Just a Thought...
If you are here looking for the
additions to the summer newsletter, please check back in a few days.
As usual, I am a little behind on things. Thank you so much for your
interest and your patience with me!
-Susan
The Redeemer of the Hard-Headed
"But Jonah go up and went in the opposite direction..."
Jonah 1:3a
Here's a guy I can relate to!
God has given Jonah clear instructions on what he is to do. Jonah, on
the other hand, thinks he knows better than God, and so, hard-head that he
was, he went in the opposite direction.
What was Jonah thinking? He doesn't seem to have any great fear of the
Lord. Neither does he have a very good understanding of who God is, or
he wouldn't be thinking he could escape by going west. And really - if
you're hoping to survive running away from the God of the universe - is the
ocean really the safe place to hide? I've been through hurricanes, and
I can assure that far from the ocean is much safer!
Bu there's Jonah, asleep in the ship, oblivious to the storm that is raging
around him. Don't we all sometimes get that way - completely numb to
the plight of those around us? Unaware of the danger we are in?
Thinking that if we can just sleep a little longer, our troubles will go
away?
But here's the thing about this story that struck me:
"The sailors were awestruck by the Lord's great power, and they
offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him." Jonah 1:16
Our God is such a wonderful Redeemer! Here are these big tough sailors
who have been fighting for their ship and for their lives. Just a few
verses back they were praying to false gods to save them, but of course they
got no response. But throw the hard-headed, disobedient messenger of
the Lord overboard, and the storm stops.
The sailors are "awestruck" and they worship God! If Jonah had done
what he was supposed to, these sailors may never have had an encounter with
the Lord. They may have gone on in their idolatry throughout their
lives, missing God's more subtle messages to them.
God is not limited by our shortcomings. He has a plan, and He desires
that we would walk in obedience. But regardless of what we do, He is
GOD, and He will accomplish His purposes - with or without our cooperation.
How exciting to know that God is the Redeemer of the hard-head! When
He can't accomplish His will through us, He will accomplish it in spite of
us.
... Just a thought.
