*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*WHERE ARE YOU?*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Jonah 1:3 *But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Psalm 139:7 *Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?*
To flee from God's presence is to flee into danger.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
Jonah was instructed by God to go to Nineveh but he chose to go to Tarshish.
God knew where Adam was but still asked where he was. Unlike Adam, God did not ask Jonah where he was but He knew where he was just as he knew where Adam was.
God's direct judgment on Jonah tells us nine things.
First whosoever flees from God's presence flees into danger, Jonah 1: 1-3
Second, no one can hide from God's reach, Jonah 1:4, Ps 139: 4-12
The worst position any human being could find himself is when God is against him. A person's life cannot be more miserable than this.
Third, when the unthinkable or the unexpected happens to us, we must look back to see where we have missed it and remember God. In the midst of his travail,
Jonah remembered the Lord, Jonah 3:1.
Fourth, in the midst of God's judgment, there can still be the hope for the broken heart. A fear of being banished from God, will help us in our repentance 2:4, Ps 51:11-12.
Fifth, there are situations in our lives that though we may think we are as good as dead, we need to be assured that we are still alive to cry unto God, Jonah 2:6.
Sixth, believers must never give up hope in seemingly impossible situations.
We must cry out to God for mercy and help and put our lives in His hands, Rom 4:18.
Seventh, people may be committed to "success" of the church, yet not committed to God's will and holy standards, Jonah 4:1-3
Eighth, the richness of God's mercy is further made known. Besides showing the people of Nineveh mercy, God showed mercy to *".....also much cattle...*, Jonah 4:11.
Nineth, Jesus endorsed Jonah's encounter in the belly of the fish as a historical truth, Jonah 1:17, Matt 12:40. To disbelieve the book of Jonah, is to say there is no Bible, no God, no Christ and no Holy Spirit.
Though people may not know where you are, remember, there is no place a person can be that is outside God's reach!
There are many people whom God knows where they are yet He is not reaching out to them. If however He needs you, He will catch up with you.
May He need you for His use
Where are you?
*Remorse corner.*
Where are you? You cannot run or hide from God.
*Call to Word action.*
Jonah 2:1, 10 *Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly,*
*And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Avoid Jonah's "unique chamber inside the belly of the fish". Choose rather to be in the secret place of the Most High.
*Prayer.*
Lord here l am, send me, in Jesus name.
Good morning all and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.