Posts
timewithgod.blog-city.com — September 2009
Luke 23 -- Stoking The Fire All The More
Luke 23 records the death of Jesus on the cross, and tells of how the sun ceased shining for 3 hours in the middle of the afternoon. Writing about verses 46 and 47, my commentary says: “It was during these three hours of darkness th
Luke 23 records the death of Jesus on the cross, and tells of how the sun ceased shining for 3 hours in the middle of the afternoon. Writing about verses 46 and 47, my commentary says: “It was during these three hours of darkness that Jesus bore the penalty of our sins in His body on the tree.” It is unimaginable what it must have been like for the sinless Son of God to have to take on, in His body, the sins of one person’s entire lifetime, ALL AT ONCE – to suddenly be burdened with the weight of all the sins that I’ve committed so far in this life and all those I will commit in the future – much less the weight of all the sins that every member of the human race who ever lived or ever will live! Such agony to suddenly feel the shame, guilt, and loneliness that sin produces; to see how Satan’s lies have led to the brink of destruction billions of human souls! No wonder He died so quickly! Who would want to live bearing up under all of that? The Passover lamb represented Jesus and all that He would do to prevent death from taking us to hell. The lamb had to be roasted in fire as part of the ceremony. Likewise, Jesus faced and endured the white-hot wrath of God for all the sins of all mankind. I remember once telling the guys in my Sunday School class to imagine standing behind one of the F-16 fighter jets taking off in the movie Top Gun. The incredibly hot blasts of fire from full afterburners would roast a human. I then told them to multiply it by a billion or so to understand what Jesus had to endure for our sins. And each additional sin just stokes the fire that much hotter. That makes me think twice about each time I decide to sin just for the fun of it. Father, forgive me for so cavalierly deciding to sin. In the Old Testament, there was no offering for the remission of intentional sin, and now I understand why, for each time we decide to sin, we are willfully causing Your Son to bear all the more the penalty for that willful choice. I’m ashamed, Father. Forgive me. Your Brother In Christ,Gary Ford
Luke 24 -- Royalty Allowing Our Approach
Verses 16,31, and 45 really caught my attention today. The two followers headed to Emmaus were joined on their journey by Jesus Himself, “But they were kept from recognizing Him.” After He’d shared with them a complete l
Verses 16,31, and 45 really caught my attention today. The two followers headed to Emmaus were joined on their journey by Jesus Himself, “But they were kept from recognizing Him.” After He’d shared with them a complete listing of every passage of scripture that referred to Him, “They were allowed to recognize Him.” Later, when Jesus appeared to His disciples, “Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” We certainly tend to think well of our own ability to analyze the world around us and make decisions accordingly. But I think our minds are much more easily manipulated than we might suspect. The incredible talent of illusionists like David Copperfield can almost change our minds about whether magic is possible. The movies produced by Hollywood can have such stunning visual effects that we are transported easily to another time and place; and the deft crafting of words by news writers can often have us believing lies that we may readily agree with, until they are exposed by those not so susceptible to their charms. Why then do we find it so amazing that we may just as easily be kept from understanding as well? In college, something kept me from recalling how to attack calculus problems on a test, when we’d worked similar problems for weeks in class! The majesty and sovereignty of God makes Him unapproachable except at His bidding. I’ve read as an example of this that the Queen of England is considered beyond approach by her subjects, called “commoners”, and indeed they don’t reach out to her as they might a celebrity, unless she makes the initial move allowing a response from them. Likewise, God can close our minds for a time to any understanding of Him, as He did numerous times in Scripture. Jesus, in His resurrection body, did not allow the two followers to discover who He was until He’d completed the task of teaching them all the Scriptures said about Him. The disciples never quite remembered that He’d told them on multiple occasions that He would die and rise again! But I do think something begins to happen within us once these events begin to build mental pathways. We realize something out of the ordinary is happening, much as the two headed to Emmaus commented that their hearts burned within them. There’s just something about God being present that quickens our senses when God allows it. More often today, I think God keeps us from grasping the fact that He’s actively involved until He’s accomplished His purpose: then He opens our minds to look back and plainly see His fingerprints all over the place! Maybe what He’s wanting is for us to sharpen our detective skills, becoming constantly on the alert for evidence that He’s at work in our lives! Father, I thank You for showing Yourself to me in the mundane things of this life. I enjoy finding Your fingerprints all over events around me. It’s awesome to know that I have a God who is personally involved in my life and who reveals Himself to me, the commoner that I am. Your Brother In Christ,Gary Ford
