Bringing Hope to the Darkness 8

Last time, we watched God bring hope to the Judeans through His prophets Habakkuk and Jeremiah, warning them of a Babylonian invasion if they didn’t stop their sinful living. But the people loved their vices more.

So, God kept His promise and the Judeans were made captives, carried away to Babylon (see here). Included with the first group of captives was a priest, turned prophet, named Ezekiel. He was taken captive in 597 B.C. – 11 years before the final fall of Jerusalem.

Five years into Ezekiel’s exile, He was struck by a powerful vision from God. Within that vision, he sees God’s throne in heaven, surrounded by four cherubim. Immediately, the Spirit of God entered Ezekiel to prepare him for his ministry, which he was to deliver to the exiled people of Judah.

Ezekiel was left in a trance for seven days. When he came out of it, Jehovah commissioned him to make the exiles aware of the eternal consequences of their twisted ways if they remained unrepentant, which would also apply to Ezekiel, if he didn’t deliver His message. The message is just as relevant today:

“If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.” Eze. 3:18, 18. NLT

God commands His children to inform the sinner of his or her sin and the consequences of it, regardless of whether it is socially acceptable to do so. However, this does not give us the right to judge them, only to judge their actions. If they are incongruent with His commands, you must tell them that death will ensue should they not confess and repent.

Jehovah again drives this point home to show just how serious He is:

I will pour out my wrath on you very soon; I will exhaust my anger against you and judge you according to your ways. I will punish you for all your detestable practices…and because of the iniquity of each one, none will preserve his life. Eze. 7:8 & 13. CSB

Our Creator is a promise-keeper. That should give us pause to revere Him and remember that everything He says comes from His love for us. He cannot abide with sin; so God chastises first, hoping for our repentance.

Approximately one year later, God transported Ezekiel (in the spirit) to witness blasphemous activities from some of the people still left behind in Judah, in the midst of His own temple. Jehovah condemns the people and removes His presence from the temple altogether.

Yet our most merciful and loving God pleads again with them to turn back to Him:

 “But if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all my statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die. None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced.” Eze. 18:21, 22. CSB

“For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore, turn and live!” Eze. 18:32 NKJV

And in that continued life with Him, He will bring restoration:

“And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony heart and give them a tender responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.” Eze. 11:19, 20. NLT

“I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace,” says the Sovereign LORD. “I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak.” Eze. 34:15, 16. NLT

Then, God promises to make a new everlasting covenant with His children (Eze. 16:60). We know that this is a new one, because they already have an everlasting covenant that was passed down to them from Jehovah’s blessing upon Abraham.

So, how does our heavenly Father facilitate this new one? Through the Messiah!

“Then I will appoint over them one shepherd and he will feed them, [a ruler like] My Servant David; he will feed them and be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.” Eze. 34:23, 24. AMP

King David has been dead for hundreds of years; and the physical temple / throne of David in Jerusalem is being destroyed at this point in time. Therefore, we know that God is referring to His Messiah (descended from David), sitting on His perpetual Spiritual throne.

At this time interval, God has been wrestling with His willful children for over 900 years, since their exodus from Egypt with Moses. He sent leaders, judges, kings and prophets, but to no avail. He is finished wasting His breath on the hell-bent defiant, that are still living in Judah.

Jehovah is now solely focused on His children scattered about in Babylon.

Ezekiel then receives a fountain of prophetic visions concerning the role of a ‘restored’ nation of Israel, during the ‘end times’ of this planet, as we hurtle towards the end of history.

Much of biblical prophecy concerns itself with the nature of ‘end (eschatological) times.’ Interpreting these prophetic visions can be daunting, even for the most accomplished biblical scholars. Fortunately, as with the entire Bible, God’s words and illustrative images can be crosschecked for accuracy against other related subject treatments within the Bible.

