² So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. (Jonah 4:2 NKJV)

Jonah wanted to argue with the Lord. He knew that his God was a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger annd abundant in loving kindness and he did not want the Nenivites to survive Gods wrath. But God had other plans.

How often we think we know best. God gives us a directive and we say, “ahh, yea, well I want to do it this way”. Who do you think wins in such a tug of war? Oh, we may well go on our merry way and do what we want, but God’s plans will work themselves out with or without us. How much better to be a partner with Him rather than an antagonist against Him.

When we partner with God, He will work everything to His good will. That may mean that we have to do things we do not necessarily want to do, but we will see in the long run that His plans are best.

Reflect on: A time when you had a tug of war with God over plans. In hindsight how did that work out?