Jonah Didn't Jump

This morning I began reading the book of Jonah.  God commanded Jonah the prophet to go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it.  Jonah was loath to obey God's command and booked a cruise to Tarshish to escape the presence of God.  God was not ignorant of Jonah's schemes and caused the ship to be tossed by a fierce storm.  The pagan sailors did everything in their power to keep their ship afloat, cried out to their idols and even threw the tackle overboard.  The storm raged on while Jonah slept below the deck.

Jonah was roused by the desperate captain who urged him to call upon his God.  The men determined a man on board must be responsible for the storm, and by drawing straws Jonah was revealed to be the culprit.  He openly confessed he was trying to flee from the presence of God.  Jonah 1:11-12 says, "Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?"--for the sea was growing more tempestuous. ¹² And he said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me."  Jonah's words surprised me today, though quite familiar with the historical event.  In Jonah's shoes I imagine I would have said something like this:  "Sorry boys for the trouble I've put you through.  I've brought this mess upon you, and it falls to me to get you out.  I will jump into the sea, and may God have mercy on us all."

But Jonah didn't say that.  He told the men they needed to pick him up and throw him into the sea.  An act of faith in God was required for their salvation.  The prospect of throwing a man overboard whom God cared enough about to send a storm upon to correct his course was unacceptable to the men.  They tried rowing hard, but it was no use.  Maybe they could see the edge of the storm and they figured by a concerted effort they could escape it.  But it proved impossible.  Desperate to save themselves and their vessel, they cried out to the God of Jonah.  Jonah 1:14-15 reads, "Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, "We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man's life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You."¹⁵ So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging."  Falling upon the mercy of God in their distress, the sailors acknowledged God's power and threw Jonah overboard in faith and obedience.  The sea immediately was calm.

Had Jonah jumped overboard, the sea might have become calm.  But I daresay the results described in verse 16 would either not exist or be very different.  They might have glorified the bravery of the man to commit himself to the deep.  Jonah 1:16 says, "Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows."  These men feared God, convinced He was responsible for the storm and therefore was able to cause it to cease.  They offered sacrifices to God and made promises to Him, the Creator of heaven and earth, the One who made the sea and the dry land.  The conditions of their salvation and preservation were conditional, and the conditions set forth by Jonah required faith.  Even during his wanderings, God used Jonah to bring salvation to lost souls.  I love that Jonah didn't jump.  He knew the way of salvation and urged others to agree to God's conditions of faith.  We do well to decide we won't do for others what God bids them do for themselves.  Let's not remove steps of faith in God from those who seek God's help, for in seeing Him respond to obedience they will fear and worship Him.

The Real "Special"

Recently my family and I watched "The Lego Movie," a zany adventure about a normal construction worker named Emmet who fulfills a prophecy made up to help him believe he was "the special."  Dumbo had his "magic feather," and Emmet had the secret weapon glued to his back.  It is a witty, entertaining film which chronicles the path of an ordinary toy without original thoughts to be a "master builder" through self-belief.  I enjoy the movie.  But I also am aware that under the plastic interlocking bricks there are echoes of the old humanistic mantra:  if you will believe, anyone can become the hero.  You can do anything you want, if you will only believe.

Belief is a funny thing, because it is only as effective as what you place your faith in.  As a young teen my uncle truly believed he could fly like Superman, and was so convinced of his powers he leaped off a roof!  Needless to say, his descent was immediate and continuous until he hit the ground!  Emmet had always followed the Lego instructions, and was frankly lost without them.  He had little to no creativity, ability, or skill.  He was simply urged to "Believe."  Like Neo in the Matrix, when Emmet began to believe in himself he began to understand how to build.  His mind which was once vacuous was suddenly filled with information about Lego bricks.  Everywhere he looked building ideas jumped out at him.  Through his and all others who were brave enough to believe, their Lego world was saved.  Anyone can be special, if they believe they are.

