REMEMBER JONAH

The Word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.  (Jonah 1:1,2)

Jonah was a Prophet of God who had proven himself over many years by serving God admirably.  However, when given the assignment by God to go and preach to the people of Nineveh, Jonah decided to run from this assignment.  They were evil people and Jonah did not want to have anything to do with them.    Accordingly, he ran away to a seaport called Joppa and got on a ship to go to Tarshish.   

The problem of course, is that you cannot hide from God.  He is omniscient and omnipresent.  In other words God knows everything and is present everywhere.  Most of you know the story, God created a great storm and the ship was in peril.  Jonah realized that in order for anybody to be saved, he would have to confront the situation and allow himself to be thrown into the sea.  The Lord had prearranged that a great fish would swallow Jonah.  Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

In the fish, Jonah prayed and repented and was delivered on dry land.  He then carried out his assignment and the people of Nineveh turned from their wicked ways.

When we are given assignments by God, remember Jonah.  Even if we have been good servants in the past, each new assignment is a mandate to do our best to carry new assignments out.  Some assignments may be unpleasant, but God is faithful to help us see it through.  When we find ourselves facing major problems, they may just be wake up calls that God is calling us to higher service.  Remember Jonah.  It was only when he was in the belly of a fish did he realize the importance of obeying God's call.  You cannot run from God and not be caught.   

Do you feel like you may be in the belly of a fish?  If so, REMEMBER JONAH and do as Jonah did: PRAY, REPENT, AND GET TO THE WORK THAT GOD HAS FOR YOU!