Answering your Q. About 20 years ago, I thought I figured God out. I told people that God does not care for non-faithful Egypt/Egyptians. I backed the claim up with the passage from Joel - out of Egypt I called my son- then listed all the Faith Hall of Fame persons that used trickery, but God got them out of Egypt. Then I had my ears open when I again heard the story of Abram & Sarai who couldn’t wait/doubted God’s promise of a natural son and Sarai’s idea to have Abram sleep with Hagar…from Egypt. I was ready to hear how she gave him a son, Ishmael. Then the originally promised son was born (God would later refer to Isaac as his son, his only son) and Sarai told Abram to ditch the woman and her son. So I thought I knew who God favored & who He had cursed. Then I came to understand that God loved Hagar and Ishmael & things were not as simple as I previously thought. God even loves the Ninivaites, as Jonah found out. I received my “Jonah” lesson, as Philip Yancey has written & stated we need to be dispensers of Grace.
Thank you Phil for your comments and wonderful lessons taught over time. Thankful the Lord is how Peter describes:
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
God has continually used the message of Jonah to remind me to finish what he's asked me to do. I was saved into a cult church for 20 years. God had me there as a witness. He's asked me to write my story. His story. I'm working on it but life continually gets in the way. Elderly parents with dementia. Estates. Addiction and homelessness. Cancer. But God first. You said Jonah means dove. Interesting that God sends doves to speak to us. Finding your substack has been a gift. Looking forward to reading more.
Hi Paul, thank you for sharing about Jonah, a prophet whose disobedience still teaches us valuable lessons! I loved your questions, and if we're honest, we've all heard God's voice and quashed it or put our own spin on His message. WRONG!!! And yet our gracious, loving, merciful Lord and Savior forgives our repentant hearts and uses us still to spread His Good News! :)
Thanks for the comments. Jonah is certainly a dramatic story that highlights the Lords compassion and our own shortcomings but He lovingly corrects when needed. Thank you for perspective.
Answering your Q. About 20 years ago, I thought I figured God out. I told people that God does not care for non-faithful Egypt/Egyptians. I backed the claim up with the passage from Joel - out of Egypt I called my son- then listed all the Faith Hall of Fame persons that used trickery, but God got them out of Egypt. Then I had my ears open when I again heard the story of Abram & Sarai who couldn’t wait/doubted God’s promise of a natural son and Sarai’s idea to have Abram sleep with Hagar…from Egypt. I was ready to hear how she gave him a son, Ishmael. Then the originally promised son was born (God would later refer to Isaac as his son, his only son) and Sarai told Abram to ditch the woman and her son. So I thought I knew who God favored & who He had cursed. Then I came to understand that God loved Hagar and Ishmael & things were not as simple as I previously thought. God even loves the Ninivaites, as Jonah found out. I received my “Jonah” lesson, as Philip Yancey has written & stated we need to be dispensers of Grace.
Thank you Phil for your comments and wonderful lessons taught over time. Thankful the Lord is how Peter describes:
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2pe.3.9.NIV
God has continually used the message of Jonah to remind me to finish what he's asked me to do. I was saved into a cult church for 20 years. God had me there as a witness. He's asked me to write my story. His story. I'm working on it but life continually gets in the way. Elderly parents with dementia. Estates. Addiction and homelessness. Cancer. But God first. You said Jonah means dove. Interesting that God sends doves to speak to us. Finding your substack has been a gift. Looking forward to reading more.
You have a testimony Rosemary, be encouraged the Lord will show you how He wants to use your story to help others.
Hi Paul, thank you for sharing about Jonah, a prophet whose disobedience still teaches us valuable lessons! I loved your questions, and if we're honest, we've all heard God's voice and quashed it or put our own spin on His message. WRONG!!! And yet our gracious, loving, merciful Lord and Savior forgives our repentant hearts and uses us still to spread His Good News! :)
Thanks for the comments. Jonah is certainly a dramatic story that highlights the Lords compassion and our own shortcomings but He lovingly corrects when needed. Thank you for perspective.