1 Timothy 1 -- When Things Don't Seem To Be Going Right
Because of a host of things too numerous to mention, I’ll just say that Your timing couldn’t have been better, Father! Paul was helping Timothy to understand what was going on around him in the church he was helping. Both good
Because of a host of things too numerous to mention, I’ll just say that Your timing couldn’t have been better, Father! Paul was helping Timothy to understand what was going on around him in the church he was helping. Both good and bad things were evidently happening, which sometimes we don’t like to hear about in churches. Paul told Timothy to focus on what helps God’s work and to put a stop to things that cause arguments. His purpose in doing this, he says, is “… for people to have love, a love that comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a true faith.” If any of those three are missing, it’s easy to see that problems will crop up. Anyone in Christian service ought to see verse 12 as an affirmation of what they’re doing: “I thank Christ Jesus, who gave me strength, because He trusted ME and gave ME this work of serving Him.” I’m glad that I can say the same thank You. Paul, who had livid a very devout life as a Jew, had no trouble in saying that he was the worst sinner. He didn’t hold himself up as holier than others at all. He told about things he’d done and then says exactly what I’ve felt as well: “But God showed me mercy, because I did not KNOW what I was DOING. I did not believe.” Satan has ways of blinding each of us, whether Christian or not. And sometimes we literally don’t know that what we’re doing flies in the face of what God wants accomplished! I think Timothy may have written Paul and that he sounded disheartened in a previous letter, for Paul lifts him up with these words: “Continue to have faith and do what you KNOW is right.” Father, I pray that You will guide and uplift those You have called to serve here in every capacity. Bless them with the firm knowledge that they are under divine appointment. Thank You for where You are having me serve. I can think of no one else I’d rather have as Boss than You and Your Son! Your Brother In Christ,Gary Ford
1 Timothy 2 -- First ... Pray
I had previously circled two words in verse 1 – “First …. Pray…” Summarizing God’s desire for our attitudes in prayer, my commentary said, “In praying for all men, we should be humble, worshipful, tru
I had previously circled two words in verse 1 – “First …. Pray…” Summarizing God’s desire for our attitudes in prayer, my commentary said, “In praying for all men, we should be humble, worshipful, trustful, and thankful.” It also had interesting insight about verse 8, which mentioned lifting up holy hands in prayer, without anger: The emphasis here is not so much on the physical posture of the one praying as on his inward life. His hands should be holy hands. The hands here are figurative of the man’s entire manner of life. Secondly, he should be without wrath. It’s inconsistent for one who is given to displays of temper to rise up in the local church to speak to God on behalf of those assembled.” Father, where once before I found myself praying for the big stuff and not for day-to-day things, this chapter makes me realize that I’ve let the pendulum swing almost entirely the other way. I don’t hesitate to pray for small need-of-the-moment things, but I’m not setting aside time for fervent prayer. I’ve let schedules creep in to the point that I’ve scheduled out time for prayer. And Father, You also got me on the temper part. I need help in both areas, and I thank You for letting me know. I guess that must cover the humble part and the thankful part. I do trust You to bring about this needed change in my life, because I know that You are God – sovereign over all the universe, and yet caring enough to confront me individually where You see I need change. I love You! Your Brother In Christ,Gary Ford
1 Timothy 3 -- What A Challenge!
I think many Christians might read these qualifications for elders or deacons and think that they themselves would not need to worry about attaining them in their own lives if they didn’t aspire to one of these position
I think many Christians might read these qualifications for elders or deacons and think that they themselves would not need to worry about attaining them in their own lives if they didn't aspire to one of these positions. But my commentary says, "These are God's standards for any who would exercise spiritual leadership in the local church.