The book of Ezekiel ranks, along with the books of Daniel, Zechariah and Revelation, as being the most prophetically intensive books of the Bible. It is possible to travel back and forth among them to accurately resolve the significance of the prophecies and visions.

I present them as how they are commonly defined by the scholars, and what my spirit tells me (if it is different), and why I feel that way. Ultimately though, it is what your spirit tells you, that is of greatest import. Your life, after all, is about your personal conversation with God.

In the case of Ezekiel, it is generally believed, that he was chosen to prophesy about the restoration of Israel. However, understand that God did not single out Israel because He loves them more than other peoples:

“…God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” Acts. 10:34, 35. ESV

Jehovah loves all His children equally. Still, He must uphold His covenantal promise that He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – where He said that their descendants would be blessed forever and that He would rule the earth from Jerusalem, for all of eternity. We can see this in how He prophesies about Israel’s ultimate restoration:

“…the mountains of Israel will produce heavy crops of fruit for my people – for they will be coming home again soon!” Eze. 36:8 NLT

“I will fill you with people and animals, and they will increase and be fruitful. I will make you inhabited as you once were and make you better off than you were before.” Eze. 36:11 NLT

“When my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel.” Eze. 37:28 CSB

Yes, God will restore our ‘home,’ but we must contribute to the restoration of our own hearts:

“…the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.” Eze. 36:23 NKJV

No one can come to Jehovah’s love, joy, mercy and forgiveness unless they first see these attributes in His children, as well as their reverence for their Maker.

Finally, God blesses Ezekiel / us, with a vision of His eternal temple when He lives among all of His children forever in a ‘new Jerusalem,’ with a new name:

Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner courtyard; and behold, the glory and brilliance of the LORD filled the temple. And I heard One speaking to me from the temple, while a Man was standing beside me. And He [the LORD’ said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the sons (descendants) of Israel forever…” Eze. 43:5 – 7. AMP

“…and the name of the city from that day shall be THE LORD IS THERE.” Eze. 48:35 NKJV

You know that ‘Man’ in the throne room is Jesus. And you’re invited!

Goodnight and God bless.

Bringing Hope to the Darkness 5

We’ve been following the prophets that God sent to bring hope to the darkness to deliver peoples who have rejected Him: Joel, who was sent to the southern region of Israel – Judah (here), Amos, sent to the northern region – Israel (here), Jonah, sent to the Ninevites (here), and Hosea, sent to Israel just before their captivity at the hands of the Assyrians (here).

Now, that Israel has been swallowed up, let us consider the continuing spiritual degradation of Judah and what God told them through the mouth of the ‘messianic / evangelic’ prophet Isaiah – bringing yet more hope to the Judeans’ spiritual darkness.

Even though the people of Judah were hell-bent, God has a huge heart went it comes to His children, and He rarely leaves them to their own destruction. So, in 740 B.C., (which would have overlapped Hosea’s ministry in Israel), Jehovah sent the most famous Old Testament prophet to Judah.

(A little historical trivia: this would be about the same time that the city of Rome was founded, and the first Grecian Olympic games were played).

Isaiah’s first task was to clarify the nature of the Judeans’ spiritual state and how it was affecting their relationship with God:

Oh, what a sinful nation they are – loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Is. 1:4 NLT

Their land is full of idols; the people worship things they have made with their own hands. Is. 2:8 NLT

For Jerusalem will stumble, and Judah will fall, because they speak out against the LORD and refuse to obey him. They provoke him to his face. Is. 3:8 NLT

So, the people of Judah were just as shameful as their brothers and sisters in Israel. The only difference between the two is that the Judeans continually fooled themselves, thinking that God forgave their behavior because they engaged in religious rituals:

“These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.” Is. 29:13 NLT

Thus, all of Judah’s religiosity was devoid of any real feeling or reverence for Jehovah. Subsequently, Isaiah told them to cease and desist (Is. 1:13 & 15), because His heart is not moved. Moreover, He delivers a stinging rebuke to them:

