ADVENTURES
OF A PROPHET
PART II
“How much more then should I have pity on
Nineveh that great city.” (Jonah 4 :11)
For part I click here
When some teachers of the Law and Pharisees
demanded Him to perform a miracle, Lord Jesus, though supreme and sovereign
over every creation, compared Himself to Jonah and predicted that on judgment
day, the people of Nineveh would stand up and accuse the above people, as even
they (people of Nineveh) had turned away from their sins when Jonah had
preached God’s message and that there was something here greater (Son of God) than Jonah! (Matthew 12:39-42)
In ancient ages, God the Father would wipe out
His people if they disobeyed Him.
He called out His chosen faithful servants,
assuring and comforting them, and send them out with His warning message to the
wicked people before devastation.
In the Book of Genesis (Chapter 19) mentions a
place named Sodom, where Lot, the nephew of Abraham lived. A wretched city, not
only filled with sexual violence but it was filled with pride and stubborn
people. As described in the Book of Ezekiel (Chapter 16), they were overfed,
unconcerned about the poor and the underprivileged; they did only what God
hated and despised.
Finally, God’s patience was put off and He sent
two angels to save Lot and his family, who the only righteous in the sight of
God, before destroying the city.
Before the destruction, the angels warned Lot
and his family, “Run for your lives,
don’t look back and don’t stop in the valley.”
But as the Lord rained burning sulphur on the
cities, Lot’s wife looked back; she was turned into a pillar of salt.
As years advanced, the character of God becomes
slow to punish since His people began to repent and return to Him.
There were prophets who argued and questioned
God when He changed His mind while others some who pleaded to God not to punish
the people in His fury.
The Sovereign God who brings success to His prosperous
plans does not desire to hurt or harm His creation.
We are nobody to question God’s plan or even
point out it in casual talks regarding the creation of God.
For example : Why did God allow Eve and Adam to
sin and put them out of Eden? Why do we
still suffer for it? Why should I suffer
for my ancestor’s sins? Why are there hereditary
disorders? Can’t God abolish all this?
When hardships and brokenness occur, instead of
committing sin against God by asking questions and making your situation worse;
listen to His voice through your struggles.
Because He is slow to anger He waits
patiently. God knows that death is the supreme
punishment that He can give us. God
visualizes our future with bigger eyes, whereas our heart and dreams are very
narrow and short sighted.
If you try to run away from your
responsibilities which God gave you as a covenant, you ignore it and turn away
filing excuses like Jonah you may also experience the life Jonah had. Can you imagine three days and nights of life
in a whale’s stomach? What did he get to
eat and drink? How did he sail through life
those days? God made Jonah confess in
His way by taking him to the depth of the grave, again to the very heart of the
sea where waves and breakers swept over him, sea weeds were wrapped round his
head, etc.
You may also be sailing your present journey in
such situation. If you are in distress without hesitation call to
the Lord with a repentant heart. You may
feel that your life is ebbing away and lamenting that I am better off dead than
alive.
If you
give your ears to God’s voice you will come to your right senses – that God has
a right plan at the right time and the right time is your repentant time, not
the time when you question or argue or challenge God.
Don’t take the Lord your Sovereign God casually
instead give Him duly the honor and reverence that we ought to owe Him.
When you disobey God, disaster awaits you; be attentive
then you will be able to hear God’s voice. If you are listening, stay assured,
God will interfere.
When God commands, bow your head in submission
and obey at the earliest before the devil twists God’s words and begins adding
poison in us.
Our mere negligence can bring great miseries—it
may be sudden or in the near future and alas you may not be given an opportunity
to correct your wrongdoings.
The Holy Bible says, “Always obey the Lord, and
you will be happy. If you are stubborn,
you will be ruined.” (Prov. 28:14)
With love filled blessings
Your Sister in Christ