As I looked at a few of those qualifications, I felt like most of us would feel inadequate to serve in a local church, but they are things we should strive to be doing. From my commentary:
The sidebar in my Bible today also talks about these characteristics and offers this challenge: "Rate yourself on each item. What three need your attention most? What steps can you take toward maturity? Pray that your family and friends would notice a difference in the next weeks as you sharpen your character."
Father, thank You for challenging me to grow in spiritual maturity. Just because I am a deacon does not in any way suggest that I have already attained (and maintain on a daily basis) what Your word describes here. Instead, help me to be ever vigilant not to let Satan tempt me to fail in any of these or the other areas listed in this chapter. As a Christian, I am Your ambassador on Earth. I don't want to ever misrepresent You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
As I looked at a few of those qualifications, I felt like most of us would feel inadequate to serve in a local church, but they are things we should strive to be doing. From my commentary:
- 1) Be irreproachable, not only having an untarnished reputation, but deserving it.
- 2) Avoiding extremes not only in matters of food and drink, but also in spiritual matters.
- 3) Be serious, earnest, discerning, and discreet.
- 4) Be gentle. He will need forbearance, patience, and a spirit of yieldedness.
- 5) Must not be quarrelsome, contentious, or arguing about every little thing. He does not insist on his own rights but is even-tempered and congenial.
- 6) Concerned with the spiritual life of the people of God and refuses to be distracted by a strong desire for material things.
- 7) Showing fitness to rule his own home, avoiding the extremes of undue harshness and of unrighteous leniency.
- 8) Have a good reputation in the community. The snare of the devil is the trap which Satan lays for those whose lives are not consistent with their profession.
- 9) Must not only know the truth; they must live it.
The sidebar in my Bible today also talks about these characteristics and offers this challenge: "Rate yourself on each item. What three need your attention most? What steps can you take toward maturity? Pray that your family and friends would notice a difference in the next weeks as you sharpen your character."
Father, thank You for challenging me to grow in spiritual maturity. Just because I am a deacon does not in any way suggest that I have already attained (and maintain on a daily basis) what Your word describes here. Instead, help me to be ever vigilant not to let Satan tempt me to fail in any of these or the other areas listed in this chapter. As a Christian, I am Your ambassador on Earth. I don't want to ever misrepresent You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Timothy 4 -- The Importance Of Spiritual Exercise
I usually read my Bible while jogging on my NordicTrack in the mornings. So in verse 7 when I read, "...but train yourself to serve God," it struck a chord. Just as with physical exercise, we can never reach the place we
I usually read my Bible while jogging on my NordicTrack in the mornings. So in verse 7 when I read, "...but train yourself to serve God," it struck a chord. Just as with physical exercise, we can never reach the place we want to be and then simply quit, it's the same with spiritual exercise - the training Paul was telling Timothy about here.
My commentary says that stopping such spiritual training has the same effect as stopping physical training: "There is no such thing as drifting into godliness; the stream of tendency is against us. There must be exercise and effort." I know some may ask of what use is all this exercise. After all, it's not like we could see a really "cut" soul in the mirror. My commentary said, "As far as this life is concerned, godliness yields the greatest joy, and as far as the life which is to come is concerned, it hold the promise of bright reward and of capacity to enjoy the glories of that scene." Just as an in-shape body allows us to hike to the top of a mountain to enjoy the magnificent view, in some way we won't be able to fathom in this life, being spiritually in shape allows us the same joy in heaven.
