29th October 2022

God's Plan

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah.

Jonah 1:1

During the awful, bloody days of World War I, a British soldier who became so distraught with the war, the suffering and the death that he deserted. He tried to find his way to the coast so he could catch a boat and make his way back secretly to England.

In the darkness of the night, he lost his way. After a while, he stumbled upon a road sign. It was pitch black and he was lost. He had no idea where he was or what the sign said. He decided to climb the pole to see if he could read the sign. When he got to the crossbeam, he held on to read the sign. Taking out a match, he lit it, and looked directly in the face of Jesus Christ. He had climbed an outdoor crucifix!

Stunned by what he saw, he realized the shame of his life. He was looking into the face of the One who had endured it all and had never turned back. The next morning, the soldier was back in the trenches.

God has an amazing way of getting our attention! This is one of the lessons taught here in the book of Jonah. God called the prophet to a task he did not want to do, and he ran from the Lord. But, God persevered and sent Jonah into a prison experience to get his attention and gain his cooperation.

This prison was not constructed of brick, mortar and metal bars. It was a prison built of flash and blood, with bars of ivory (Jonah 1:17). Yet, it was in this strange prison that Jonah was convinced that God’s plan was the right plan.

Has God been calling you to do something for His glory? If He has spoken to your heart, or if you would just like to recommit to a life of service to Him. In prayer, why not do it today?

Today, life in a protective bubble might sound good. But how strong would our faith be if we could not discover for ourselves His reassuring “be still” when the winds of life blow.

Read

Jonah 1:1-17.

Prayer

My Father and my God, I lift Your mighty name in praise, and I thank You that Your plans for me are always the right plans. In Jesus name. Amen.