May 5, 2024 - INSCRIPTIONS FROM THE HEART

By: Cheryl Zamora

It’s commonly known as the story of Jonah and the whale. Many dismiss it as fairy tale. There are jokes, puns and songs about it. Yet, it is part of the Old Testament, cited by Jesus. So what can we learn from cruise ships, fish food, sin city, places we love or hate or garden variety plants?

If your phone’s caller ID displays God is calling, will you answer the call, let Him wait, ignore it, take a message, forget about it? Many have tried running away as far away from God as possible. It is not always the best idea because there is no place out of God’s reach. He sometimes resorts to interesting ways to get one’s attention. God is gracious and deals patiently with us in spite of our disobedience – God spares Jonah of death by drowning regardless of his daring attempt to run away from God’s assignment.

Fairy tale or true? If Jesus wants to seal the deal, why the comparison with a controversial prophet? Jesus took the Jonah story seriously. He used it as a parallel story to clinch His claim to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life and the exclusive track back to God. The principles in Jonah’s story are practical and the ending may catch you off guard.

So for the month of May, may I invite you and invite some of your friends as well to come and jump ship with Jonah!