Reluctant Obediance

A Christian lady was taking a flight, and she was reading her Bible. The guy sitting next to her, sarcastically says, “You don't really believe all that stuff that's in that book, do you?” She says, “I do. I believe every word.” He said, “You believe a guy got thrown overboard, swallowed by a great fish, and 3 days later, it spit him out on the beach.” She said, “I do, I believe every word.” He said, “Well, how could that be?” She said, “I don't know. But when I get to heaven, I'll ask Jonah.” The man smugly replied, “What if you get to heaven and Jonah's not there?” She said, “Well then… you ask him.”

You know, this is one of the best stories in the Bible, but we don't always see this as a story about RELUCTANT OBEDIENCE. 
In this story, Jonah reluctantly repented, reluctantly retreated and reluctantly rejoiced.

God was sending Jonah to a place called Nineveh, but Jonah decided that he wasn't doing that. 
He was going to Tarshish. He literally went to the other side of the known world. Then he got thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish.  Then he sits in the belly of the beast for 3 days. I assume, just pouting and waiting to die. When he figures out, it's not going to happen, and he reluctantly repents. 
He surrenders. He prays. The Bible says in Jonah 2:9, “but I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you what I have vowed. 
I will make good. I will say salvation comes from the Lord.”

Once he prayed, the Bible says in Jonah 2:10, “And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” 

Now at this point, Jonah is going to reluctantly retreat and go where God has called him to go. When he gets there, does he do what he told the Lord he would do? 
Does he say “salvation comes from the Lord?” Nope, that's not what he says in Jonah 3:4. He says, “40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 
It's actually the king who calls for a fast, and he tells the people to turn from their wicked ways.

Now, even though they've repented and turned from their wicked ways, Jonah's still mad. He just didn't like these folks. 
They're getting a reprieve, and he was even reluctant in his rejoicing.

God loves us, and he calls for our obedience, but don't think for one minute that he's limited in our reluctance. 
His will shall be done, and it will be done to his glory. Y'all have a great day, and God bless you.