I am pleased that my sister-in-Christ, Gail Johnson, who is also an author, is sharing her thoughts with us today.
Remember the Sunday School story of Jonah and the whale? I do. What I don’t remember from my childhood, is the rest of the story. You know the part about his wish to die, his anger, and his complaining. Somehow we skipped that. Unfortunately, as adults, we often forget that part. Let’s take another look at this story.
The Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn the people of coming destruction. But Jonah fled in the opposite direction to Joppa and boarded a ship to Tarshish. When a raging storm arose, Jonah told the men on the boat that he was running from the Lord and to throw him overboard. The crew did as they were instructed, and a whale swallowed Jonah when he entered the sea. In the darkness for three days and nights, Jonah beseeched the Lord, and the whale vomited him onto the shore.
Again the Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn them of the coming destruction for their wickedness. Jonah obeyed and proclaimed the Word of the Lord. And here is where it starts to get interesting.
The people believed him! When the king of Nineveh heard the news, he removed his royal robes, covered himself in sackcloth, and sat down in the dust. He proclaimed a fast for his people and his animals.
And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? (Jonah 3:7-9 KJV)
It worked! The Lord saw their sacrifice and chose not to destroy the people. Talk about a revival! This particular city was so big that it took three days to walk it. Think about that. Jonah should have been rejoicing over the one hundred twenty thousand souls that weren’t destroyed. Instead, the Bible said Jonah became so angry that he wished to die.
Have you ever become angry with God when things didn’t turn out like you thought they should? I have. Hardships of this life have a way of making us irate if we’re not careful, and many times we blame God.
But rather than berate Jonah, the Lord asked him about his anger, and then sent a tree to shade him. The Bible said Jonah grew happy about the tree. The next morning the Lord sent a worm to kill the tree. Again, Jonah became angry. This time the Lord responded to his prophet’s anger.
And Jehovah said, Thou hast had regard for the gourd, for which thou hast not labored, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: and should not I have regard for Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? (Jonah 4:10-11 KJV)
Jonah had more concern for the tree than the people of Nineveh.
Just like Jonah, we only see the here and now while God sees the past, present, and future. It’s all in His hands. He alone knows what is best.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 ASV)
So, when things aren’t going the way we’ve planned, let us not be angry while sitting under the shade of His blessings.
Gail Johnson is the author of Treasures of Hope, Discovering the Beautiful Truth Beneath My Painful Past, a memoir. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she writes fiction, non-fiction, and songs.
She enjoys sharing her passion for life and Christ through the power of the written word. Whether it’s through stories, articles, or songs, she invites her reader and listener to “taste and see” the hope she has found in a faithful God and loving Savior. Born and raised in Georgia, she is a wife and mother of two adult children. She enjoys lots of family time, music, maple pecan ice cream, a great cuppa coffee, and southern living.
From Shirley:
Treasues of Hope will encourage you in your walk with Christ. The subtitle: “Discovering the Biblical Truth Beneath my Painful Past” wonderfully describes Gail’s story of God’s grace in processing her past. This is not a “how to deal with your past” primer, AND, it will give you insight into how to seek God as you deal with your past. At times, I was saddened, as I read about her past. Yet, I was reminded over and over again that GOD IS AT WORK in and through everything that happens, even the horrible things!
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4 replies to “Under the Shade of His Blessings”
Powerful title and post! The words really put everything in perspective! We have taught this in Sunday School, but made sure to teach this end part too. But our emphasis has been on how Jonah valued the tree more than the people.
Writing this title down where I will be able to look at it and remember.
Becky, when I was writing the post I began with that thought…Jonah valued the tree more than the people. But as I progressed, this title and thought came to mind. I like the way the Lord surprises us at times. Another thought I gleaned from this is that we are always under the shade of His blessings. Thank you for reading and commenting, dear friend.
Gail, Thank you for sharing with us!
Shirley, thank you so much for hosting me today on your lovely website. It is a blessing.