For example, when God parted the Red Sea so that His people could escape the attacking Egyptians, that wasn't a SMALL thing. I went on Google Earth and measured the Red Sea. It's 100-110 miles across, depending on where you measure it. 100 miles!
The story of Jonah is another example of God doing something amazing. We all wonder how God could have a fish hold Jonah in its belly for three days, underwater, without Jonah drowning. Open up your Bibles to Jonah, Chapter 1, verse 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 1:17, KJV, NKJV, AB, ASV, ABPE, DRB, ERV, ISV
Different translations of the Bible use different words instead of "prepared" in this verse. Provided, arranged, appointed, designated, commanded, sent. But examine the choice of the word "prepared" here in the King James version. God already created all of the fish in the sea. But now He was preparing one especially for Jonah.
Question: Do you believe that the God, who parted 100 miles of the Red Sea mind you, could prepare a giant fish to hold a human being in it for three days? I do! God can do anything!!
Another thing about the Jonah story that I find interesting was highlighted by our pastor in church yesterday. God wanted Jonah to go to Nineveh. That doesn't seem like a lot to ask until you find out that Nineveh was a huge, sprawling city in the country of Israel's ENEMY!!
That's like telling Franklin Graham to go preach to the Taliban. Would YOU want to go and do that? Uhh, me neither. So, we should cut Jonah a little slack here. Or should we?
God loves everyone, the good and the bad. God knew that many would be saved once they heard Jonah's message of their need for repentance. Jonah was the one with the problem. And so are we.
Our pastor asked a convicting question yesterday. Who is YOUR enemy? Who is YOUR Nineveh? God wants us to love our enemies and to pray for them. Have we done that? WILL we do that? I think it's time to get out of our fish and do what God has commanded us to do.
"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - Matthew 5:43-48
No comments:
Post a Comment