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The Warning Of Impeding Judgment
05/13/2016

Daily Devotions: by Christina Farris

Jonah 1:1-17 KJV
(1) Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
(2) Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
(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.
(4) But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
(5) Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
(6) So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
(7) And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
(8) Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
(9) And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
(10) Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
(11) Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
(12) And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
(13) Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
(14) Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
(15) So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
(16) Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
(17) 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.

God’s will and God’s judgment does not seem like it should go hand in hand but it does. If I were to fly or ride a bus, I hope it was not the drivers time to go or someone on the bus time of being judged by God. Jonah rebellion effected other people. One would hope one’s rebellion would never effect someone else, but it always does. Adam and Eve own rebellion effected their offspring. Jonah rebellion effected a ship at sea. What is interesting to note is the captain and the crew knew this was not a normal storm it was an act of God. Apparently a difference between the storm of God and nature’s fury. One would not want to be running from God after asked to go preach judgment to a city.

No one thinks about what Jonah was asked to preach, until one realize for a moment Jonah had a rebellious nature of his own against God. He had a problem in his life that need taking care of by God. God had to show Jonah who was in control. Jonah rebellion against God caused the wrath of God to come on Jonah and without Jonah repentance the salvation of being swallowed by a fish might of cost him in life as a fish worm, instead of being vomited up on shore as a stomach ache to a fish.

When God ask one to preach judgment be sure that your own life is in order, because the message is to you as much as it is to the metaphoric town of Nineveh. Jonah goes to Nineveh after rebelling and warns them of judgment if they did not repent. I can only imagine what preaching that sermon must have been like for Jonah rebellious heart, was it healing or salt, especially when the city repented instead of rebelling like he did.

God used Jonah rebellion to cause the ship crew to worship him. Yet Jonah rebellion caused him to repent with a storm, but did not stop him from being jealous when the city of Nineveh repented. Jonah would have the attitude of he wanted to smack someone for their repented attitude. He was jealous of them turning to God with the announcement of judgment. Some people only need a warning, other people need a storm. Jonah needed a storm, and Nineveh needed a preacher.

God’s timing in events in our life and around the world may seem like a hodge podge of just current events in one’s daily life. Yet there is a lesson to learn about history, and a lesson to learn spiritual as God speaks to your heart. A storm in your life might reflect some type of judgment or it could be something God wants to go through to help those around you. What ever the case make sure you are on God’s side and not the devils. Whatever you do make sure the wrath of God is not on you or the person you sit beside on a bus.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for God’s grace and his judgment. Thank you the waking up of your turth of judgment and mercy. In Jesus precious name, Amen.