The Beautiful Word of God: Not a Wasted Word
When I first began reading and studying the Bible, I started highlighting verses that seemed important to me, verses that told a story and had meaning. Looking back through my Bible, very few words are not highlighted. At that moment, there isn't a single wasted word or phrase in the entire biblical canon. As a writer, that fact is amazing to me.
I have also learned that each story in the Old Testament doesn't have just one lesson to teach; they have layers of wisdom packed in them. An excellent illustration of this is the book of Jonah. If you have not read it, pause here, and take the time to read it. It's a short book that takes little time to read. Below I listed a few of the lessons and story references that highlight the loving character of our Lord and Savior.
- · You can run from God, but there is nowhere to hide. God is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent,
o Jonah ran in the opposite direction of Nineveh, boarded the boat, and went beneath the boat's surface.
- · God will continuously pursue us, doing whatever is required to get our attention for his good, glory, purpose, and the salvation of our souls.
o God caused the stormy weather, sent the whale that swallowed Jonah, and sustained his life while in the whale's belly; then God caused the whale to vomit Jonah up on the shore.
- · God will patiently wait on us to repent and turn from our sins.
o First, Jonah refused to go to Nineveh and tried to hide; once there, he failed to share the news of salvation, and finally, he sat back, waiting and watching to witness the destruction of the Ninevites because he felt they did not deserve God's grace.
- · God is patient as he molds us into his likeness.
o Once Jonah obeyed, he did so half-heartedly by not sharing the news of salvation and persistent in wanting Nineveh to be destroyed. But God continued to try and teach Jonah to allow him to repent.
- · God graciously shows us our sinful nature and offers us opportunities to turn away from sin.
o God demonstrated Jonah's selfish behavior and attitude using a plant and a worm.
- · Those who do not God often demonstrate more honor, respect, and fear toward him than his chosen children, the Jewish people.
o The pagan people on the boat feared God, and what he might do to them for throwing Jonah overboard, so they repented and made an offering.
- · Our emotions can cause us to lose sight of our God-given purpose, causing us to become selfish.
o Jonah felt the people of Nineveh did not deserve to receive God's forgiveness.
- · God does not wish that any of His creations be destroyed.
o God pointed out that many people, including animals, would be destroyed.
- · God will forgive ALL sins of ALL those who repent and turn from them, no matter how grievous the sin may be.
o God forgave the people of Nineveh when they repented and turned from their sins, and God forgave Jonah.
- · We can cause others to stumble by not sharing the news of salvation with them.
o Jonah prophesied the coming judgment on the people but never told them that salvation was possible.
The book of Jonah is a short story packed full of knowledge and wisdom that communicates God's great character and the abundant love, mercy, patience, and grace he has for all his children and creation.
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