Jonah by Dr. R.T. Kendall June 7/2023

 The last thing I will mention now is that Jonah felt confirmation in his disobedience.  This always happen.  I use the term guardedly but use it in a way that I think will arrest your attention.  It is what Icall  providence of sin'.  Jonah determined to go to Tarshish and lo and behold he found a ship going to Tarshish and lo and behold he found a ship going to Tarshish!  He, no doubt, convinced himself that he was right.  It is like Eve in the garden.  After she succumbed to the doubt she looked at the fruit and she saw that it was good for food (Gen. 3:6).  I suspect that by the time Eve partook of the fruit she was convinced she was doing the right thing;  And so, Jonah, now making a 180 degree turn from God's commandment, going the other direction, found a ship and it gave him comfort.

You see, when you are living in disobedience to God's commandment you will find many providences, as it were, to confirm you in that disobedience.  I have talked to business men who say I must be doing something right, look how God has blessed my business'.  But God blesses atheists as well!  I have had people come to me and say: 'My sin just happened this way; It was so convenient.  I was at this particular place at the  right time; it seemed the thing  to do!'  Ah yes, sin can be very providential.  The way of disobedience has a way of having confirmations, and the problem with the modern church is that she finds confirmation for the  things she wants to believe and convinces herself in  her folly.  I wonder how many of us are here today, living in rebellion to God's will but because of certain confirmations, things that have 'just happened' so conveniently, we have become further persuaded we are right.