The online Merriam-Webster definition of "special" is, "distinguished by some unusual quality; especially :  being in some way superior; 2) held in particular esteem; 3) readily distinguishable from others of the same category; 4)being other than the usual; 5) designed for a particular purpose or occasion."  From a Biblical perspective, God is special in many ways.  He is in all ways superior to men and is readily distinguished from what He has created.  Since God has created man in His own image, every person is special too - in different ways.  It is God who has made man special, unique and distinct from plants and animals.  God breathed within man a living soul, gave Him dominion over all creation, and designed man for the purpose of enjoying fellowship with God.  But instead of glorifying God for who He is and all He has made, the human tendency is to look to self - to abilities, talents, experiences, wealth, possessions, accomplishments, likes, and dislikes - to define ourselves.

Jesus said, "Without me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5)  Just like a branch apart the the vine cannot grow, flower, or produce fruit, we can accomplish nothing of eternal value without the power of God.  If I can do nothing without Christ, self-belief accomplishes nothing.  It is a false hope, a false belief which cannot help or save.  When desperate people sought Jesus to heal their sick children, Jesus instructed them to believe.  One boy suffered demonic attacks, and the girl was near death.  Who or what were the people supposed to believe in?  Themselves?  Why then did they come to Jesus for help?  Self-belief didn't hack it in the difficult time or impossible situations, and it is just as useless today.  Jesus told people to believe in Him.  He said in John 14:1, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."  When we place our belief and trust in God, a whole new world opens to us.  We begin to understand how special we are - not because of us, but because of the God who created us as His image bearers.

Emmet's mind went from being "prodigiously empty" to being filled with knowledge he suddenly had skill to use.  A similar thing happens when we choose to believe in Jesus Christ.  Our spiritual senses were like Emmet's, a great big void where nothing was happening.  Reading the Bible without belief or intent to obey is an empty exercise.  But when we respond to the Gospel in faith, reading the Bible becomes an incredible journey and experience in understanding more fully the God who has demonstrated His love for us.  God sends the Holy Spirit to indwell those who trust in Him and provide understanding of the Bible's meaning.  Words leap off the page and our hearts are filled with great joy through God speaking to us.  Self-belief is an empty promise which sends a soul spiraling to hell, but belief in God begins a new life, a fresh perspective, and a corrected view concerning God and our purpose in this world.  Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Condemning Yourself

Are there things other people do which you find troubling?  I am not speaking about something annoying or illegal, but actions, attitudes, tone, or behaviour you judge as wrong?  There are things we see easily in others they do not seem to notice.  All people have a tendency to size up others according to our own personal convictions or opinions.  There are few things easier than finding fault with others, seeing as there is no one who is faultless!

God is an amazing redeemer of lost sinners.  Repenting and trusting in Christ does not mean we are suddenly perfect in thought, word, or deed.  The trouble is, having our eyes opened to the truth of God's Word suddenly shines light into all areas of darkness in our lives.  This can lead to people saved by grace through faith condemning others for their faults, real or imagined.  It is good for Christians to remember we will each answer for ourselves before God.  We will have to account for verses like Romans 2:1:  "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."

This explains a wondrous principle which can aid us greatly in walking uprightly ourselves.  When our hackles are raised over the behaviour or attitudes of someone else, Paul revealed in condemning the other person we condemn ourselves.  The fact we are sensitised to their sin shows that I practice the exact same things myself.  If I become angry because of a "tone" taken with me, isn't it true I take that "tone" with others?  Paul was once a Pharisee of Pharisees, a self-righteous hypocrite whose life was bound up in obedience to the Law and following traditions of men.  It is no surprise then that Paul was highly sensitised to legalism and bondage from the Law.  That was his natural bent, but God had transformed him through the Gospel.

When I am irritated by someone else, it is a signal I need to change.  My perspective needs to be re-calibrated upon God and the grace He has given. me.  There is a place to judge righteously according to scripture, but that is God's judgment - not mine.  We have a duty and responsibility to hold others accountable to living righteously, but we also must be accountable to others in humility.  I love how God is able to redeem even the hypocrisy of our flesh to open our eyes to faults we did not recognise in ourselves.  Instead of condemning others, let us judge ourselves and live right before God.  Leverage negative impressions of others to search your own heart, not holding any grudge against others.  There is no condemnation for those who walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:1).

