THE LORD HAD PREPARED - Louis Gervais

THE LORD HAD PREPARED

Hello and greetings in the Name of the Son of Him Who Prepared a Great Fish, Jesus Christ!

The LORD had appointed Jonah to be a prophet. He was the son of Amittai and from Gath Hepher (2 Kings 14:25). In Jonah 1:2 , the LORD commanded him, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”

God called Jonah, His servant, telling him to go on a missionary journey of grace to a barbaric people, the Assyrians. Nineveh was their capital city. The Assyrians were known for their atrocities, idolatry and cruelty. Jonah, however, decided to run away. In Jonah 4:2b , he tries to excuse his former disobedience after seeing the people of Nineveh turn from their evil ways: “Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.” He had previously refused to warn the Ninevites of their coming judgment because he actually wanted them to die. To think that God purposefully chose such a man to be a missionary! Oh, but the Lord knows what He is doing: “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” –Romans 11:29

But Jonah would have none of it: he was off to sea in a northwesterly direction while Nineveh lay to the northeast. How many of us have been guilty of doing the same? God said, “Go,” and we went—but in the wrong direction! Jonah’s was not a mistake of misinterpreting God’s will; his was a willful disobedience to the uncomplicated word of the LORD. Not even ashamed to the point of silence; even before the storm Jonah went so far as to tell the sailors “that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD,” (Jonah 1:10b ). “God called me to the ministry? Oh no, that’s alright: I’ll become a doctor, a merchant or a soldier instead.” Or: “God’s calling me to be a small business owner? Think of the discomfort! On second thought I think I’ll make an excellent missionary.” Perhaps we say, “Alright, Lord: I’ll go. But not now.” Who do we think we are, anyway?

Thankfully for the Ninevites, God in His sovereignty decided not to let this man go the way of his own choosing undisturbed. Jonah 1:17 notes God’s foresight: “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah.” The fish was already prepared for its task. Jonah had a plan. God had a plan. The NIV says, “the LORD provided a great fish” while the NAS says that He “appointed” it. Even though Jonah was at first unfaithful to his appointment as prophet he was quite thankful that the fish was true to its appointment! If we ever run away from God—or from His mission for us—then we, like Jonah in chapter 2, can be very grateful if He stops us in our tracks. Oh sure, this may take the form of an injury or illness, or maybe our planned trip to Tarshish falls apart. We can thank God for mercifully discontinuing all such diversions.

Yes, after being thrown in the deep end and then miraculously rescued by the Almighty, Jonah could attest to God’s monopoly on divine deliverance with these words: “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.” –Jonah 2:8-9 . Amen.

After more than a year of mental and spiritual preparation made in great anticipation my friend and brother in Christ, Albert Potgieter, arrived at Glenvar Bible College this week. I’m experiencing partial deafness due to excessive earwax in my left ear. Lord willing I’ll saddle up and ride to the Free State this week to return to active duty. My grandmother, Mr. Van Niekerk and Mr. Kussman are as yet still in need of deliverance. May the Lord’s will alone be done in each of our lives this week. Amen.

–Louis Gervais

“When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto Thee, into Thine holy temple.” –Jonah 2:7

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