God is funny,
because we are funny.
The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD teaches us perfectly.
In a way best suited to our character.
Here's how He taught me today.
Starting with a verse:
Matthew 16:4
King James Version
4 A wicked and adulterous generation
seeketh after a sign;
and there shall no sign be given unto it,
but the sign of the prophet Jonas.
And he left them,
and departed.
Wherein, one thing stuck out:
"...and there shall no sign be given unto it,
but the sign of the prophet Jonas."
Curious, I looked at Jonah's chapter.
And laughed, and laughed, and laughed.
For he was a reluctant prophet.
And God would have none of such nonsense.
He taught Jonah a lesson.
Here's the backgrounder.
God appoints Jonah:
Jonah 1:1-2
King James Version
1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah
the son of Amittai, saying,
2 Arise,
go to Nineveh,
that great city,
and cry against it;
for their wickedness is come up before me.
But Jonah panicked:
Jonah 1:3
King James Version
3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish
from the presence of the Lord,
and went down to Joppa;
and he found a ship going to Tarshish:
so he paid the fare thereof,
and went down into it,
to go with them unto Tarshish
from the presence of the Lord.
So, God does something else.
Jonah 1:4
King James Version
4 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.
And the shipmaster wonders who was responsible.
Jonah 1:7
King James Version
7 And they said every one to his fellow,
Come, and let us cast lots,
that we may know
for whose cause this evil is upon us.
So they cast lots,
and the lot fell upon Jonah.
The whole ship resolves the matter.
Jonah 1:11-12
King James Version
11 Then said they unto him,
What shall we do unto thee,
that the sea may be calm unto us?
for the sea wrought,
and was tempestuous.
12 And he said unto them,
Take me up,
and cast me forth into the sea;
so shall the sea be calm unto you:
for I know that for my sake
this great tempest is upon you.
Surely, the shipmates couldn't wait to get him off board fast -- in great relief.
Jonah 1:15
King James Version
15 So they took up Jonah,
and cast him forth into the sea:
and the sea ceased from her raging.
Of course, God knew Jonah needed time to think.
Jonah 1:17
King James Version
17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish
to swallow up Jonah.
And Jonah was in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights.
Jonah realizes he's done God wrong.
Jonah 2:1
King James Version
2 Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God
out of the fish's belly,
So he affirms his vow with God.
Jonah 2:9
King James Version
9 But I will sacrifice unto thee
with the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay that that I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord.
God takes mercy upon Jonah.
Jonah 2:10
King James Version
10 And the Lord spake unto the fish,
and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
By now, Jonah's a mess.
And if you think that's the end of the story, there's more:
Are you called to God's service?
Have you resisted?
Don't.
Bad idea.
When God sets His mind on you, that's it.
No escaping the inevitable.
I have my own little story to tell.
Maybe in another blog.
Updated 14 December 2022
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