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Today’s reading: Jonah 3, Proverbs 27

The God of second chances.  This third chapter of Jonah is the epitome of the second chance. God tells Jonah (for a second time) to “get up and go to the great city of Ninevah, and deliver the message of judgement I have given you”. Jonah was still feeling like he didn’t want to, but after witnessing the power of God through the storm and the giant fish he couldn’t attempt another trip to Tarshish. The second chance was not to fulfill Jonah’s plan. It was the chance for God to fulfill His plan through Jonah.  Again, Jonah had the choice. In his mind the people of Ninevah didn’t deserve God after all their violence and evil. But God, in his mercy and grace had plans for Ninevah beyond what Jonah could comprehend. God asking the same request of Jonah a second time is so powerful. He didn’t give up on Jonah. He pursued Him with a storm and a giant fish until he realized the power he was running away from. Jonah finally submitted to the authority of the Almighty God.  He didn’t understand but he said “yes”. And because of his submission to a plan he didn’t understand, the people of Ninevah repented. They didn’t just say they were sorry, they expressed their repentance by turning from their evil ways immediately. Submission. They got a second chance too.

Do you have a Ninevah you are running from? Is God pursuing you with obstacles and struggle as you run towards Tarshish? Stop running. Rest, pray, submit. God will give a second chance to His people. And His plan is always bigger and better than ours.

Thank you Father for the gift of forgiveness and second chances.

Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend”

Today’s Reading : Jonah 1;  Proverbs 27

The Story of Jonah is one that is familiar with many of the Judeo-Christian faith. It is the story of how a man survived in the belly of a big fish for three days and nights. It is the foreshadowing of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.   Jonah is written over 700 years before the birth of Christ, illustrates how God’s grace is not only for one people, but for all people. This story also illustrates that it is not our decision of who, where, and when the salvation and grace will be given. God decides.

As we enter into Jonah, we are presented with him running away from his assignment. He is given the assignment to go to his enemies’ city, Nineveh, and give them a message from God about their behavior and how to correct and repent their mistakes. God chose Jonah to be a vessel of Salvation, but Jonah is choosing to run away. As Jonah is attempting to run away he is presented with several opportunities to witness. While on the ship he encounters a severe storm that threats the ship and the people on the ship. We find that he is the reason for the tempest and the only cure the storm is to throw him off the ship and then the sea will be calm.

As I dissected this chapter there are three points that came into clarity for me:

• The peace in the storm
• The storm that you are in may not be for you but for others
• Worship the storm

Jonah 1: 5-6:⁵ Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. ⁶ So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

When we are in the midst of a storm, God has given us peace that cannot be comprehended by others. It took someone to physically disturb Jonah, to make him aware of the pandemonium that was happening around him. Sometimes God guards us through the midst of storms that we are not aware are happening. God gives us a unsurpassable peace in the midst of storms that we are experiencing to show others an indescribable calm.

Jonah 1:14-16:¹⁴ Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” ¹⁵ So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. ¹⁶ Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

In my youth, there were many preachers and pastors that would say “ There are three type of people: People who are about to go into a storm, people who are in a storm, and people that have just come through storm. Which one are you?” This resonates with me in this passage, where we think that the storm is for the “punishment” of Jonah, but it is for the salvation of the people on the ship. God used this “escape” as a training ground for Jonah to show “ the Lord, the God of Heaven, who made the sea ad the dry land”(1:9) is in complete control. The storm allowed the crew of the ship who worshipped other gods, an experience that transformed their life and belief. The storm may have at first been seen as a “turn around” gesture for Jonah, but it actually was a point where others were turned to God. The storms that we experience may be for God’s Glory to be shown through us.

In verse 16, as with the end of all things we must remember to give God praise for the storm. No matter how many storms that we experience, we know that God is in control. His plans are more than we can imagine. The storms are scary, hard, difficult, and painful. But if we have the faith and fortitude to acknowledge Him, we will be able to come through the other side of the storm. When we reach the other side, we must give Him the praise.

God, the Lord of the heavens, sea, dry land, and all things. We thank you for taking care of us in all things and even when we choose to runaway. Allow your grace to be upon us and allow your Glory to shine through us in any and all storms. Allow the storms strengthen us in your amazing salvation. Amen

CHOOSE – to select from a number of possibilities, to prefer or decide, to want; desire, to contend with or to decide. (dictionary.com)

Joshua 24:15 says,
“If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua 24 takes place at the end of Joshua’s life. In this chapter Joshua gives one final speech to the people. He challenges them to make a decision or to choose what they are going to do with God once he is gone. He recounts for them once again all the miraculous things God has done to give them this land and all the commands He gave them which they must obey to retain it.