“…like Sodom, they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster to themselves. Is. 3:9 CSB

The Judeans then, had the audacity to be brazen about their rebellion. They even told the prophet to cease upbraiding them, and preach ‘feel good’ messages instead:

‘…these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay attention to the LORD’s instructions. They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your Holy One of Israel.”’ Is. 30:9 – 11. NLT

The people left God no choice but to render His righteous judgment; but He does so with a heavy heart:

“Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea. Your descendants would have been like the sands along the seashore – too many to count…But there is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD. Is. 48:18, 19 & 22. NLT

Why does God care? Because He loves all of us so much. He doesn’t want anyone, (Himself included), separated from an eternal love relationship. Thus, Isaiah brings an acuity to their predicament:

Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned! But the wicked are doomed, for they will get exactly what they deserve. Is. 3:10, 11. NLT

The LORD takes his place in court and presents his case against his people. Is. 3:13 NLT

Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Is. 45:9 NKJV

In spite of His children’s immoral behavior, Jehovah has not given up. He lovingly pleads with them to let Him turn them around:

“Why was no one there when I came? Why was there no one when I called? Is my arm too weak to redeem? Or do I have no power to rescue?” Is. 50:2 CSB

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary…” Is. 40:28 NASB

“I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no other Savior.” Is. 43:11 NLT

God is declaring that there is nothing that can stand in the way of Him saving you except your unrepentant behavior. He is standing there, arms outstretched, waiting for you to get with His program:

“Therefore, the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are those who wait for him.” Is. 30:18 ESV

Does your heavenly Father love you or what? Because of that, He instructs His children in how to return to Him:

“Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” Is. 1:16, 17. NLT

In other words, live by His word and serve others. In addition, Jehovah speaks to how they distort His laws, using, as an example to correct, the way they used fasting as a way of personal exaltation:

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Is. 58:6, 7. NLT

In a nutshell, God is telling us them / us to stop our sinful behavior and return to His instructions for godly living, i.e. to practice love.

Next, He shows us the depth of His forgiveness when we return to Him:

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies.” Is. 1:18 – 20. NLT

We see then that God offers complete and absolute forgiveness. (That part about the sword shows that this is serious business). In fact, His forgiveness is so complete that He wipes our sins off of His own memory:

“I am the one, I sweep away your transgressions for my own sake and remember your sins no more. Remind me. Let’s argue the case together. Recount the facts, so that you may be vindicated.” Is. 43:25, 26. CSB

“I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” Is. 44:22 NLT

It is hard for us to believe that God can and will forgive all of what we consider to be ‘horrific crimes’ that we’ve committed. Indeed, we punish ourselves with guilt and shame; yet God forgives – paying the price with the blood of His Son. And out of that forgiveness blooms transformation:

“Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the LORD will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.” Is. 58:8, 9. NLT

However, God is omniscient. He knows that most of His children will not turn from their wickedness. So, He informs them that because of their unrepentance, He will allow the Babylonians to take them captive. (He is telling them this 100 years before it happens).

After 60 years in captivity, God will rescue the remnant of His children through the hands of King Cyrus of Persia. Our Father even reveals to us his name before he was born:

“The LORD says this to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and disarm kings…: “I will go before you and level the uneven places…so that you may know that I am the LORD. I am the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. I call you by your name for the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen one. I give a name to you though you do not know me.” Is. 45:1-4. CSB

When His children return, He will cover them with His grace and transform them yet again:

“And I will lead the blind in a way they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground.” Is. 42:16 ESV

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper…” Is. 54:17 NKJV

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel your Savior.” Is. 43:2, 3. NLT

Again, let me remind you that whatever Jehovah promises the Israelites, also applies to all of HIs children for all time…

Finally, God shifts His message to give us a glimpse of our eternal inheritance:

Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For you dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. Is. 26:19 ESV

When he has swallowed up death once and for all, the LORD God will wipe away the tears from every face and remove his people’s disgrace from the whole earth, for the LORD has spoken! Is. 25:8 CSB

“For I will create new heavens and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.” Is. 65:17 CSB

…nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Is. 2:4 NKJV

“No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” Is. 60:19 NLT

Hallelujah!

