(May 11, 2020) Jonah 3:5 “The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.” If Jonah were one of our missionaries and he were to walk into our sanctuary this Sunday, can you imagine the report? We would ask, “Jonah, how’s it going?” And [...]
(May 8, 2020) Today’s reflection courtesy Rev Mike Fleenor, FPC’s Congregational Care Assistant: “I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.” Psalm 89:1-2 Psalm 89 [...]
(May 7, 2020) Jonah 4:9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?” And he said, “Yes, angry enough to die.” Jonah, who had been forgiven so very much – who had intentionally been so disobedient – is now mad at God for showing the same mercy that [...]
(May 6, 2020) Jonah 4:1 “But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry.” Let’s set the record straight: Once upon a time, the prophet Jonah was called by God. He disobeyed. He was swallowed by a fish. He almost died. God was gracious. Jonah lived. He preached. The people repent. Jonah is angry. He wanted [...]
(May 5, 2020) Jonah 3:8a “But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth.” One thing about Jonah’s story is extremely unusual, the fish notwithstanding: Jonah preaches on his first day (3:4), and it seems immediately everyone believes. Amazingly, everyone responds exactly how a prophet would hope they would respond, but never do. The King [...]
(May 4, 2020) Jonah 1:2; 3:2 “Arise, go to the great city of Nineveh and preach…” Seven Hebrew words are repeated twice verbatim; they are translated: “Arise, go to the great city of Nineveh and preach.” And consider how they are prefaced: Chapter 1:2: “The word of the Lord came to Jonah.” Chapter 3:2 “The [...]
(May 1, 2020) Jonah 1:17 “And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” – There is one question that someone eventually asks about Jonah: “Did it happen?” That is, was Jonah literally swallowed by a fish, or is [...]
(April 30, 2020) Jonah 2:10 “And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” We often have the tendency to sanitize the scriptures, or to take and lift out the verses that we like or make them say what we would like them to say. But here we come to one [...]
(April 29, 2020) Jonah 2:2 “In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and You listened to my cry.” Do you ever feel like you have to present a constant face to others – regardless of what you are actually feeling [...]
(April 28, 2020) See Jonah 2 “…from the depths of Sheol (the grave) I called for help…”– The Hebrew mindset of the creation narrative in Genesis goes something like this: Imagine everything is dark and lifeless and watery chaos is everywhere. Then, bit by bit, God pushes it all aside in order to make a [...]