In much the same way as lack of exercise can cause a body to atrophy, those who are not Christians can find their hearts becoming atrophied as well. My commentary said, "Perhaps early in their lives their conscience had been tender, but they suppressed it so often and sinned against the light so much that now their conscience has become insensitive and hardened."
The evil of this world causes the current to drift away from God. Doing nothing spiritually will therefore move us slowly away. That's why it's so important to fight the current with daily quiet times, for they strengthen us with the Holy Spirit's help, readying us for the wonderful hikes we'll take in the next life.
Father, I know how tough it is some days to climb on that machine at 5:45am. But I know that every time I do, I'm gaining the capacity to enjoy life all the more in later years. But that's just a blink of the eye compared to the eternity I'll have to enjoy the glories around You. Help me to exercise my soul each day, preparing for that time with You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
My commentary says that stopping such spiritual training has the same effect as stopping physical training: "There is no such thing as drifting into godliness; the stream of tendency is against us. There must be exercise and effort." I know some may ask of what use is all this exercise. After all, it's not like we could see a really "cut" soul in the mirror. My commentary said, "As far as this life is concerned, godliness yields the greatest joy, and as far as the life which is to come is concerned, it hold the promise of bright reward and of capacity to enjoy the glories of that scene." Just as an in-shape body allows us to hike to the top of a mountain to enjoy the magnificent view, in some way we won't be able to fathom in this life, being spiritually in shape allows us the same joy in heaven.
In much the same way as lack of exercise can cause a body to atrophy, those who are not Christians can find their hearts becoming atrophied as well. My commentary said, "Perhaps early in their lives their conscience had been tender, but they suppressed it so often and sinned against the light so much that now their conscience has become insensitive and hardened."
The evil of this world causes the current to drift away from God. Doing nothing spiritually will therefore move us slowly away. That's why it's so important to fight the current with daily quiet times, for they strengthen us with the Holy Spirit's help, readying us for the wonderful hikes we'll take in the next life.
Father, I know how tough it is some days to climb on that machine at 5:45am. But I know that every time I do, I'm gaining the capacity to enjoy life all the more in later years. But that's just a blink of the eye compared to the eternity I'll have to enjoy the glories around You. Help me to exercise my soul each day, preparing for that time with You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Timothy 4 -- Not About Older Guys Vs. Younger Guys At Church
There's an important section on caring for widows in this chapter, but God seems to be directing me toward the relationships of men in the church this morning. I noticed an important distinction in what Paul says about olders and eld
There's an important section on caring for widows in this chapter, but God seems to be directing me toward the relationships of men in the church this morning. I noticed an important distinction in what Paul says about olders and elders.
"Older" is a relative term to the person reading these verses. My view of older will be different than that of my sons. Regardless of one's actual age, scripture seems to indicate that we as men may have to fight the tendency to be impatient and resentful with the guys in our church who are older than ourselves. It's almost strange to think that a guy in his 20's or 30's in our church might become impatient with me in the same way that I might become impatient with someone my dad's age! The younger man is commanded not to speak angrily but to "plead with him as if he were your father." By including the reference to a father, it seems to carry all of the relationship dynamics that sons and fathers face - particularly not wounding him by our words, being respectful and mindful of what we say because there is the ever-present danger that any criticism will be taken the wrong way.
Paul also told Timothy to treat younger men as if they were his brothers. Timothy was supposedly still young, and certainly much younger than Paul. Timothy was to avoid being viewed by young men in that church as lording it over them; instead, he was to have fellowship with them as a brother would and to be thought of as possibly an older, caring brother who these younger men would naturally gravitate to for advice.
Paul's advice to Timothy about elders doesn't mean men older than him but rather leaders in the church, as seen in verse 17. Double honor is mentioned because of their position. That includes extra care to be respectful with them, for one thing. Verse 19 is discussed in my commentary: "Since elders occupy a position of responsibility in the church, they become a special target of Satan's attack ... there was a special danger of elders being unjustly accused."