Goodnight and God bless.

Bringing Hope to the Darkness 4

Previously, we’ve seen that after the death of King Solomon, Israel split into two regions: Israel in the northern region, and Judah to the south (see Rebellion of God’s Children). Both regions turned to paganism.

In part one, part two and part three of this series, we saw that God sent prophets to both regions (Joel and Amos) to speak for God in order to try to get His children to return to Him, and another (Jonah) to the Gentile Assyrian city of Nineveh to successfully get them to turn from their sinful ways.

God sent one last prophet to try to save Israel from their imminent destruction that He promised would come to pass at the hands of the Assyrians. His name was Hosea, who also brought hope to their darkness.

Hosea prophesied during the final years of Israel before their captivity (753 – 722 B.C.). Simultaneously, the kingdom suffers its last six corrupt kings.

The people of Israel had descended into absolute unrepentant depravity – even to the extent of sacrificing their own children to pagan gods. Jehovah had tried to turn them from their wicked ways (without violating their free will), but to no avail.

Indeed, listen to how God calls Hosea to his task:

“Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the LORD and worshiping other gods…in fact, I will bring an end to Israel’s independence…for I will no longer show love to the people of Israel of forgive them.” Hos. 1:2, 4 & 6. NLT

So, God is telling Hosea to mirror Israel’s spiritual prostitution by marrying an unfaithful prostitute and by taking care of the children she would bear from her transgressions – in the spirit of repeated forgiveness, bringing her home after she strays. That is one blatant metaphor…

Why is God so upset? Why is He sending the Assyrians to take the Israelites captive?

This disaster came upon the people of Israel because they worshipped other gods. The sinned against the LORD their God…They had followed the practices of the pagan nations… 2 Kin. 17:7, 8. NLT

They even sacrificed their own sons and daughters in the fire. They consulted fortune-tellers and practiced sorcery and sold themselves to evil, arousing the LORD’s anger. 2 Kin. 17:17, 18. NLT

Hosea, speaking for God, declares a conviction against Israel:

Hear the word of the LORD, O people of Israel! The LORD has brought charges against you, saying, “There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land. You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere – one murder after another. Hos. 4:1, 2. NLT

Israel was morally bankrupt; and Jehovah laid some of the blame on the priests – rejecting them in the process:

My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Hos. 4:6 NLT

Without spiritual guidance, the Israelites turned to the ways of the world:

They have exchanged the glory of God for the shame of idols. Hos. 4:7 NLT

…when you had eaten and were satisfied, you became proud and forgot me. Hos. 13:6 NLT

Israel separated themselves from God, and it changed them:

The LORD says, “O Israel, when I first found you, it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert. When I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season. But then they deserted me for Baal-peor, giving themselves to that shameful idol. Soon they became vile, as vile as the god they worshiped.” Hos. 9:10 NLT

Nevertheless, like the loving Father that He is, God continues to plead with His wayward children. And in so doing, we get a glimpse of the anguish that the Israelites had caused Him:

“I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him. I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him. But since my people refuse to return to me, they will return to Egypt and will be forced to serve Assyria.” Hos. 11:3 – 5. NLT

Do you see the similarities in the people who reject God in our time? This is why we study the Old Testament as well as the new. Being ignorant of the past will only bring the curse of repeating it…

God is a loving Creator, and He continues to declare that love:

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. Hos. 6:6 NLT

‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ Hos. 10:12 NLT

Unfortunately, Jehovah’s entreaties for love fall upon deaf ears and defiance:

For my people are determined to desert me. They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me. Hos. 11:7 NLT