Lessons in Contentment

Contentment in all circumstances is possible through faith in Christ (Philippians 4:11).  To be content is to enjoy a state of peaceful happiness and satisfaction.  We are given the capacity for contentment through being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit.  Paul learned in all situations to be content, and therefore we too can and should embrace this learning as well.  Being content begins with knowledge of God's perfect character and confidence in His goodness towards us as His children.  We are to lay aside all fleshly ambition and any worldly sense of entitlement, and refuse to compare ourselves with others.  Recognising all we have is a gracious gift from God and thanking Him for all things is also key.

There are many instructive examples from the scriptures which provide insights into the pitfalls which keep us from contentment, and here are a few concerning the Israelites and their water supply - and for our purpose can represent the necessities of life.  The first which came to mind is from a text in Isaiah I preached from on Sunday at Calvary Chapel Sydney.  Isaiah 8:5-7 reads, "The LORD also spoke to me again, saying: ⁶ "Inasmuch as these people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow softly, and rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah's son; ⁷ now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River, strong and mighty-- the king of Assyria and all his glory; he will go up over all his channels and go over all his banks."  God had promised to protect His people, yet they wanted something more tangible.  Seeking aid, King Ahaz made a treaty with the Assyrians, a nation mighty and strong.  God used the water source of Jerusalem as symbolism by Isaiah.  God provided His people the gentle waters of Shiloah which filled a reservoir, sufficient for all their needs.  Nevertheless, they refused the gentle waters and sought to increase their might by harnessing the Euphrates.  They refused the God's provision and sought to enrich and protect themselves without faith in God, and this lead to devastating destruction - like when villages were inundated with floodwaters from the Euphrates when it overflowed their banks.

Another water illustration is seen in Jeremiah 2:12-13:  "Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate," says the LORD. ¹³ "For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisterns that can hold no water."  God was the source of life for His people.  He protected, provided for, and sustained His people, even as a natural spring supplies clean water for a village in a desert.  Though God did everything for His people, they wickedly forsook God and dug for themselves cisterns in the rock.  This was a significant downgrade.  Instead of drinking from the pure water supply God provided, they chipped away wells in the rock which had cracks.  All the muddy water which flowed into them would slowly drain dry and the people would be left empty.  Their spiritual dry season, having forsaken God, moved them to seek to slake their thirst through efforts of the flesh.

Exodus 15:22-24 tells of a highly significant event.  After God delivered the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt with a mighty hand the passage reads, "So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. ²³ Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. ²⁴ And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"  For three days the children of Israel were unable to find water.  When they did find water, they were devastated to find it bitter and undrinkable.  There was water enough, but none could drink it!  They despaired of their circumstances and complained against Moses.  Isn't it true when we find ourselves in bitter, difficult situations we naturally complain?  But God had a plan all along, to test His people and make sure promises to them.  He wanted the people to learn to trust His ability to redeem even seemingly hopeless situations into life-sustaining good.

Exodus 15:25-27 says, "So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, ²⁶ and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." ²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters."  God took bitter, undrinkable water and supernaturally made it sweet so His people, their wives and little ones, flocks and herds could drink and be satisfied.  Even as He healed the waters, He desired to heal His people.  Their pain, griefs, and sorrows He would wash away as their pure source of life.  Marah led to Elim, and there the people found shade, comfort, and rest for their weary feet and souls.

We find contentment when we choose the gentle streams of Shiloah God graciously provides. Seeking larger income streams or help apart from faith in God leads to grave trouble.  Contentment is not found in efforts of the flesh, digging out cisterns from the rock when God has already provided living streams of water.  Even the most bitter disappointments of life can be made sweet and refreshing when we cry out to God and obey Him, choosing to trust and heed God's commands.  When Jesus was confronted by a man who demanded His help to secure part of an inheritance, Jesus refused.  Luke 12:15 reads, "And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."  If we covet or compare our lives with others it is impossible for us to be content.  But those who trust God will supply all our needs and even make bitter circumstances sweet in the end, the same discover lasting contentment through Him.