When Impotence Meets Omnipotence
Jonah fled the Lord, and of course failed. He met a massive storm and was swallowed by a great fish.
Jonah got life wrong. He rejected God's call upon him, and disliked Nineveh more than he loved his own life.
Three unforgettable days as history's first submariner left him as refuse from a fish's belly on a Mediterranean beach. Yet it also delivered him into light again.
Now on dry land and with a responsive heart, Jonah chose obedience (see Jonah 2). Jonah knew Nineveh was to be his goal because it was God's goal.
Total impotence in life's storms had led Jonah now to total obedience when life was calm.
It is in life's storms that impotence meets omnipotence.
God's compassion had held onto this rebel, repaired their relationship and then released Jonah to his call again.
The sinner, the sinker and even the spewed had finally become the speaker.
NOTE TO SELF: God will always act out of love even when He acts out of judgement.
Jonah preached with an exceptional success to Nineveh. He received an ancient acclamation still unrivalled today - all were converted from sin. The king left his throne and all the city followed.
When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. (Jonah 3:6)
The king was much smarter than Jonah. He knew that when God called, it was time to get off his throne.
Jonah had to be first pushed off his throne into a boiling Mediterranean with a stormy shove. Jonah had to be thrown down from his throne before he would get down. The King of Nineveh only had to hear the truth!
God always has a higher and better purpose for me than I do! I find it when I too would leave my throne!
Today's Soul Snippet:
'Sin stamps the devil's image upon a man'. ~ Thomas Watson
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