Combining what I've seen this morning about olders and elders gives an interesting twist to the relationships between older and younger men who are both elders. A younger elder is almost triply warned to treat an "older elder" with respect. I think there is a constant danger of unjustly accusing an "older elder" of taking too long to decide his position or of exhibiting fear of change. Likewise, older elders can view younger elders as radical or desiring too much change or of not taking enough time in making decisions. There is still that command to treat elders with double honor, and an older elder, it seems, would be held to this command towards a younger elder as well. Respect and willingness to listen and understand when another's ideas don't match our own are hugely important, especially among church leaders.
Father, I pray that You will sound alarm bells in my head anytime You see me beginning to violate the commands You've given here. Help me to respect other men in our church regardless of age, not counting their opinions and ideas as unimportant, just as I hope You will do the same for other men in our church about my ideas and opinions. Lead us all to greater respect and understanding of each other, for that is what I believe Your Son would do with any of us if He were here.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
"Older" is a relative term to the person reading these verses. My view of older will be different than that of my sons. Regardless of one's actual age, scripture seems to indicate that we as men may have to fight the tendency to be impatient and resentful with the guys in our church who are older than ourselves. It's almost strange to think that a guy in his 20's or 30's in our church might become impatient with me in the same way that I might become impatient with someone my dad's age! The younger man is commanded not to speak angrily but to "plead with him as if he were your father." By including the reference to a father, it seems to carry all of the relationship dynamics that sons and fathers face - particularly not wounding him by our words, being respectful and mindful of what we say because there is the ever-present danger that any criticism will be taken the wrong way.
Paul also told Timothy to treat younger men as if they were his brothers. Timothy was supposedly still young, and certainly much younger than Paul. Timothy was to avoid being viewed by young men in that church as lording it over them; instead, he was to have fellowship with them as a brother would and to be thought of as possibly an older, caring brother who these younger men would naturally gravitate to for advice.
Paul's advice to Timothy about elders doesn't mean men older than him but rather leaders in the church, as seen in verse 17. Double honor is mentioned because of their position. That includes extra care to be respectful with them, for one thing. Verse 19 is discussed in my commentary: "Since elders occupy a position of responsibility in the church, they become a special target of Satan's attack ... there was a special danger of elders being unjustly accused."
Combining what I've seen this morning about olders and elders gives an interesting twist to the relationships between older and younger men who are both elders. A younger elder is almost triply warned to treat an "older elder" with respect. I think there is a constant danger of unjustly accusing an "older elder" of taking too long to decide his position or of exhibiting fear of change. Likewise, older elders can view younger elders as radical or desiring too much change or of not taking enough time in making decisions. There is still that command to treat elders with double honor, and an older elder, it seems, would be held to this command towards a younger elder as well. Respect and willingness to listen and understand when another's ideas don't match our own are hugely important, especially among church leaders.
Father, I pray that You will sound alarm bells in my head anytime You see me beginning to violate the commands You've given here. Help me to respect other men in our church regardless of age, not counting their opinions and ideas as unimportant, just as I hope You will do the same for other men in our church about my ideas and opinions. Lead us all to greater respect and understanding of each other, for that is what I believe Your Son would do with any of us if He were here.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1 Timothy 6 -- Becoming A Man That God Would Write About
In verse 11, as Paul concludes his letter to Timothy, we read: "But you, man of God ..." I wonder what Timothy thought when he read that? My commentary noted that the opposite of man of God is man of sin. We kn
In verse 11, as Paul concludes his letter to Timothy, we read: "But you, man of God ..." I wonder what Timothy thought when he read that? My commentary noted that the opposite of man of God is man of sin. We know we should be striving to be seen as and called a man of God. It's one or the other. Yes I am a sinner, but I belong to God. And I should act like it.
