*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*HISTORY IS A PATIENT JUDGE.*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Jonah 1:15,17 *So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.*
*Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Matthew 12:40 *For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.*
*Scripture Commentaries.*
History is a patient judge.
What is happening today in history tells us that though people may not believe Jonah was in the great fish belly, Jesus's word that as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days so He will be in the grave to rise up the third day is proved to be true today.
By His death and resurrection, salvation came to all mankind. Today, Christ's resurrection is celebrated at Easter and a best explanation to douse any unbelief is that, to refuse to believe Jonah was in the belly for three days is tantamount to saying the Bible is not true, there is no God, no Christ, no Holy Spirit.
Jonah, a prophet disobeyed God by going opposite direction to Nineveh where God had sent him. He was thrown into the sea but God prepared a great fish that swallowed him.
By God's miracle to save Jonah, he was in the belly of the great fish for 3 days.
Some have rejected this, saying its fiction.
The incident of Jonah in the belly of the fish illustrates Jesus's own death, burial and resurrection, Matt 12:39-41.
In other words Jesus put Jonah's experience with the great fish in the same category as His death and resurrection.
Jesus accepted it as a miracle of God occurring according to His purpose in redemptive history.
For all believers, Jesus's assertion should settle the question of its authenticity.
Jonah repented from his unique chamber in the belly of the fish, God heard him.
In a citywide spiritual awakening ever witnessed in all history, the king, the people, animal all were in ashes and sackcloth, Jonah 3.
History became a great judge proving a two-fold present in Jesus but in a reversed order.
First, Jonah was first delivered from death after three days in the fish belly followed immediately by Nineveh's repentance.
Second, Jesus' God's anointed preaching was followed by His deliverance from death after three days and nights, Luke 11: 29-32.
For their exemplary move to repentance, Jesus endorsed the people of Nineveh and they became most qualified to stand up at the judgment to condemn nations at the end of age, Matt 12:41.
The elders have a saying that "falsehood may gain ground for a considerable time but it will take one day for the truth to take ground and take its place.
If people do not believe your truth today, history is patient to judge.
God's truth will always prevail. You do not need to be afraid of your accusers.
Truth prevails in history and today.
One day it will be read, you said the truth and it came to pass.
*Remorse corner.*
Though people may regard Jonah's encounter as fictional but Jesus regarded the book as historically reliable.
*Call to Word action.*
Rom 3:4 *Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is writ∣ten, that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
The book today reflects on God's word
God's love for humankind extends beyond His own people to lost people everywhere, even His love for *"....also much cattle?* Jonah 4:11.
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me to stand on God's true word. Sanctify me by the truth: Your word is truth, in Jesus name.
Good morning all and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.