Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Pigs Might Fly (10/31/13)
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TITLE: The Whole World | Previous Challenge Entry
By darlene thompson
11/06/13 -
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Jonah thought he had escaped God's presence but suddenly the ship tossed and turned. A storm grew and became more violent. The crew cast lots to see what caused the storm. Jonah admitted he was the cause. He said, "throw me overboard and the storm will cease." At first, the crew threw the cargo over but the storm still churned. Finally, they tossed Jonah over and the sea became calm.
The sailors were so glad they offered sacrifices to God. Jonah bobbed up and down in the sea until a great fish swallowed him. He was in a mess and those words, "when pigs fly" reverberated. After three days and three nights of floating around in the fish's belly, Jonah prayed. He promised God he would obey Him.
With a big belch, the great fish spew Jonah out. Again, God told him to go to Nineveh and prophesy. Jonah told Nineveh in forty days it would be destroyed. The people believed Jonah and proclaimed a fast. The king, the people, and even the animals humbled themselves. God heard them and delivered them.
However, this displeased Jonah. He claimed because God is merciful, it was inevitable that God would turn from the threatened calamities. Jonah left Nineveh and made himself a shelter to see if the city would be destroyed.
God caused a plant to grow over Jonah to provide him shelter from the sun. Later, God sent a worm to bite the plant's root and it withered. Jonah was left in the hot sun. He became faint and desired that God would let him die.
God asked Jonah if he were angry about the plant. Jonah replied, "I am greatly angry, even unto death."
The Lord said you had pity on the gourd which has not labored, neither made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. Then should I not have pity on Nineveh, that great city where more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?"
We don't know the final outcome of Jonah but we do know he missed the message of God's grace. Jesus came to save the whole world.
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The story reminds me to examine myself to see if I am the first Jonah or the preaching Jonah, or the Jonah under the plant.
Bible stories make good jumping off places to teach good lessons.
Keep writing as God leads.