Jonah

You are Jonah, but not in the way you think

Jonah used to make me laugh

But now am less judgmental.

Maybe I was a hypocrite when I marveled at his daring disobedience.

Who would disobey the lord so openly?

But wait,we have disobeyed God so many times.

Is it only different when he speaks directly?

Of course not.

Because God speaks through many ways;

Through the Bible (All the time).

Through the Holy Spirit (Pentecost till now).

Through dreams and visions (Joseph and the wise men).

Through angels (Mary and Joseph).

Through nature (Romans 1).

Through Christian leaders.

Even through numbers.

And when ministers of the gospel speak of the Corona Virus, they say God is shaking the nations.

And when God shakes the sea around Jonah’s boat…

The bible says that a violent storm threatened to break the ship apart.

There is so much similarity here.

You cannot help but relate.

Is it not interesting that Jonah was trying to sleep through the storm?

But is only woken up because of the storm!

Are some Christians sleeping during these all-important season?

Isn't it interesting that his identity becomes clearer in the storm.

The sailors want to know his nationality.

The sailors want to know whom he worships.

They wonder why the awful storm came upon them.

They ask him what to do to stop the storm.

The sailors also talk like prophets...

Before they throw Jonah into the sea, they pray to the God of Abraham.

They say “Oh lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons”.

The lord had a great fish swallow Jonah.

Similarly, God has a solution to the Corona Virus.

Like Jonah was locked in the belly of the fish...

So are many Christians and non-Christians locked up in their homes.

Wondering when their houses will split them out to the land?

But are we like Jonah praying from inside the fish?

When Jonah came out of the fish, he was ready for a revival!

His opinion about Nineveh did not matter anymore.

His dislike for Nineveh did not matter.

The anxiety of walking into an enemy nation did not matter.

He shouted at crowds, he preached to strangers.

Even the government humbled and repented.

The city of Nineveh was saved.

The world can be saved too!

So many will be saved!!!

When the hesitant Christian turns around and talks about Jesus!

The people living in spiritual darkness will know that God is compassionate and merciful.

Caring for people and animals alike.

When the hesitant Christian lets go of unnecessary anger, disobedience, fear and hesitance…

The revival will soar!!!!

The church will come out of Corona renewed!! Amen.

Job 36: But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.