If you recall, Jonah was a man a long ways back in time who ran away from God because he didn’t want to do what was asked of him. Jonah ran to a ship yard and hopped on a boat going across the Mediterranean Sea, hoping to get away from his duty. God tossed around the boat through the means of a violent storm. The sailors all looked to Jonah because he had told them he was running away from God. They asked him what they should do to stop the ship from breaking apart in the waves. Jonah answered, “Throw me overboard because I know I am the cause of this.” The sailors tried sailing onward despite what Jonah said. The waves only got higher!! Finally, the sailors got so frightened of God that they threw Jonah overboard and the storm immediately calmed. God sent a giant fish up from the depths of the sea to swallow Jonah up Jonah found himself inside of the giant fish for three days! All the while that Jonah was in the fish, he repented to God. Crying out to Him and thanking Him for saving him. God commanded the fish to vomit Jonah on the shores of Nineveh – the very place God told him to go in the first place.
I was never swallowed by a whale, but I have had similar occurrences in my life. Namely, I was sort of, kind of, quite possibly running from God and what He wanted me to do. I’ve had storms in my life that caused me to turn back to Him, but always, I would turn away again. One time, when I was away from God, I found myself unconscious for four days.
I wouldn’t run away for a specific reason but I do believe I have figured out what God has called me to do, and what I was subconsciously running from. I believe that there are a lot of people, especially Christians, that look at and view the Bible in the wrong light. They pick and choose things to believe while throwing out or ignoring the rest. I believe people in Christian leadership positions even change the Word of God to suit what they are saying!! This isn’t how the Word of God should be used. This is something that has always weighed heavy on my heart.
The connection to Jonah I am trying to make is this – when I am walking without God, I let those things that go against God’s word slide past me, and storms plague my life. Small and great storms. When I am walking with God, I feel content and, even though storms come, I weather them and my contentment remains. That is why my name is Jonah.
I feel that my calling from God is to speak out against the actions or interpretations that go against what God says. I am not trying to say that I am a prophet or anything like that, just that I feel that this is my purpose. I am finally aware of this after my last go-round on the seemingly endless cycle I have had walking with God – I have walked in circles around this my entire walk, if you will believe it.
I am writing this blog for any and all that care to read it. It will keep my calling in focus, as I will periodically write more as things come to me. Some of what I will say will offend people. Do you know why Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh? He was afraid. I am not afraid. I will say what is on my heart in this blog. If it offends you, please comment with your reasons why. Also, I am not going to claim that what I do say comes from God, but I will tell you to test my words against the Word of God and see if what I say fits with it. I am willing to bet that if you are offended, you are offended because of your view on God – which is developed by what you are taught about Him throughout your life. I am going to challenge those teachings. I do not intend to offend anyone, but I am sure it will happen. No one who spoke the Word of God to people was warmly received. Take Jesus’ words as an example of it –
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (Matthew 10:34-35 NIV)
While Jesus came to make peace between the believer and God, and even between man and man, He did not come to make peace on earth. Look at what His words caused – the religious leaders pushing for Him to be crucified. While this was His plan, His words were not well received. Only His sacrifice could have saved us, if we believe and adhere to and abide in Christ.
Do not misunderstand me, please. I am only arguing the fact that God’s Word has been dulled to the point of believers not even recognizing it! God is good, He is very good, and I will never say differently. But! He is also just and this is what some leave out and what some don’t understand. If anyone who reads this has questions or concerns, send me a message or email or post a comment – I will provide an answer as soon as I am able to. This goes for anything in the Bible that is unclear to you.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)
__________UPDATE 4/12/12__________
I know I said in this blog post that I thought God’s will for my life was to correct mistranslations and the like, but I’m not so sure anymore. It became defending the hope that is in me, and then trying to help atheists to see God…and now I’m back to the unsure part. For instance, what place is it of mine to think I know what is right? I do not want to give the impression that I know more than anyone else about the word of God. I may be wrong in the truths I perceive from it.
You see, this walk is one that is still in progress. This story still applies, however. I feel God’s call and I feel right when I seek that calling. It may not be what this post originally says, but I will continue to seek until I find. Maybe it is just to worship God and His glory. I will keep you posted as things change.
eliezer40 