August 17, 2018 – Jonah 3:1-2

Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” Jonah 3:1-2.

“How many times have I told you?” Exasperation flowed from the Mother’s body language, as she repeated the direction.  Our Lord God has work for us only we can do.  God chose Jonah to travel to Ninevah and preach repentance.  Jonah decided to ignore God.

He fled in a boat, and when the boat was caught in a storm, Jonah knew he couldn’t hide from God.  Verse 1:17 of Jonah – Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.  God often gives us a new perspective on life.  After Jonah repented and prayed. As my life was slipping away — these are his words — I remembered the Lord.  And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.  Chapter Two ends with this verse – Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.

Jonah exemplifies our reluctance to obey and follow the Lord.  When life is too difficult, we want to jump on a ship and sail into the sunset, and often find ourselves in the middle of life’s storms.  Yet God never gives up on us. Why?  God is Love and gives us Hope.   Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  I Corinthians 13:7.