Tuesday, April 26, 2011
FROM VOMIT TO GLORY!
I remember a number of times when I was young that my parents had a firm hand in their discipline of me. I even remember being grounded to my room for two days. But even then I could come out for meals and bathroom breaks, and I still slept in my own bed!
Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Humility. That's what the LORD was teaching Jonah! We might say that Jonah was being "grounded" by the LORD for his disobedience to share God's Word with the city of Nineveh. His discipline wasn't a pleasant experience. But is any discipline pleasant? Deuteronomy 8:5 says, "You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you." Also in Hebrews 12:6 we're told, "For whom the LORD loves He chastens."
The LORD loved Jonah despite his disobedience, but needed to teach him some humility -- not only in sharing the Word of God, but in hearing it for himself. Why? The LORD loved the people of Nineveh too. They needed to hear about their sins and this promised Messiah who as Isaiah foretold "was wounded for our transgressions, ... was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (53:5). In fact, this Messiah, Jesus Christ, when He came, used this historical account of Jonah's time in the fish to predict His own death and time of resurrection!
As a result of the LORD's discipline, Jonah learned humility, for the moment, and prayed for the LORD's deliverance. Jonah 2:10: "So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land." From the vomit of the fish's mouth Jonah went to Nineveh to share the glorious message God had given. May the Lord deliver me also from the vomit of my own sin to go on to give Him glory in all I say and do!
Jesus lives! For me He died, Hence will I, to Jesus living,
Pure in heart and act abide, Praise to Him and glory giving.
Freely God doth aid dispense; This shall be my confidence.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 201:3 -- Sing it!)
