What part of Jonah’s story are you living?
Are you running from God’s will? Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, … But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD … (Jonah 1:1-3 KJV)
Are you sleeping through a crisis? But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. … But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. (Jonah 1:4-5 KJV)
Have you been abandoned? So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. (Jonah 1:15 KJV)
Perhaps you are displeased with God’s plan for others? But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. (Jonah 4:1 KJV)
Or have you moved into a state of loneliness? So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. (Jonah 4:5 KJV)
All he could see was futility. Before God sent him, Jonah knew that God would not destroy Nineveh: And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. (Jonah 4:2 KJV) So why go to all the bother of sending a prophet?
Futility is the saddest. When we do not understand God’s will, or the results. When we see bad things happening to people we know are good, kind, thoughtful, loving. When we see them hurting physically and spiritually – and we cannot see a godly result.
That’s when faith becomes of utmost importance, …the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 KJV)
Later on we’ll understand why God would say And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, (Jonah 4:11a KJV)
Until that time, we follow what God told the psalmist to write: Be still, and know that I am God: (Psalms 46:10 KJV)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for taking time to read and comment on the blog. Comments should take into consideration this verse: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8 KJV)