The word of the Lord came to Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach a revival, but Jonah ran from God and got on a boat…

These two facts set the stage of today’s truths.

Jonah 1:4 NIV  Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.

Jonah 1:12 NIV “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

Jonah 1:15-17 NIV  [15] Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. [16] At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. [17] Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

God sent a great storm.

Is not God’s greatest attribute His love?  If you ask most people to finish the sentence “God is ____”, most will say love or good.  But in scripture,  God’s greatest attribute is not love or goodness, but rather it’s God’s HOLINESS.  God is first and completely holy.  He cannot tolerate sin or rebellion.  God reacts to these actions.

 

Romans 1:18 says “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”

 

God’s reaction to sin today is to allow the storms caused by rebellion to come into our lives.  God can do all things but He stands back and allows judgment and destruction to rain down on rebellion and sin.   This is a part of God that is rarely preached.  The Bible says one day we will all stand before a HOLY GOD and give an account for our lives and spend eternity in heaven or hell.

 

Does this mess up your image of God?

Good.  It is a good thing to have a fear of God and His Holiness.  Our world would be more peaceful with a fear of God.

Psalm 2:11 NIV  Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.

Psalm 33:8 NIV  Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.

Luke 12:4-5 NIV  “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. [5] But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

God sent a rescue Whale

 

God is also love.  He is both Wrathful and Loving. God is great enough to fully contain both emotions.  Wrath against sin but love for the people He created.  God sent a whale to pick up Jonah from the bottom of the sea.  The whale was a type of Christ on the cross.  The whale offered to Jonah an opportunity to repent and be saved.   If Jonah had not repented,  he would have died in God’s wrath.  But Jonah repented to God.  God told to fish to spit Jonah on dry ground.

 

Jonah 2:2,9-10 NIV  [2]He said “In my distress, I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. [9] But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’ ” [10] And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Are you in a storm?

Are you in a storm because of rebellion to God’s word?  Are you living in sin?  You are probably experiencing a storm of some kind.  God stands back and allows it to happen or He may even cause the storm.  His Holiness requires a reaction to sin and rebellion.

Christ is our rescue.

But God also sent a savior.  Jesus Christ, who died for your sins and can offer a cleansing for your heart.

John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”

Christ’s sacrifice for your sins allows God to place HIS righteousness over you and the wrath stops.  All you need to do is, as Jonah did, repent to God.  Accept the prepared rescue God sent through His son Jesus Christ.

Your life in Christ will be blessed with His promises.  Get in a good bible preaching church that believes in fearing God and following Christ.  If you are in a storm,  ask Jesus to come into your heart.  Acknowledge your sin and rebellion.  Tell God you need a savior and your life will have a lightnside.

Jonah 1:1 NIV
The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai.

Notice, the Bible does not say ‘The Word of the Lord was SPOKEN to Jonah’ but rather the Word came to Jonah. It is an amazing fact to ponder. The Almighty God, the creator of all things, takes time to intentionally sends His word to you and me.

Have you heard a word from the Lord? I bet you have.

God does not speak in a physical voice. It is that thought that comes alive during a sermon or song. It is the personal revelation that jumps out to you from a verse you are reading. The word of the Lord is coming to you to help you in your walk or through a difficult time.

Even those who do not know God hear from Him through their conscious. In Romans 2:12-16 God says His laws are written on our hearts so even our conscious speaks His word to us.

God’s word to you today may be to have faith in His promises. His words may direct you to an act of service or to minister to someone with encouragement and hope. God’s word also warns and slices deep into our heart and soul healing us and pointing to Christ. God’s word may be to forgive someone. To be kind to those who are difficult to be around. God’s word may challenge your own desires. You may be directed to repent and ask Christ to forgive you and to cleanse your heart.

Is that thought from me or God?

Sometimes you may wonder if that thought is from God or your own thoughts. If the thought lingers in your heart and draws you to think about God and His word or challenges you to act according to Biblical principles…it’s God’s word coming to you.

Take time to listen today to your heart.

The Lord is sending out His words each day to call you to a relationship with Him. Take heed and no matter what your day or week looks like, THe Word of God brings life, light, hope, direction, conviction, strength. Listening to God’s word will place a Light-n-side you.