In the story of Jonah, God commanded the prophet to go to Nineveh to preach to that city. Unwilling to do so, Jonah fled in another direction. Through bitter experience he had to repent of his waywardness and human will. Jonah learned a lesson that Christian Science would describe as the necessity of understanding that true obedience consists of submission to the law of God, good.
The Way-shower, Christ Jesus, was strictly obedient to this law of God, and he required unswerving obedience to it from his followers. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, "You will learn that in Christian Science the first duty is to obey God, to have one Mind, and to love another as yourself."Science and Health, p. 496;
Jonah's weakness was self-will, and it took form in disobedience. How often many of us have felt the aggressive carnal mind urging us to avoid the discipline necessary to face up to the challenge of the moment! Through experience we learn the importance of keeping thought constantly in the line of duty, and of subordinating our own personal will to the will of God.