The Israelites had a history of following God and then turning away. When things were good for them, they forgot about God and turned away. Yet, when things got bad, they turned back to Him. So Joshua challenged them to either follow God, with all they have, or turn away completely. This so reminds me of myself! Don’t we all have a tendency to be just like the Israelites??

Once established in the Promised Land, the Israelites also were confronted with a multitude of choices. These choices were not always easy. They could worship the gods of Egypt, the gods that their parents had known. Or, they could worship the gods of the Amorites, the nation they had conquered. Joshua was not afraid to make the hard decision!

Choosing to serve the Lord is not always an easy decision. Sometimes it means going against the religious beliefs of your family. Other times peer pressure and the desire to “fit in” make us hesitant to declare openly our commitment to the Lord. Many people find it easiest to behave like a chameleon, changing colors to fit whatever group they happen to be with. But that only temporarily avoids making the hard decision.

Today, decide to take a stand. Whom will you serve? Will it be yourself? Will it be the gods of pleasure or wealth or ease? Or will you choose the God who loves you? Making a decision for Christ may be hard, but it’s a choice you will never regret. The easy choice is seldom the right choice.

Choice is a God given capacity that we must exercise constantly, continually every day. Every day we are confronted with choices of who and what we will serve.

Joshua 20 ; Proverbs 20

The six cities of refuge provided a place of safety for people who had unintentionally killed another person. In addition to providing the place itself, God also sets up a justice system, allowing for the accused to make himself heard and given an opportunity to be found innocent or guilty by elders of the city, while in their protection.

I can’t help but think about when my two toddlers boys get in a fight. The wronged son comes to me to make a full (loud, and often lengthy) report of the wrong done to him by his brother. At the same time, the accused brother is also coming to me, crying out in fear (with tears, also usually loudly) sharing his side of events and begging for mercy. These little boys look to me for comfort, mercy, safety and justice.

It is easy to relate to both children. It is horrible to feel wronged and hurt, it is even worse to be blamed for doing something wrong when you didn’t do it, or did – but didn’t mean to.

Spiritually speaking, the events in our lives that necessitate fleeing to a city of refuge are less obvious than the ones between my two and four year old. But whether I’m seeking refuge because I unintentionally hurt someone, because I am hurting from what was done/said to me, or just because my faith is struggling and the weight of that is overwhelming, I have a refuge.

“God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1

 

 

 

Today’s Reading: Joshua 19 and Proverbs 19

Today’s reading in Joshua is the final settlement of the 12 tribes of Israel. I must admit, when I first read through the scripture, I wondered how I could bring more meaning to His word for us today. What happens in Joshua 19 is primarily a description of the allotment of lands for the remaining tribes of Israel. It’s sort of like the book of Numbers, lots of lineage and description of boundaries but not much dialogue. At the very end though, there’s a lesson for us:

 ^“When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritance. The people of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun. By command of the Lord they gave him the city that he asked, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he rebuilt the city and settled in it.” Joshua 19:49-50

 Joshua waited until all his tribes were settled before asking for any type of provision for himself. He was content to serve his people before he was served. Imagine that. Imagine walking in Joshua’s shoes, leading the Israelites through the desert, across the Jordan, literally years of striving for a promised land without knowing how long it would take to get there. Then, finally when they do arrive, when they finally conquer and settle in to their territory, Joshua waits. He waits because he knows obedience to his Father requires him to first secure the eternal inheritance for his people. Like Jesus who came to dwell on earth not in splendor but in poverty. Joshua must put the welfare of his people above his own comfort and rest.

Today’s Proverb says this:

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
and a poor man is better than a liar.

The fear of the Lord leads to life,
and whoever has it rests satisfied;
he will not be visited by harm.

Proverbs 19:21-23

 Just as Joshua had plans for his personal inheritance so do we. We scheme and sometimes even manipulate in order to reach our goals. But what we know from these scriptures is that it is only God’s purpose that will prevail in our lives. What he wants from us is our service to others, our steadfast love and devotion to Him. Together, these scriptures have called me to reflect on what God truly has planned for me. What has God promised me? Am I in relationship with Him often enough that He can communicate His promises? Can I still my racing mind and quiet my heart in order to see the invitation to serve my tribe? Lord, help us serve our tribes this week. Help us to minister to our spouse or children, our small group, our colleagues and friends. May we settle in with you in the coming days. Amen.