This week scripture

Topic: Obey the Lord and experience his mercies
Main Bible verse: Jonah 1 and 2
I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. As you share with Holy Spirit and Love Prayer Outreach, may God expand your understanding and be blessed through it.

[Jonah 1:1-3 NIV] It is very disappointing to see how we have turned away from the Lord since the past to the present. We read in the book of Jonah, the bold and the insulting behaviours of the people of Nineveh against God. Jonah was charged by God to go Nineveh to cry against the wickedness of it. Jonah did not heed to Gods instruction and he suffered the consequences. Those that harboured Jonah in the ship experienced the implication of Jonah’s disobedience to the Lord for not heeding Gods call. [Jonah 1:4-7 NIV] God sent a pursuer after Jonah, even a mighty storm. Sin attracts difficulties and barriers in our lives, it keeps us away from the favour of God. We read that Jonah was let into the sea and that calmed the storm and swallowed by a 􀁻sh. God will not afflict for ever, He will only contend till we submit and turn from our sins.

[Jonah 2:1-10 NIV] We noticed Jonah prayed when he was in trouble, under the proofs of God’s displeasure against him for sin: we are invited to pray for help, forgiveness, strength, understanding and favour of God when in difficulties. We read Jonah prayed in the belly of the 􀁻sh. And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Men may have excluded us from praying and worshiping together but not away from God. This is very encouraging to talk to God almighty wherever you are even in solitary confinement.

Jonah’s deliverance may be reflected as an instance of God’s power over all the creatures. As an instance of God’s compassion to a poor repentant, who in suffering prays to God and as a type and figure of Christ’s resurrection.