Spiritual Matter

As a Christian you might have heard or come across the story of Jonah who was sent by God to deliver his message to the people of Nineveh. Although the order was from God this man was not willing to go. He boarded a ship to Tarshis a different city and sailed there. But somewhere along the journey God stirred up the waters and the ship was almost sinking. The men who were with him were afraid of heir lives so they cast most of the ladens in  the waters to make light the boat but the more they did it the more the waters  became subtle. So they cast lots after waking him up because he was taking a rest in the inner coach on a mattress, ignorant of what was going on. He explained to them that he was fleeing from God and that he was the source of the problem. He even requested them to cast him in the waters but they failed to in fear of a condemnation. The lots fell on him again and after all the possible solutions failed they washed their hand s and cast him in the sea. To their surprise the waters calmed and they journeyed safely worshiping the living God.

 A big fish had been prepared by God to swallow Jonah and take him to the dry land and so it did. It was until this time when Jonah remembered to call on God, but now see the prayer he made. I am sure this is not a grammatical error it is a spiritual factor. He said

“And Jonah Cried un to the lord saying ' I called un t o the lord in my distress, in the belly of shoel and he answered me........'"

See now Jonah is praying un to God in a way its like he was reading from a book. Now he talked about several things describing the belly of shoel and how God took him out of it. Now this is an explanation of what Christ was seeing in the tomb for the three days. This is the reason why Jesus told those men who wanted a miracle that there was none greater than that of Jonah, who was in a belly of fish for three days.

After preaching to the ninevians Jonah was not even ready to see them change. He wanted them to be destroyed by God and so God did something else to teach Jonah how much he loved the people whom he had create and worked for.

In that night after the lord turned back from his anger against the repentant ninevians Jonah sat under a tree away from the city and desired to die. But God brought about different situations to act as a lesson to this man in that period.

Jonah had gone to the east of the city and made a shelter for him to see what would become of the city. Then God did it as Jonah feared: He turned from his wrath. Jonah became displeased by this and said to God: “This is the very thing that made me flee to tarshis. The lord then made a sign for him. On the shelter he had made Jonah he caused a plant to grow in the night and it gave Jonah a shade that made him happy. On the next day he made the plant to wither and caused the sun to strike on Jonahs head. Jonah became angrier of the worm that had tampered with his peace. In this mood God spoke to him about his anxiety for the plant he had not toiled for then he said to him that those he had worked for were worthier than those he had not toiled for.

God values people so much that he can not destroy them easily. We have heard prophecies that the wrath of God has increased to an extend that he wants to kill every one in a certain town if the inhabitants do not repent, but that is not how God is! Christ paid the debt for our sins and that is the reason why sinners can’t just be destroyed. It is only until the planned Day of Judgment comes when Christ will Judge all according to their deeds. Even if sinners continue in sin, God will not change his mind. He is such a faithful God to keep his word. His grace is sufficient, His steadfast love endures forever and his mercies are new every morning.