Along that line, in verse 12 Paul tells Timothy, "Fight the good fight of faith, grabbing hold of the life that continues forever. You were called to have that life..." That sounds to me like it's not going to be easy. It's a fight. It's going to challenge us - mind, body, and soul. And who wouldn't take on such a challenge when it says that what we're grabbing hold of is the life that continues forever.
My commentary said, "Here, the thought is to live out in daily practice the eternal life which was already Timothy's ..." I love rock climbing, but I don't get to practice it much. As I read this, I thought of how much better I'd be if I could practice daily. And of course when I read "grabbing hold", I couldn't help but think of the rock-climbing holds. Yet the practicing would not be enough. In my lifestyle, I'd need to adjusting eating habits, exercises, and more.
Using that as a metaphor for spiritual development, imagine grabbing hold of spiritual development with the same zeal that we show in our physical care - depriving ourselves of several things, getting up early to exercise spiritually, thinking about our "spiritual appearance" rather than our physical appearance, as we look at ourselves in mirrors we might pass. What a difference that might make! Instead of a daily regimen to become a man of steel, we could be enhancing our own view of ourselves as a man of God.
Father, please help me to put the same or more intensity into my spiritual development as I do in my physical development. Help me to desire to see a man of God in the mirror. As the song by 4-Him says, "I want to be a man that You would write about."
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jonah 1-2 What He Never Prayed While Inside The Fish
God told Jonah to head east. Jonah went west. Why? He didn't want the city that was Israel's cruelest enemy to hear about God! What could have been the very best weapon Israel could have used to defeat its enemy
God told Jonah to head east. Jonah went west. Why? He didn't want the city that was Israel's cruelest enemy to hear about God! What could have been the very best weapon Israel could have used to defeat its enemy was not about to be used by Jonah! He just kept saying, "No, Lord." Those two words have no business being used together, for Lord implies total control, and saying "no" to total control is not allowing Him to be Lord.
As Jonah fled by sea, the storm God brought about to halt his running began to overwhelm the efforts of the sailors, and they began to cry out to every god they could think of. God even directed the lots they cast to point to Jonah. About all he could say was, "Pick me up and throw me overboard." Even his running away was a testimony, because the hardened sailors cried out to God and even exhibited understanding of His sovereignty: "Lord ... You wanted it this way..." Immediately the sea calmed and as a result, "they began to fear the Lord."
My commentary noted something very interesting in Jonah's prayer from the belly of the fish: "There is not one word of petition in Jonah's prayer. There is thanksgiving (verses 2-6), contrition (verses 7-8), and rededication (verse 9)." But nowhere does he pray to be released from the fish! "As soon as he acknowledged that salvation is of the Lord, the fish vomited Jonah out onto dry land." He never asked to be let out. Not once! It's almost as if he felt that He deserved his fate. But God wasn't done with him yet.
I've come to points in my life before where I've felt totally unusable by God. Sin does that. Jonah's sin was disobedience to God's word. Isn't ours just the same?
Father, my prayers may be quite a bit different from Jonah's. I probably don't thank You enough. I may not always humble myself before You. My prayers all too often are petitions for Your help. I thank You that You've shown me that even when I was Your enemy You came looking for me to bring me back to You, in the same way that it was Your desire to save one of the greatest enemies that Israel ever aced. Thank You for my salvation. It was bought at such a great price by Your Son. Help me therefore not to say "no" to Him.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jonah 3 & 4 -- Wouldn't This Make An Amazing 'Rest Of The Story'
Jonah's problems started before he ever decided to run from what God was asking him to do. His problem was that he didn't want to see his intended audience saved. The Jewish people were used to God calling down fire on thei
Jonah's problems started before he ever decided to run from what God was asking him to do. His problem was that he didn't want to see his intended audience saved. The Jewish people were used to God calling down fire on their worst enemies. After all, the Jews were God's chosen people. Anyone who harmed them deserved to die, he thought.
