Ananias and Jonah

Acts 9: 13

“‘Lord’, Ananias answered, ‘I have heard many reports about this man…’”

Many a times we, like Ananias, tell the Lord what He already knows, giving it as an excuse. Will not God have known about why Paul was there? In righteous anger, Ananias was gently reminding God about it! How many times has this happened to us? God knowing the end from the beginning is telling us something. But we, in our haste to be overly righteous, tell God what He already knows! It is time we checked ourselves before speaking to the Lord. It is good to be quick to obey – without questions. It is not our place to ask the Lord whether He really is sure about what He wants us to do. It is like God saying “Do this my son” and we reply with “Are you sure Lord???” It sounds so absurd!

The redeeming quality of Ananias is that as soon as God says “Go! This man is my chosen instrument…”, he obeys with no more questions. This is in stark contrast with what our Old Testament friend Jonah did! He did not even ask the Lord anything…he just ran away! It is infinitely better to be like Ananias, rather than like Jonah.

Another difference between Jonah and Ananias, is that whereas Jonah reacted with anger when the Lord chose to spare Nineveh, Ananias, as soon as Paul repents, calls him “brother”!

Jonah was a prophet

The voice of God Himself!

“Go” said the Lord, and he ran away

Away from God’s great will!

Ananias was a disciple

He listened to the voice of the Lord.

“Go” said the Lord, and “why oh Lord”

He asked, Questioning God’s great will.

Samuel was a little child

Who was woken up by the Lord

“Go” said the Lord and he went

Not a question came out of his mouth.

Be a child in the kingdom of God

Obey without a question

Better an Ananias than a Jonah,

But best be a Samuel!