How it all Began
I find it very refreshing to just think on the stories written in the Bible. I have bee helped a great deal by paying attention to such things.
You know, we're so blessed in our day and time to have the Bible in audio formats that can be easily played on the go from our mobile devices.
This is how I stay engaged many times especially when I'm doing some work around the house. I just play the scriptures and listen.
So, that was how this study on the book of Jonah began. As my Bible was playing one day, God began to open my understanding more to this book.
Take a very close look at the following verses from Jonah Chapter 1
Jonah 1:1-3 (MSG)
1 One day long ago, GOD's Word came to Jonah, Amittai's son:
2 "Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They're in a bad way and I can't ignore it any longer."
3 But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from GOD. He went down to the port of Joppa and found a ship headed for Tarshish. He paid the fare and went on board, joining those going to Tarshish--as far away from GOD as he could get.
Summary of Jonah Chapter 1:
The Book of Jonah is a very interesting one really. A very instructive story indeed.
So God gives Jonah a clear assignment but Jonah runs away from God.
However, he soon finds out that he couldn't complete his journey to Tarshish in one piece.
He eventually asks to be thrown into the sea.
The sailors comply when they tried their best and yet saw that things weren't going to get better with him on board.
Jonah is thrown into the sea and a huge fish swallows him. He spends 3 days and 3 nights in the fish's belly
Take Home Lessons:
- God's plan for you is better than your plan for you. God's destination for you is better than your destination for you.
- Jonah's safety (and protection) was in carrying out God's plan for his life. When he stepped out of the radius of God's purpose for him, all hell broke loose against him. What this tells me is that the place of your purpose is the perimeter of safety.