Yes, they rejected God and had to pay the price. God warned them for 70 years. He is always true to His word:

The people of Israel have been swallowed up; they lie among the nations like an old discarded pot. Hos. 8:8 NLT

In 722 B.C., Israel was decimated, and its people taken captive by the Assyrians. Yet God’s mercy is far greater than we can ever hope to comprehend. He cannot abide with unrepentant sin, so the Israelites were punished. However, our merciful and faithful God makes a promise to raise up a future generation of Israelites and re-establish Israel – thus keeping His promise that He made to Abraham so long ago:

“Yet the time will come when Israel’s people will be like the sands of the seashore – too many to count! Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, ‘You are children of the living God.’ Then the people of Judah and Israel will unite together…when God will again plant his people in his land.” Hos. 1:10, 11. NLT

“Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever.”

Then God leaves a message for all of us:

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O grave, I will be your destruction! Hos. 13:14 NKJV

What can we bring home from this?

First, it is that Jehovah loves us so much, regardless of what we have done. But it is up to us to maintain our love-connection with Him by walking in His word to the best of our ability.

The Israelites had hope brought to their darkness through the prophets. Today, we have the entire Bible; we get to see the whole divine plan.

God knows that His children will perish if they don’t stick to His plan; but He is also acutely aware that we are human. That means we will fall repeatedly. I believe that a tear falls down the face of Jehovah every time that happens. Yet He waits patiently for you to ask for His forgiveness so that He can wipe the tears off of yours.

Our heavenly Father only asks us to do our best, and then enlist His aid to bridge that gap where we fall short, so that our ‘best’ can materialize.

The world is a messy place because so many people reject God. Those who wallow in the world want you to do so as well – so that they don’t feel convicted for their ungodly thoughts and actions. That is why it is vital that you marinate in God daily, so that you don’t become one of the walking dead.

Our Creator wants to love His children forever in an intimacy of miraculous proportions:

“When that day comes,” says the LORD, “you will call me ‘my husband,’ instead of ‘my master.” Hos. 2:16 NLT

On that day I will make a covenant with all the wild animals and the birds of the sky and the animals that scurry along the ground so they will not harm you. I will remove all weapons of war from the land…so you can live unafraid in peace and safety. I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the LORD. Hos. 2:18 – 20. NLT

Such love…

Goodnight and God bless.

Bringing Hope to the Darkness 3

In part one of this series, we saw the southern region of Judah fall into moral depravity, and God sent His prophet Joel, to the people, to bring hope to their darkness. He did so by pressing the case for coming back to their Creator before He renders a future judgment through Babylonian conquest (see Bringing Hope to the Darkness). We also learned a little information about the ‘day of the Lord,’ which occurs at the end of time.

In part two, God sent the prophet Amos to deliver a warning to the northern regions of Israel as well. However, the instrument of Israel’s discipline would be the Assyrian armies.

God sent another prophet, Jonah, to Israel at the same time (760 B.C.) as Amos. Jonah, who, like many of the Hebrews, had grown very nationalistic, looking at most other countries with disdain, because they believed Jehovah only favored Israel and Judah.

So, it is wryly ironic that God would call upon this Hebrew nationalist to go to Nineveh, the greatest city of Assyria, (modern day Iraq), peopled by Israel’s bitter enemies. As we saw last time, the prophet Amos had already revealed to Israel that the Assyrians would be their conqueror should they not return to God.

Jonah was the only prophet directly sent by God to the Gentiles:

Get up and go into the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” Jon. 1:2 NLT

Well, Jonah wasn’t having any of it. He doesn’t want the Assyrians to be saved. Jonah tried to run away from God, (good luck with that), by purchasing passage on a ship going the opposite direction.

God’s will won’t be mocked. He calls up a tumultuous storm, which threatens the ship Jonah is on. The ship’s captain and crew threw lots, which revealed Jonah’s culpability. Jonah confessed His intent to run from Jehovah. He fessed up and told the captain to have him tossed into the sea so that the waters would grow calm.

