Last night I was reading the book Jonah in preparation of the upcoming bible studies that our church will embark on. Yes, we will all embark on the study of the book Jonah. As I was reading the book of Jonah Chapter 1, the Lord brings into revelation an important principle that I have not realized when I was reading the same chapter before.
The Lord can use our disobedient to bring salvation to the lives of others in our surrounding. Notice in Jonah 1:5, "All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god". All the sailors were religious men, devout in their prayers to their gods. Yet their gods were really nothing, and could do nothing.
Then something takes place in Jonah 1:14-16 "Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him." Notice that the vows of the sailors came after they were delivered. Based on this, many commentators believe that the sailors came to a true faith in God. I believe strongly that the sailors accepted God Jehovah as their God. God was using Jonah in spite of himself to bring about salvation to the Phoenician sailors.
God is sovereign. He does not condone our disobedient but He still use the situation for His glory and His name sake. The Lord can use our disobedience to further His kingdom. He can use us in spite of ourselves.
I am discovering a lot of new insight while studying this book. Will write about it next time.
Be Blessed.
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