After a weekend in the fish, Jonah decided to comply. He traveled to Nineveh and preached God's message of impending doom. It is evident that God desired them to change; otherwise, why send Jonah? The only value in doing so otherwise would have been seeing the two days or so of pure dread. But our God is not a God who takes pleasure in tormenting. Instead, He loves. When the king heard and took to heart Jonah's message, he ordered a national day of mourning and atonement and fasting.
As Jonah watched it all unfold, his reaction had to be exactly opposite of how any regular preacher would react, for he became so angry that he said, "This is what I said would happen ... I knew that You are a God who is kind and shows mercy. You don't become angry quickly, and You have great love. I knew You would choose not to cause harm!"
He thought he knew God pretty well, but as it turns out, he barely knew him at all. For God loves and desires that everyone KNOW Him and come to Him in repentance. He desires that all should be saved. He's not cliquish like us.
As Jonah waited to see if a Sodom and Gomorrah rerun might occur, God decided to teach him something. Quickly raising up a shade plant, God provided shelter for Jonah. Then just as quickly He removed it and Jonah suffered. He self-righteously answered God regarding His feelings of anger, and God called him out on it. In God's words, the people of Nineveh did not know right from wrong and needed to be shown.
There was no "rest of the story" given in these chapters. Jonah may have remained angry, despite God's attempt to get him to understand His love and concern for the 120,000 who lived in Nineveh. But even if Jonah missed the point, we should not. God cares for the whole world - not just Americans; not just Christians. After all, Jesus did say that He had come to save .... the lost.
Father, it's pretty easy for me to want to chastise Jonah for his behavior - until I stop to think about people like the Iranian leadership, the North Korean leader, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, and the members of Al-Qaeda. Father, what an awesome message You would give the world to have any or all of these become Christian and renounce their ways! Our war with them would cease! Do that, Father. Care so much for them that You will send a modern-day Jonah to change their hearts and lives through the message You will have prepared for them. Then let the world watch in stunned amazement.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
After a weekend in the fish, Jonah decided to comply. He traveled to Nineveh and preached God's message of impending doom. It is evident that God desired them to change; otherwise, why send Jonah? The only value in doing so otherwise would have been seeing the two days or so of pure dread. But our God is not a God who takes pleasure in tormenting. Instead, He loves. When the king heard and took to heart Jonah's message, he ordered a national day of mourning and atonement and fasting.
As Jonah watched it all unfold, his reaction had to be exactly opposite of how any regular preacher would react, for he became so angry that he said, "This is what I said would happen ... I knew that You are a God who is kind and shows mercy. You don't become angry quickly, and You have great love. I knew You would choose not to cause harm!"
He thought he knew God pretty well, but as it turns out, he barely knew him at all. For God loves and desires that everyone KNOW Him and come to Him in repentance. He desires that all should be saved. He's not cliquish like us.
As Jonah waited to see if a Sodom and Gomorrah rerun might occur, God decided to teach him something. Quickly raising up a shade plant, God provided shelter for Jonah. Then just as quickly He removed it and Jonah suffered. He self-righteously answered God regarding His feelings of anger, and God called him out on it. In God's words, the people of Nineveh did not know right from wrong and needed to be shown.
There was no "rest of the story" given in these chapters. Jonah may have remained angry, despite God's attempt to get him to understand His love and concern for the 120,000 who lived in Nineveh. But even if Jonah missed the point, we should not. God cares for the whole world - not just Americans; not just Christians. After all, Jesus did say that He had come to save .... the lost.
Father, it's pretty easy for me to want to chastise Jonah for his behavior - until I stop to think about people like the Iranian leadership, the North Korean leader, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, and the members of Al-Qaeda. Father, what an awesome message You would give the world to have any or all of these become Christian and renounce their ways! Our war with them would cease! Do that, Father. Care so much for them that You will send a modern-day Jonah to change their hearts and lives through the message You will have prepared for them. Then let the world watch in stunned amazement.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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