Insights from the Life of Jonah, part 3

In the 4th and final chapter of the book of Jonah we find the prophet alienated and angry with God for His audacious display of grace and forgiveness of the Ninevites. Jonah is so upset with the Lord that he actually wishes that God would take his life from him! Jonah has just witnessed one of the greatest displays of mercy yet reacts in bitterness. In this reaction we see Jonah's heart, and it isn't a pretty picture. Jonah's response to God arises from his prejudices against the Ninevites and his lack of compassion for them. Since he is a Hebrew, Jonah has experienced and knows the love of God and His gracious provision and he is also secure in the covenant God has with the Hebrews. When he sits atop the hill outside the city of Nineveh he looks on in the hopes that God will still treat the people with justice and not show them the same mercy that the Israelites have received. When he realizes that God has extended amazing grace to the 120,000 inhabitants of Nineveh, he reacts in anger because not only does he desire their demise as enemies of Israel, but he is haunted by the possibility that he would be seen as a traitor by his people for taking this saving message to the Ninevites.

As Jonah sits on the hill in a deep state of pouting, God does something that catches even the casual reader by surprise, He appoints a plant (gourd) to grow and relieve Jonah's discomfort. Why would God provide Jonah comfort in the midst of his racial tirade? God is still trying to teach Jonah about His character. Jonah is extremely happy about the plant God provided, even though he had nothing to do with it. Jonah nods off and God yet again appoints something in Jonah's life, this time He provides a worm to devour the plant then He immediately provides a scorching heat to beat down upon Jonah's head; needless to say Jonah was not quite as happy about the appointment of these things. Much like His activity in our lives, God is trying to remind Jonah of exactly who He is. As we look back on the book of Jonah we see that God appointed several things in the life of Jonah, first He appointed a storm, second He appointed a great fish, third He appointed a plant, fourth He appointed a worm, lastly He appointed the scorching heart. The only commonality is that God appointed all of these things in Jonah's life for a singular purpose. God is teaching Jonah, as He has to do with us, that He is the one who is in control of situations and circumstances and His purpose will never be thwarted. God knew exactly what Jonah needed in each season of His journey and appointed what was needed for that time period. Like Jonah, we are happy when the Lord provides us with a plant, or in our contemporary terms, God bestows blessing upon us, but we recoil and pout when God appoints things to discipline us.

There are many things to glean from the life of Jonah in that He is a prophet that most everyone can find common ground with. As I reflect on what the Lord has taught me through this study, one truth seems to resonate more than others. Do I truly thank God for the worms He appoints in my life as much as I thank Him for the plants? In our consumer -driven society we often get caught up in the pursuit of acquisition and and that carries over to our spiritual lives as well. What we have to realize is that God knows us and loves us intimately and although we think we know what is best in any given situation, God in His sovereignty and omniscience is able to appoint precisely what I need in every season of my life. We are told that "My thoughts are not your thoughts, and My ways are not your ways (Isaiah 55: 8-9)," and the sooner we come to terms with that reality the sooner He is able to mold us into the children of God that we are called to be. My personal prayer in my life and the life of my family, is that I (we) will be able to truly trust the Lord in each and every circumstance and be able to say, like Job, "the Lord gives and the the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21)."

Insights from the Life of Jonah, part 2

Chapter 3 begins with some really refreshing and assuring words, in that the "word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time." The reason this is so encouraging is that God did not give up on Jonah and after Jonah repented of his selfish behavior and realized that His life is in God's hands, God graciously spoke to Jonah a second time; in other words, He is giving Jonah a second chance. I am so thankful that God is long-suffering and that in spite of our mistakes and rebellious ways He still seeks after us and gives us 2nd, 3rd, 35th, 50th, and 100th chances. This time when the Lord tells Jonah to go to Nineveh he does not hesitate but takes off, the actual Hebrew for the phrase, "Arise and go," literally means "go now." Jonah was obedient and went to Nineveh to take the message that the Lord wanted Him to deliver. Jonah began to walk through the great city of Nineveh and only proclaimed 8 words to them and implored them that in 40 days they would be overthrown. Knowing the evil and nefarious nature of the Ninevites surely it would take more than 8 words (5 in Hebrew) for them to repent of their torturous ways. In an astounding response we see that the Ninevites believed in God and even the King put on sackcloth and sat in ashes as as act of repentance. Wow! It is amazing that week in and week out people sit in churches under the direct teaching of the Word and hear the Gospel and yet do not fall under conviction nor repent for their sins and it only took 5 words for the Ninevites to believe. The interesting thing to note in Jonah's prophetic message is that the word "overthrown" can be defined two different ways. The first meaning "overthrown as to destruction," and the second is "overthrown to change." The Ninevites were either going to be destroyed or be changed; they chose to believe and be changed by God.

