Hello Timothy and Jill and Everyone
Wow Timothy, what a awesome day of digging in the blessed Word I have had because of your question posed here. Thank you
Here are some treasure I found while digging:
Jonah's name means "dove"
His father, Amittai, his name means "true"
It is also speculated that Jonah may have been the child that Elijah brought back to life in I Kings chapter 17. ???
Jonah was from Gath Hepher which is about 500 miles from Nineveh. Nineveh was northeast of Gath Hepher, and in the land of the Assyrians, where paganism was widely practiced. When Jonah fled from God, he went southwest -- talk about an about face...whoa!!!
Jonah is the only minor prophet that Jesus ever referenced in the New Testament.
Oh, and the word "gourd" means "vine" -- kinda cool. That was quite surprising to me, but I'm not sure why?
During my digging today, I read some commentaries, and most lined up with what Jill shared, and what I was thinking too. Often, we can believe that it is not worth our time and effort to be inconvenienced for what we deem "a lost cause". God is the Judge, not us.
Also, verse 9 of Jonah chapter 4 reminded me of the conversation that God had with Cain in
Genesis 4:5-7 But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. (6) And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? (7) If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
It seems we really have to watch for what makes our countenance fall. Even pity can cause us to fall, if we let it go to a place that separates us from God and His will. This heart of ours can mess us up at times, because of this flesh.
Throughout history, God used other peoples and countries to make His chosen people jealous. It is not uncommon for Him to use what man deems as enemies to bring about a change of heart of His chosen ones. He'll also use great conflict and trials and tribulations for His cause. Chapter 2 of Jonah reflects that Jonah finally had a change of heart while in the whale's belly.
Jonah 2:7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto Thee, into Thine holy temple.
There is nothing like being humbled by The Lord.
But, as soon as the people of Nineveh repented, Jonah got all disturbed again. Pride, maybe?
Man's eye can be so fickle. We are often moved to pity and mercy via the eye -- by what we see -- even at times when the Lord says not to. Also, we are often moved to judge others by what we see them do, which can have us shutdown and not hear what God would have us do.
Genesis 45:20 Regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.
The example of Jonah's mourning over the gourd, an instrument that God used to comfort Jonah: mankind loves its creature comforts. I can think of many things I've mourned over having lost, or things I've held onto that I don't really use, with the thought "well maybe one day...", instead of giving it to someone else who could have used it right then. When we mourn over losses, our perspective changes, delaying further insight. God will restore us, if we'll repent and turn to Him.
II Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Entitlement is the way of the world. Blessings are from The Lord.
God corrects those He loves.
I Corinthians 2:26-31
26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Thank You Lord.
God bless and keep you.
Love,
Mack
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 4:52 pm
vahn you make me laugh.