at the implications of Jonah’s disobedience.

Disobeying God signifies a diminishing spirituality.

Jonah did not lose his spirituality when he disobeyed God. His spirituality was already gone. He went down to Joppa geographically, but he was already down spiritually. Notice that when someone in the Bible disobeys the will of God, the Scriptures use the phrase “went down.”

But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

Jonah 1:3

When Jonah disobeyed God’s command, he went “down.” When Abraham strayed from God’s will, he went “down” (Genesis 12:10.) The Bible says the same thing to Samson when he disobeyed God’s command (Judges 14:1.)

Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh because of his selfish desire to see the Assyrian capital punished for destroying the northern kingdom of Israel. Abraham went down to Egypt instead of staying in God’s will because fear controlled his life. And Samson went down to Timnath because of his fleshly desire to marry an unbeliever.

Therefore, the Spirit must lead us to avoid going down spiritually. Because when we’re down spiritually, that’s when we’re prone to disobey God’s commands. Remember that we’re sealed with the Spirit when we trust the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior. However, we’re not always filled with the Spirit.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Ephesians 5:18

Disobedience to God’s will can have profound spiritual consequences. By disobeying God, we may come to feel a sense of spiritual emptiness and a lack of divine protection and blessings. This spiritual isolation can manifest in a variety of ways, from a loss of purpose and meaning in life to a deepening of sinful tendencies and a weakening of one’s faith.

Related Topic: The Backslider: The Miserable Christian

Disobeying God will put you in conflict with the people around you.

Disobeying God’s will can also have far-reaching social and relational consequences. When individuals choose to disobey God, they may find themselves at odds with their church, family members, and even society at large. This can lead to strained relationships, social isolation, and a loss of support and belonging. Additionally, the consequences of disobedience can extend to one’s children and future generations, as the ripple effects of our actions can be felt for years to come.

Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.

Jonah 1:14-15

People will keep their distance from you to avoid being impacted by your disobedience, same as the storm stopped when the mariners cast Jonah into the sea.

Disobeying God will have serious consequences.

Jonah was the prophet of God, and he knew that his actions would have consequences. What’s frightening is that Jonah didn’t care what the result would be. Not only was he willing to pay the fare to go to Tarshish, but he was also willing to pay the consequences of his disobedience.

And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

Jonah 4:2

I believe Jonah was willing to pay the consequence because he knew God was gracious and merciful. In other words, Jonah thought he could take advantage of God’s grace, mercy, and kindness.

Many of us do the same thing. We’re willing to go through the dangers of disobeying God thinking that He would understand it because He is gracious and merciful. God is merciful, but God is also righteous and punishes sin.

If you think you can take advantage of God’s kindness, think again. You have no idea what you’re doing. God punished Moses, David, and Jonah because of their disobedience. God’s justice exempts no one.

Disobeying God will put the people around you in danger.

⁴But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. ⁵Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

Jonah 1:4-5

Jonah’s disobedience caused God to send a storm to trouble Jonah and the people around him. Jonah also knew that all of this was happening because of his disobedience. If he had chosen to obey God, he could have avoided all these.

And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.

Jonah 1:12

God’s principle for judgment is He punishes the one who sins. God was not judging the mariners. They were affected by God’s judgment towards Jonah.

I have a preacher friend whose been living in sin. God exposed his sins, and he got kicked out of the church. His family had to go with him since he was the head of the family. As a result, his sin affected his family.

Disobeying God reveals our genuine attitude toward Him.

⁸Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? ⁹And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.

Jonah 1:8-9

Jonah tells the mariners that he fears God. However, it’s hard to think that Jonah fears God when he’s blatantly disobeying God. He was a hypocrite.

Disobeying God reveals the fact that we don’t fear Him. We can tell others that we love God or we fear God. However, our actions will always show what’s in our hearts.

Related Topic: Rejecting God’s Word

Lessons learned from Jonah’s disobedience

The story of Jonah teaches us several valuable lessons about the consequences of disobeying God:

1. Disobedience leads to turmoil and hardship: Jonah’s disobedience resulted in a tumultuous journey filled with danger and distress. When we disobey God, we often find ourselves in difficult situations that could have been avoided by heeding His commands.
2. God’s plans prevail: Despite Jonah’s initial reluctance, God’s plan for the people of Nineveh was ultimately fulfilled. Our disobedience cannot thwart God’s purposes, but it can make our journey more challenging.
3. Repentance and obedience are essential: Jonah’s repentance and subsequent obedience allowed him to receive God’s forgiveness and complete his mission. When we recognize our disobedience and turn back to God, He is faithful to restore and guide us.

Applying Jonah’s story to our own lives

The story of Jonah is not merely a historical account; it holds valuable lessons for our own lives. We all face situations where God calls us to obey Him, but our own fears, prejudices, or desires may lead us to disobey. In such moments, we must remember the consequences Jonah faced and the grace God extended to him.

Just as Jonah learned, our disobedience can lead to turmoil, hardship, and the potential loss of God’s blessings. However, when we acknowledge our wrongdoing and turn back to God in repentance, He is faithful to forgive and guide us back onto the path of obedience.

Related Topic: Following God’s Will

Conclusion And Final Thoughts

Let us stop being miserable and enjoy our life in Christ by faithfully doing His will. Let’s do our best to avoid these consequences that are caused by disobeying God. Let us learn from the story of Jonah.

In the end, the choice between obedience and disobedience to God is one that each believer must face. The consequences of disobeying God are unavoidable. However, by obeying God’s will and aligning our life with God’s purpose, we can experience the blessings, protection, and eternal rewards that come with faithful obedience. It is a choice that ultimately determines the trajectory of our life and the legacy we leave behind.