“The tendency to do nothing or remain unchanged.”
Inertia is otherwise known as Sir Isaac Newton’s First Law of Motion.
“An object will continue to be in the state of rest or in a state of motion unless an external force acts on it.“
In our study today, God is the external force and Jonah is the object.
Jonah 1:5-6 But Jonah had gone down into the innermost parts of the ship, and he was laying down, and was fast asleep.
Inertia in a disciple’s life is truly a sinful behavior. We are called to tell the world about Jesus, when and where the Spirit leads. But how can we do that if we either don’t or won’t listen when God speaks?
Many believers are a lot like the character in our study today. Their inactivity in sharing the Gospel is certainly a Jonah like pushback to Jesus’ Great Commission.
You may be familiar with the story of Jonah. But how much do you really know? If you just read through the story without intentionality, you would have thought that Jonah exhibited energy, not inertia.
Jonah set out to run from God’s presence, by travelling 2500 miles in the opposite direction, to Tarshish. But in the physics of God, disobedience is inertia.
Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh.
Take a look at the second part of the definition of inertia.
Inertia – …. or remain unchanged.
Look at the end of the story in Jonah 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
If you have read the story, you know that even after the harrowing adventure on the sea, the fish tale and a three-day hike across the dessert, Jonah is still daring to express anger towards God. He finally obeyed and went to Nineveh, but he did so grudgingly. His heart remained dark and unchanged.
That is definitely Jonah. Can you imagine digging your heels in when it comes to hearing God’s voice? I don’t want that to be my response to the Lord who saved my life. I hope that isn’t your response either. That attitude is open defiance before God.
But this attitude from the world shouldn’t be surprising. Many lost people recognize that the Spirit is dealing with their hearts, urging them to salvation. Some say, “maybe later,” others ignore the voice, not realizing that inaction is a decision, while most outright reject it. Some seem to accept the invitation to life, but nothing really changes…inertia.
Redemption is proven by the change in a believer’s life. It is not proven by high drama and emotional outbursts. Redemption is change. Redemption is walking away from the old way of life and turning toward the new life in Christ.
Redeemed people hate the sin that cost their Savior so much. Redemption is watching where the Spirit is working and joining Him there. He is working to lead the most unlikely people, to faith.
There is another twist to this story. Do you want to know about a group of people who did not suffer from inertia, besides the Ninevites? Take a look at this:
Jonah 1:14 Then they cried out to the Lord…“Please, Lord, do not let us die…, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” … 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.
Could the sailors have looked into a star filled night sky once Jonah was off the ship, and see and know the Creator of the universe? Did peace come to their souls as quickly as it came to the turbulent sea only moments before?
There are moments of God’s grace extended throughout His Word. There are lives that we judge irredeemable, but God rescued. Lives that He was not willing to lose. Not the Ninevites or the sailors. Not Jonah. And not you or me. That just makes me love Him even more!
God could have just sunk the whole ship to get Jonah into the belly of the fish. He could have worked in the minds of the sailors to toss Jonah overboard (read the story). But these pagan sailors who had worshipped Baal, recognized Yahweh for who He is.
I will leave it up to you to read the middle of the story. There is so much to learn in God’s Word. And yes, the Old Testament is still relevant today.
But the point of this study is to come to grips with inertia that may be in our lives as believers. Are you obeying God? Do you read His Word? Do you share the Gospel? Do you talk to God in a meaningful way, or do you just cry out in times of peril? Do you obey His commandments and honor His name?
None of us get it right all the time. But where is our heart?
Jonah 2:9 “But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows.
For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” NLT1
Resources
- New Living Translation
Jonah 2:9 ↩︎
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 