Manna for Your Morning

The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish. — Jonah 1:1-3 (NLT) Jonah decided to go in the opposite direction from where the LORD called him. We can run, but we can never hide from Yahweh. The LORD hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. (See Jonah 1:4) After the sailors threw Jonah overboard, the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he prayed to the LORD from inside the fish. (See Jonah 1:17 & 2:1) Yahweh heard his prayer and the LORD ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.  Jonah 3:3 says: This time Jonah o...

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach the message that I tell you.” — Jonah 3:1-2 (CSB) The first time the word of the LORD came to Jonah, he attempted to flee to Tarshish, away from the LORD’s presence. However, there is no place we can go, to escape His Presence. (see Psalm 139:7-12) Sometimes, we may blow it, and go in the opposite direction from what God instructed us to do. But praise God, He gives us another chance to get it right. When Jonah delivered God’s message, the people of Nineveh believed God and He relented from the disaster He had threatened them with (Jonah 3:5, 10). As a result of Jonah's obedience, more than 120,000 people were saved (Jonah 4:11). What a revival! We never know how many people’s lives will be affected by our obedience. Let us heed the Word of the LORD, and give it top priority in our lives.