Tonight, I felt stirred to open my Bible at random, coming upon the story of Jonah and The Whale.
Jonah was that biblical fella who was tossed overboard by shipmates (at his own request) and swallowed into the belly of a large whale. The vessel Jonah and his mates were riding in was in serious danger - being tossed about in a storm. Jonah believed that the "tempest" was caused by his refusal to take the LORD into his heart and follow His instruction. Instead of heeding the Lord, Jonah made a beeline for a boat, headed to Tarshish, figuring he could outrun the Lord. Maybe the LORD didn't want Jonah to go on that boat is all. Knowing that there was a storm brewing. It was Jonah's own fear that caused the problem. Perhaps, this is more aptly titled God's Lesson to Jonah. Or maybe even: If You Tell Your Friends To Throw You Overboard, They Just Might Do It!
My heart felt that someone will happen upon this passage and need it. I hope you find what you need. Save yourself the trouble of going overboard. Talk to God about the problem. He listened to Jonah, and Jonah was given what he needed: Dry land and a whale with serious reflux indigestion. Here's the start and you can find the rest either on line or in a real-time Bible:
The Book of Jonah:
Chapter 2 v. 1,2:
"I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction.
And he answered me."
2 comments:
Have you ever wondered why Jonah asked his shipmates to toss him overboard?
Something he could well have done on his own...
Yes, Dale! I wondered about that, too. My first impulse was to think he was too fearful to actually go overboard into what he probably figured would be certain death. That would be suicide. And thus, asked the shipmates who he probably, further, figured wouldn't do it. Murder was okay - but not suicide. lol Those were my first thoughts on it. Thinking further, and really delving into Jonah's probable state of mind - PANIC - his impulse was to save the shipmates and go over - but was stuck in fear. Looking at him in *that* frame of reference - he would maybe be heroic. Hard to say, hard to know. I think that no matter the circumstances, the lesson for me to take out of that story was that we always get what we need. Not necessarily what we want. And we can never know if the 'twain meet unless we go past self-imposed boundaries to try. ;o)
xo Tink
Post a Comment