Immediately after they did so, the storm abated, and the sailors became instant converts. Meanwhile, Jonah meets a fish:

Now the LORD had prepared (appointed, destined) a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights. Jon. 1:17 AMP

Before you say, and rightly so, that there is no fish / whale that can swallow a man whole, much less provide an environment to support life in its stomach, the scripture says God prepared a great fish. He can create or alter any creation at will. Christ Himself attested to the accuracy of this account (Mt.12:40).

Inside the fish, Jonah returns in repentance to his God:

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish. He said, “I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and LORD you heard me!…Then I said, ‘O LORD, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple. Jon. 2:1, 2 & 4. NLT

But you, O LORD my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple…I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone.” Jon. 2:6, 7 & 9. NLT

In response, Jehovah God has the great fish vomit Jonah onto the shore of Assyria, whereupon he completes a one-day’s journey to Nineveh and declares boldly within the city:

“Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” Jon. 3:4 NLT

You certainly cannot say God can’t be straight and to the point. Much to Jonah’s amazement, all of the Ninevites repented. God pardoned every one of them.

Jonah however, was feeling far from charitable. He was still harboring his nationalistic hatred towards the Assyrians, and he let Jehovah know it:

…he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? …I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, LORD!” Jon. 4:2, 3. NLT

God responds:

“Is it right for you to be angry about this?” Jon. 4:4 NLT

Jonah walked east of Nineveh, made himself a booth to sit in and watch the city, still hoping God will wipe them out. Merciful Jehovah calls a plant out of the ground to give Jonah shade from the sun. Jonah was grateful.

However, the next morning, God put a worm in the plant to kill it, so Jonah is now sitting in the hot sun, accompanied by a scorching east wind. Jonah again asks for death. Jehovah answers:

“Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” Jon. 4:9 NLT

Jonah said he was so angry that he wanted to die. God retorted with a great lesson:

“You feel sorry for the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came and died quickly. But Nineveh has more that 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” Jon. 4:10, 11. NLT

Jehovah God is bringing hope (salvation) to repenting sinners. In fact, they are the only people to receive salvation.

He is teaching Jonah about humility and compassion for all of humankind. God loves and values all people, not only those who live in a certain place, or practice a certain faith, or belong to a certain genepool.

God used a nationalist to bring forgiveness to an enemy people. God doesn’t want anyone to perish. He used a reluctant sinner to bring hope to the darkness of a sinful nation, and then shined it back on Jonah so that he could turn himself around as well.

Therefore, our purpose in God, is to continually reach out to all people and help them understand that God cherishes them…

Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish. Job 8:13 CSB

The Lord does not delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. 2 Pt. 3:9 CSB

Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. Lam. 3:22 CSB

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Jn. 3:16 CSB

Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other. Is. 45:22 CSB

Everyone is invited…

Goodnight and God bless.

hope in the darkness

Five years into Ezekiel’s exile, He was struck by a powerful vision from God. Within that vision, he sees God’s throne in heaven, surrounded by four cherubim. Immediately, the Spirit of God entered Ezekiel to prepare him for his ministry, which he was to deliver to the exiled people of Judah.

Approximately one year later, God transported Ezekiel (in the spirit) to witness blasphemous activities from some of the people still left behind in Judah, in the midst of His own temple. Jehovah condemns the people and removes His presence from the temple altogether.

At this time interval, God has been wrestling with His willful children for over 900 years, since their exodus from Egypt with Moses. He sent leaders, judges, kings and prophets, but to no avail. He is finished wasting His breath on the hell-bent defiant, that are still living in Judah.

Jonah was the only prophet directly sent by God to the Gentiles:

Jonah however, was feeling far from charitable. He was still harboring his nationalistic hatred towards the Assyrians, and he let Jehovah know it:

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