Jonah's Rebellion

Every Bible reader knows the story of Jonah, in his rebellion, who ran from what the Lord wanted of him, and Jonah got swallowed by a large fish that we like to call a whale. 

     In Jonah 2b, Jonah told the Lord why he ran. “I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and One who relents concerning calamity.”

     My prayer is that:  Lord, I am so glad you are a gracious and compassionate God. I thank You for being slow to anger and for loving me with a desire that no calamity should come my way because of my sin. You always reach out Your arms and bring me back to you and are compassionate in forgiving me. Should troubles arise because of what I have done or said, You help me through in ways only You know. I praise You for continually caring, forgiving, and loving.  Amen!

A Sinking Ship

 A Sinking Ship
     Ever feel like you're in a sinking ship with no way out or in quicksand with no means of escape?  I believe it has been like that in some ways ever since the Garden of Eden was closed to mankind.  I am sure the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for forty years must have felt at a loss.  I am sure when Jonah was in the belly of whale he wondered, "What have I done and how can I escape?  How can I make it right?"
     Often, all we can see is the problem dominating the landscape.  Our focus is only on the problem instead of the solution.  How can we right a sinking ship?  Help is needed, and that help comes from God.  In difficult times as well as good ones, we need to embrace God.  He will not shortchange those who love Him.  His timing is not our timing, but His timing is the right time.  During our times of trouble, God is often just preparing us for future blessings.  What we have to do is keep the faith and sail with the waves.

Romans 5: 3-5 "...We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy ghost which is given unto us."
   

Exercise

     Exercise, for me, is often a drudgery.  I have to really self-talk myself into it.  Yet, I feel so much more energized afterwards. 
     When I think about it, I suppose I often have what I call a "Jonah moment".  He didn't like what God called him to do.  He argued and complained but in the end he finally did what God asked him to do.  In the end, even though Jonah did not like the outcome, God did.   
     This puts me back to my first thoughts.  How often do I say "yes" to a request when I really want to say "no", but the outcome leaves me with satisfaction.    I just have to remind myself to be open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and "exercise" by moving forward toward the center of God's will.   
    

FOLLOW ME!

From the beginning of time God has called, “Follow Me.” 

     When Adam and Eve did not follow the instructions of God, sorrow was the result.  God stated, “Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, …cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;”

     When the Israelites were discouraged and feared entering the promise land the Lord’s anger was kindled, “Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more when they came up out of Egypt will see the land promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob..”  This resulted in the wandering in the wilderness forty years.

     Most all of us remember the story of Jonah and the whale.  God called Jonah to go forth to Nineveh and cry out against their wickedness.  However, Jonah didn’t “follow.”  Instead he tried to flee from God and ended up in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights until he prayed unto the Lord and agreed to follow Him.

     In His great love for mankind, God sent his Son to die on the cross in order to save us from our sinful ways.  In return, we are to “Follow Him”.  In verse after verse, especially in the New Testament we find the words, “Follow me.” 

  Matthew 8:22  But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead buy their own dead.”

  Matthew 10:38  Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

  Matthew 16:24  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

  Matthew 19:28  Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

  Mark 1:17  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

  Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him.  “One thing you lack,” he said.  “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”

  John 1:43  The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee.  Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

  John 8:12  When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

  John 10:27  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

  John 12:26  Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.  My Father will honor the one who serves me.

  John 21:19  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.  Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

     As I think on these words, “Follow me,” it is really very simple.  Believe in Jesus, read His Word, love His ways, and be willing to carry the Cross to others.  Above, in John 8:12, Jesus tells us what a wonderful blessing he has in store for us if we truly follow Him.

    

   

 

    

    

Jonah And The Whale

     I like the story of Jonah, probably because I can relate to him and his actions.  He actually thought he could hide from God, but he couldn't.  He thought there would not be consequences for disobeying God.  He was good at making excuses, but God was better at explaining.
     As I was doing my bible study lesson on this cold wintery day in "A Friendly Shade" I took more time considering what really happened between Jonah and God.  The lesson asked the following questions, and I inserted my responses.  For your own study, however, please go to the actual Bible verses.

Summarize what happened to Jonah from Jonah 1:4-17
  Jonah hid in the bottom of a boat and fell asleep.  He wasn't making a sound, not even a peep.
  The winds blew- the storm raged- the sailors prayed.
  The Captain gave Jonah a shake, "Wake up!" he said, "for heaven's sake."
  "Pray to your God to stop this raincloud," he shouted loud.
  Jonah cried, "Throw me into the sea, then the storm will flee."
  The sailors didn't want to die, so they listened to Jonah's cry.
  Out, out, to the sea he fell, to live inside a whale for a spell.