At the end of Chapter 3 we see just how gracious God is. "When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it."(NASB) It doesn't matter how sinful we have been or what we have done, when we truly repent for our sins and trust in the sacrificial atonement that was made for us through Christ, even the vilest of sinners can be saved. God is a loving Father but also a God of justice. You would think that after seeing such an awesome downpour of grace and the Ninevites being wrought with conviction that Jonah would have rejoiced. In the 3rd and final installment of these insights we will see just how Jonah does respond, and my guess is that we will once again find ourselves not so far removed from that of the reaction Jonah.

Ezekiel 18:30-32- "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. "Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live."(NASB)

Insights from the Life of Jonah, part 1

I have had the blessing of being raised in a Christian home and in a Christian family so I have pretty much attended church for the entirety of my life. Thru the years I have heard and come to deeply love the good old Bible stories from the Old Testament like Noah and the Flood, Joshua and the city of Jericho, Gideon, as well as Jonah. For about the past year I have been reading the Bible through and have come across many passages, characters and stories that I did not remember ever really reading before. Additionally, I have reread many cherished stories like the aforementioned. Every week I have the privilege of teaching God's Word to an awesome group of youth and I prayerfully seek to find a passage of Scripture that God would use to change hearts and bring insight into His will. Two weeks ago I was reading on a Monday morning, unsure of what God may want me to teach, and then I opened to the little book of Jonah. I felt led to read this great story again even though I felt pretty certain I had already gleaned all I could from it. As I read through the 4 short chapters I was deeply convicted, challenged, encouraged, humbled, and filled with joy all at the same time. These past 2 weeks I have taught thru the first 3 chapters and the Lord has really been personally speaking to me through this little book.

In the life of Jonah we see a prophet by profession given a specific mission, which is to go to the city of Nineveh and teach about God. Jonah's response, like many of ours, is to do exactly opposite of what God asked him to do. He hopped on the first ship he could and sought to go 2500 miles off course to Tarshish. Jonah wanted no part of God's plan because he didn't believe that the evil Ninevites deserved God's grace and mercy. We find Jonah in the belly of a boat that is being beaten and bruised by a raging sea, surrounded by pagan sailors, and he is fast asleep. God sent the storm to get Jonah's attention and Jonah took a nap! After being aroused from his slumber by the terrified sailors, Jonah finally admits he is at fault for the impending calamity and they reluctantly toss him overboard. At this point in the story we all know what happens next; Jonah is swallowed by a whale and then the whale throws him up 3 days later. Well, that is what happens, but that is not the end of the story. Jonah was swallowed by a great fish, personally sent by God, and finally at the lowest and most desperate point of his life, in the belly of a smelly fish, Jonah finally reaches out to God in prayer and remembers all that God had done for Him. It only took a massive storm, a huge fish, and a couple of days in the guts of that fish for Jonah to come to His senses! The bottom line is that God WILL get our attention and He will use whatever means necessary to remind us of our desperate need of a Savior. At the end of chapter 2 Jonah ends his prayer with this statement, "Salvation is from the Lord." Once Jonah realizes exactly who is in control and who is calling the shots the living God appoints the fish to puke ole Jonah out. Jonah sought to run from the Lord, God passionately pursued Him, now Jonah is back where he started. I wonder if God will give Him a second chance?

Boys will Be Boys

The Greatness of Tarheel Basketball

As I travelled through the darkness and gloom that accompanied this years UNC football season I remained faithful to the Heels and still optimistic as to what my man Butch is going to do for the Carolina football program. I would aliken my optimism to that of the fabled phoenix as it rises from the ashes- there will come a day when UNC will be a football contender (at least I hope). With that being said, like many of my UNC brethren I waited with baited breath for the true Carolina sport to begin this past fall, that is the machine that is UNC basketball! As most fans, this year came with great anticipation for another possible title run due to the return of an amazing nucleus of players; ranging from one Tyler Hansbrough to the unforeseen contribution of Danny Green. From the first tip off of the preseason until this past weekends "behind the shed tail whooping" of NC State, I have been highly impressed with UNC's ability to find ways to win ballgames. They have had their share of blowouts, but they have also been tested by teams with programs on the competitive horizon like Davidson, UNCA and the Purple Nurples from Death Valley. The one thing that has stood out to me about this years team is that in any given game any of a plethora of players can step up and lead the Tarheels to victory. We all expect Psycho T to get his numbers game in and game out, but I have been so impressed with the rise of Danny Green as the 6th man as well as the awe-striking performance that Wayne the Duke of Ellington put on against the Tigers. This team has proven to be unselfish with the ball and genuinely play as if the names on the back of the jerseys are insignificant in comparison to the name on the front. The Heels are off to a 17-0 start and Roy has the boys poised for a clear title run like a well-oiled machine. I am realistic and think that the Heels may hit a snag and drop a game or two during the tough ACC schedule, but I firmly believe they are the most well rounded and complete team out there. I will give props to Memphis and Kansas because they have some skills, but the Heels seem to be a rung higher on the ladder. As long as the Heels keep being team centered and seek to distribute the wealth and the glory come March I see ole' Roy snipping another net and the Heels putting another National Championship banner in the Dean Dome.