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There are so many incidents recorded in the Holy Bible where God makes a way out of no plausible way. I use the adjective ‘plausible’ because certainly there are other ways and means to accomplish the same thing. However, when God makes an occasion happen, it’s spontaneous, sure and complete. When we do likewise (that is make something happen) we agonize over it for days or maybe weeks. And most of the time, our methods don’t work out for us.

Let us use the four chapters in the Bible about the story of Jonah, the prophet, as our example. As the Holy Spirit would have it, as I re-read the story of Jonah, I received a whole new perspective about his character and his intentions. The Holy Spirit illuminated in my heart that Jonah had ulterior motives for disobeying the Lord.

Jonah was a stubborn, selfish, son-of-a gun, with a very small mind. Now please give me a chance to explain. Most readers of this Old Testament story miss this. First, ask yourself why is the Book of Jonah even included in the Bible. After all, most commentaries assessments of Jonah’s intentions say he was a “wrong-way prophet” with a flawed character. (You’ll find this description written in the introduction pages of the Book of Jonah in the Bible.)

In other words, the true examples the reader is suppose to glen from this Bible Book is not to BECOME like Jonah with his selfish, stubborn and unforgiving ways; but rather to repent of your selfish heart and allow God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to work out a soul’s salvation for all peoples.

(*) NOTE: God’s grace is extended to all who confess Christ as their personal Savior and Redeemer.

(**) NOTE: It is not enough for Believers just to sacrifice, we must believe with everlasting faith.

Please refresh your memory of Chapters 2 and 3 in the middle of the Bible story about Jonah. You will learn about his encounter with the Great Fish and how and why Jonah eventually went to Nineveh. But it is the 4th Chapter that really is a little confusing and a precious surprise to most readers.

As you know, Jonah eventually goes to Nineveh. After Jonah preaches to the city of Nineveh all those residents do repent and are forgiven by God. They start to worship God and receive his blessings and this action greatly displeases Jonah and he becomes furious. He pouts and accuses God of ‘using’ him to do something that God was going to do anyway. [Like save a nation.] Jonah says to God, I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to become angry, rich in faithful love, and One who relents from sending disaster. (Excerpts from Chapter 4)

Jonah left Nineveh and went and sat high on a hill looking down on the city until the sun rays became too hot for him.

So, Jonah built himself a wooden shelter but it wasn’t good enough to keep the heat from scorching him. To prove a divine point, God caused a plant to miraculously grow and it protected Jonah until the next mourning. Then God caused the plant to wilt and die. Now, Jonah was furious because as the hot sun beat down on his head, it almost made him faint. And Jonah declare he wanted to die.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY OF JONAH:

The Holy Spirit lets Jonah know that He was aware of Jonah’s reluctance to carry out God’s ordained instructions from the get-go. And he, Jonah, was the prophet especially chosen to carry out this assignment due to his non-repentant heart to include a non-repentant gentile nation (all non-Jewish peoples) to receive Salvation!

And the solidifying evidence in the narrative of the Book of Jonah is the description of Jonah spending 3 Days in the belly of the Great Fish. Just like our Precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ spent 3 Days in the grave to pay for the sins of the world. HE IS RISEN! Amen and Amen.

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