From Jonah 2:1-5, what did Jonah realize while inside the fish? 
  Jonah prayed in his time of need and began to repent of his rebellious deed.
  He knew God heard his cry, trouble was upon him, and he knew why?
  As he sank beneath the ocean waves, he longed to serve the God who saves.
  Locked away, imprisioned in the land of death; seaweed wrapping around with every breathe!
  Jonah began to give God his thanks, wishing, pleading for the safety of seaside banks.
  Jonah, no longer rebellious, turned to God with every thought, and deliverance is what it brought.

How did Jonah react to God's mercy toward Ninevah from Jonah 4:1-!5
  Jonah complained to God, "Just what I thought you'd do; all my preaching you just blew!"
  "That's the very reason I ran away; in your mercy and love you forgave them all, this day."
  "Kill me! Kill me!" Jonah pled.  "You didn't support whatever I said."
  Angry and sullen, Jonah went off to sulk; to watch and wait beneath a shade in all its bulk.

What object lesson did God give to Jonah as a picture of His concern for the people?
Jonah 4:6-11 
  Jonah's shade soon withered from heat, but God sent a vine to shade his head and feet.
  In comfort Jonah continued his wait; the vine died, & scorching sun was Jonah's fate.
  Angry over the dying vine, Jonah continued to whine.
  Then the Lord spoke, "You did nothing to create the shade, but you welcomed my aide.
  Why then, shouldn't I have changed my plan for a people living in a spiritual, darkened land?"
 
     You see, like us, Jonah ran from God's request.  He tried to hide but couldn't.  He was disciplined in order to bring him back to God.  He was strengthed and returned to do as he was told.  Yet, things still did not turn out as Jonah thought, so he became angry with God and he made excuses for his actions.  He was too proud and too concerned about himself and his feelings in order to consider others and to be thankful they had turned from their evil ways and received God's forgiveness.   

Win! Place! Show!

     Win! Place! Show! What does it take? The right bet on the right thoroughbred horse in the right race.

      According to one article I read, a thoroughbred has a small yet elegant head with a high chest. Their profile is straight and the neck long with well-sloped shoulders. It is handsome, alert, and spirited with boundless courage and immense stamina. The breed is known for endurance, agility, and a big heart.

     When I occasionally attend the Oaklawn horse races, excitement runs high as I watch the thoroughbreds enter the track. I look at their coloring, the way they hold their head, and the spirit of their gait. I have to admit, some are just better looking than others. I listen to the gasp in the crowd when a jockey has a problem getting his horse in the gate. However, the horses are all soon off and running with breakneck speed only to either lag behind, overcome another, or stretch out their legs, running neck to neck, through the finish line. As always, in the game of racing, the favorites nor the best looking ones, do not always win.
     I wonder if that is why Jesus did not always select the most upstanding, handsome, or the most favored people to do His work. Maybe they had to learn to run with endurance, agility, and heart to become thoroughbreds.
     Jonah was afraid, lacked faith, and was stubborn. He ran from God’s call, but after being swallowed by the whale and given a second chance, he learned not to defy God and became a thoroughbred. Moses had murdered a man and escaped to the wilderness when he was called. He argued with God that he could not do what God was asking, but in the end Moses became strong, obedient, and ran with stamina. He faltered at times but God gave him courage, faith, and endurance. Samson was given supernatural strength, but he allowed his weakness toward an untruthworthy woman to rob him of that strength. At the end of his life he turned to God, regained his strength, and showed great courage. David was short in statute and just a boy when he killed Goliath. The people did not see him as a strong and mighty soldier for the king’s army, but God gave David the strength to kill a giant with only a slingshot and a small stone. Zacchaeus was a wee little man who could not see above the crowd, yet Jesus offered him a special invitation. Zacchaeus was converted and became a thoroughbred.
     I believe thoroughbreds are formed through a strong and daily relationship with God. Jesus provides so many examples of endurance, heart, courage, and stamina. Being a thoroughbred does not necessarily mean being a favorite among men, but becoming a thoroughbred does make a difference on whether you win, place, or show in life.
     I have a long way to go, but I pray, as I sit here in "A Friendly Shade" that although I falter at times, God will mold me into a thoroughbred for Christ.