Why Do We Cling To Other Things? 

Jonah preferred to die rather than obey God. Three times he expressed this desire. The first time was when he discovered he could not run away from God. “Pick me up and throw me into the sea”, he told the sailors (Jonah 1:12). In the heart of the seas, as the currents swirled about him and he sank to the roots of the mountains, his life ebbing away, he realised death is not pleasant.

Then he cried to the Lord in his distress, and the Lord heard him, came to his rescue, and delivered him. His prayer of desperation portrayed a repentant man, now fully aware of his rebellious way and willing to turn to the Lord.  He said “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good” (Jonah 2:8-9).

However, as soon as he realised God had forgiven Nineveh and relented from destroying the city, he immediately went straight back to his folly. “Now, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live” (Jonah 4:3). That makes it the second time Jonah chose death instead of obedience to God.

Soon after, Jonah was lounging under a shelter he had made, still waiting for Nineveh’s destruction. In his rebellious state, God, in his mercy showed kindness to Jonah. He provided a leafy plant that miraculously grew overnight to give shade for Jonah’s head. Jonah was very happy with the plant. (Jonah 4:6). To teach him a lesson, God took away the plant and sent a scorching east wind. This made Jonah grow faint, to the point that he said, “It would be better for me to die than to live”. God said, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" “It is, he said. And I’m so angry I wish I were dead” (Jonah 4:9).

Jonah had said in his prayers when he was deep in sea waters… “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.” (Jonah 2:8). But now, for the third time Jonah was clinging to his anger, selfishness, disobedience, and death. He turned away from God’s love, doing the very thing he had vowed not to do.

“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death” (Prov. 14:12). Jonah was bent on this path, as we often are. So, it begs the question, why do we cling to things, “other things” instead of clinging to God? Why does sin appear so attractive? Why do we get so easily drawn, easily pulled away from God to our own ways, to sin and to the pleasures of this world? Why do we tend to turn to God when we are in trouble and away from him when good times come? The bible comprehensively answers these questions.

i'll attempt to give my insight into how the bible answers these questions next week, but before then, can you please reflect on your own life by asking the question... are there things I am clinging on to, instead of God? If yes, why? And is there a remedy?