Is Your Other Name Jonah? Following or Running Away?

IS YOUR Other NAME JONAH? October 20, 2014 What a strange title! In days of old, and some even today name their children with names that have meaning. Jonah’s name means “dove.” A dove is known for its’ gentle ways and beautiful pure white coloring, which stands for purity, and is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. Maybe that was God the Father’s purpose in sending a dove to alight on Jesus at His baptism. We haven’t been told all the details of Jonah’s life, but we find he was commissioned by God in the early eighth century B.C. to warn the populace of Nineveh of coming judgment. He is considered a minor prophet. But not living up to his name he rebelled and tried to run from the presence of God. How foolish to think he, or anyone, can get away from God’s presence. If he had just read Psalm 139, he would have known he couldn’t run away from God. God saw him (and us) even when we were being formed in our mother’s womb, and His presence remains with us all the days of our lives. Even after death God sees us in our “grave,” whether in the ground, in tombs in caves, or the ocean depths. Whether alive or dead God sees us, and rejoices if we have chosen to become His children; or grieves if we have rejected Him. At this point in Jonah’s life, he had rejected God’s call and tries to “run from the presence of God,” which was impossible. Even in the belly of the fish the Spirit of God was with Jonah, convicting him of his rebellious ways. He remained in the belly of the big fish God had prepared to swallow him, but God was there. After three days Jonah repented and prayed to the Lord from the fish’s belly. He said in Jonah 2:2, “I cried out of my distress to the Lord, and He heard me; out of the belly of Sheol (the place of the dead) I cried, and You heard my voice.” Verse six, “I went down to the bottoms and the very roots of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever. Yet You have brought up my life from the pit and corruption, O Lord my God.” (Verse 7) – “When my soul fainted upon me (crushing me), I earnestly and seriously remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to You.” Is your name Jonah? God has a call on each of our lives. This is a call to follow Him, but if we have not submitted to that call we are in rebellion and will end up at the bottom. But even there God is waiting for our cry, and when we “seriously remember the Lord” and send up our earnest prayer for deliverance from the pit, He will hear and deliver us back to where He has called us. Know and remember we cannot get away from God’s presence. Your name may not really be Jonah, but whatever your name may be God knows it and is calling you to follow Him, wherever that may lead. Following Jesus is the most exciting life possible. Read Psalm 91 – what protection, what comfort, what peace! Follow On (William O. Cushing) Down in the valley with my Savior I would go, where the flowers are blooming and the sweet waters flow. Everywhere He leads me I would follow, follow on, walking in his footsteps til the crown be won. Down in the valley with my Savior I would go, where the storms are sweeping and the dark waters flow. With His hand to lead me I will never, never fear, danger cannot fright me if my Lord is near. Follow! Follow! I would follow Jesus! Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on! Follow! Follow! I would follow Jesus. Anywhere He leads me I would follow on!