'Salvation is of the LORD'
"Jehovah-rapha" The Lord Your Healer
*Isaiah 30:26, "Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound."
Sandy beach, hands held tight, and a bright yellow moon smiling from the waters crest. We all yearn for nights like this. Where the heart of one is knit with the other. Nothing to worry about except getting sand in your shoes. The course of our life often brings us to places such as this. Quiet, restful, and relaxing places. Places where we can soak in the quiet and rest not having anything to worry about.
It's dipping our feet in the water of life that gets us wet however. Stepping out into the water can bring concern especially when we don't take it one step at a time. There are those areas where we can step on a stone or sharp shale because the water is shallow. Those areas that are not clear enough to see where the bottom suddenly drops off without much warning. And those areas where predators of the sea lie in wait for unsuspecting prey.
It's when we become neck deep or over our heads when we begin to feel we need to turn away. Turn away from those areas we don't like or want to venture into because we are not quite sure that we will be pleased with the outcome. Places where we digress because we know what we might be getting into and it could mean becoming accountable for our response. It's that accountability thing that just might get us into trouble.
Jonah was a servant of God who spoke the word of the Lord to King Jeroboam II of Israel prophesying that he would restore the coasts of Israel (*II Kings 14:24-25). However, when God called him to go to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, to preach the word that He spoke to him, Jonah made other plans. "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD," *Jonah 1:3.
Going to Nineveh was the last thing he wanted to do because he knew the outcome. He knew that God was gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and kind. That God would forgive and not destroy the Ninevites for their wickedness if they chose to repent. They were idolaters who worshipped the god Nisroch. A city and nation filled with violence. Yet God wanted to pardon their iniquity.
So Jonah left for the coast to Tarshish as far away from Nineveh as possible. But God sent a storm against the ship and the people feared for their lives. When they cast lots, the lot fell on Jonah and he told them to cast him into the sea because it was the God Who he feared that created heaven and earth Who had sent the storm. So they threw Jonah into the sea and the storm subsided. Then they feared the Lord and made a sacrifice and vowed a vow to the Lord.
"Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights," (*Jonah 1:17). Jonah prayed to the Lord from the belly of the fish. God heard Jonah's voice and spoke to the fish to spit Jonah out on dry land. Then God spoke to Jonah a second time and told him to go into Nineveh and speak the word. This time Jonah went, traveling for a day, crying in the ears of all the people the word of the Lord. The king heard the voice of Jonah and told the people to fast and pray in sackcloth and ashes asking the Lord to pardon their sins. So the Lord spared the people of Nineveh for their repentance and did not destroy them completely as He said He would do.
God prepared the fish, not for Jonah's destruction, but for a sign, or assured miracle. Jonah was not pleased with his assignment but it pleased the Lord to send him and spare the people from destruction. Twenty years later the Assyrians would compass the northern kingdom of Israel and take them captive into the land where Jonah spoke the word of the Lord. There they would remain until the time of Cyrus the Persian.
U
When Jesus departed from Tyre and Sidon He traveled through Decapolis to the sea of Galilee and a multitude of about 4,000 people followed Him. They had traveled for three days with nothing to eat. Not wanting to send the people back to their homes because they had traveled so far, He asked His disciples to feed them. His disciples answered him, "How can these men be satisfied with bread while they are here in the wilderness?" Jesus asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they replied, "Seven."
Telling the people to sit down, Jesus took the seven loaves of bread, gave thanks, broke the bread and gave it to His disciples to feed them. They also had a few small fish so He blessed it and told them to give these to the people also. So they all ate and were full and they collected what was remaining which was seven baskets full.
After He sent the people away, He and His disciples boarded a ship and went to Dalmanutha where the Pharisees began to question Him seeking for a sign from heaven trying to tempt Him. But Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I tell you, there shall be no sign given to this generation except the sign of Jonas." Then He departed and returned by the same ship to the other side of Galilee.
Now His disciples had forgotten to take bread with them except for one loaf. Jesus said to them, "Listen, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Harod." Confused His disciples said to one another, "Did He say this because we forgot to bring bread?" Jesus asked them, "Why are you questioning because you have no bread? Don't you understand or comprehend? Is your heart still hardened? You have eyes, can't you see? You have ears, can't you hear? Don't you remember when I broke the five loaves of bread among 5,000 how many baskets full were left? When we fed 4,000 with five loaves of bread how many baskets full were left? Why then do you not understand?"
When they arrived at Bethsaida they brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to lay His hands on him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him outside of the town. When He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. The man looked up and said, "I see men as trees, walking." Then He put His hands upon his eyes again and made him look up. Then the man's sight was restored and he saw every one clearly. Then He sent the man home and told him not to go into the town nor to tell anyone in the town what had been done to him.
The historical account of Jonah's journey to the city of Nineveh via the belly of a great fish was indeed a sign. A sign to the Ninevites and a sign to Israel. Because what God had done the men on the ship repented and worshipped the God of Jonah. Because of what God had done Jonah repented and understood that salvation is of the Lord. Because of what God had done the Ninevites repented and were not destroyed. Yet Jonah became angry because of what the Lord had done, even though through him a great revival took place and God spared the lives of 18,000 people.
Jonah was appointed by God to go to Nineveh to preach the word. Jesus also sent His disciples out two by two into every city and place where He would go Himself. "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."
"But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me," (*Luke 10:2-16). Not every city received them nor believed. Chorazin and Bethsaida were among them. Jesus knew this, yet He still sent His disciples.
Everywhere Jesus went He performed miracles by His own hand yet the people still demanded a sign. They were looking for the Messiah, the anointed One, Who would deliver them from their oppressor and restore the kingdom of Heaven. But because their hearts were hardened and they could not see nor hear they delivered Him over to their oppressors to crucify Him. Just as Jonah was three days in the belly of the fish Jesus was three days in a tomb. Sealed in the bowels of the earth.
God caused the earth to quake, rolled away the stone, and Jesus walked out of the tomb alive and glorified to reveal Himself to a lost and dieing world. He ascended into heaven and God has given Him a name above every name. There is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved.
Where ever you go where ever you walk you can know that there is a God big enough to carry you through. Jesus said, "Come all you who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." God's burden is the souls of people. His yoke is the desire of His heart in your life. His desire is that all would come to repentance and to know Him through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Putting our hands in His hands means being led by the Spirit of God. It means we have transcended all that holds us bound to this world of sin. It means we have put our trust in a loving Savior Who will never leave us nor forsake us. We are held accountable to God for His commandments. Jesus commanded us, "Go into all the world preaching this gospel."
When we observe to do His commandments all these signs follow us. We can lay hands on the sick and they will recover. We can cast out demons. We can drink any deadly thing or pick up serpents and scorpions and they will not harm us. Signs may not always be enough, just as with the hands of Jesus, but we can be assured that God will give us favor and open a door of opportunity. All we have to do is step out in boldness and believe that God is and He is the rewarder of all those who believe in Him.
He may not always send us to someone who we know will receive the word or believe, but it is a seed that is planted. He may not always send us to an area of the world where people are friendly and willing to listen, but godly character will reveal the righteousness of God. He may send us right into what we believe is the lion's den, but we can be a sign of all that is loving, merciful, gracious, good, and kind. God can work miracles through you in the lives of others. All He needs is a willing heart and someone to say, "Here I am Lord."
O Israel had forgotten the word of God. They had forsaken His Laws and His precepts and chose a different direction. A direction which led them into war and captivity. A bondage from which only the truth could deliver them and restore the freedom they so desired.
*March 4, 2006