I was inspired the other day to look up the word glory in the Bible and to write my biblical thoughts on this subject.

When I think about glory I always think of God’s glory and never equate that to me having glory. I immediately recalled Moses in the Old Testament when he was reflecting God’s glory because of the event on Mt Sinai. Hold that thought for a moment.

However I read the following verse and it challenged my view – Rev 14:6,7 ⁶ Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. ⁷ He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Then I found another verse – Romans 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 

Naturally I was confused because we are to give glory to Him and yet we fall short of the glory of God. So I started gathering as much as I could about glory in the Bible.

I found when glory is mentioned in the Bible we often see some dramatic events being illustrated or described. The first event that comes to mind was the time when the Israelites were in the desert after escaping Egypt and we read the time when Moses went to Mt Sinai to meet with God. It describes the event when Moses was on Mt Sinai and God gave him a glimpse of His glory. Interestingly, God hid Moses in the cleft of the rock (that is a subject for another blog one day) and passed by him shielding His glory with His hands and then Moses got a glimpse of God’s back. (Exodus 34).

After that event Moses returned from the mountain and when the people of Israel looked at Moses face it was radiating God’s glory and they asked Him to veil his face. (hold that thought for later in the blog)

We know that God’s glory comes from the glory of His inward character and is shown by the glory He shines. That day Moses was in His presence and God’s glory shone on him and his faced reflected that glory when he came down from the mountain.

So how do we give Him glory as it states in Rev 14? Do we reflect God’s glory like the sun shines on the moon and gives out light?

For me, we have to divide the New and the Old Testament. In the Old Testament Moses reflected God’s glory after he dwelt with God on Mt Sinai and God showed him his character (God’s glory). In the Old Testament it repeatedly states the fact that God was “with us” (Immanuel – meaning is God with us) however in the New Testament, particularly after the ascension of Christ we see a change in language from God “with us” to God “in us”. This is confirmed in Colossians 1:25-27 where it states the mystery of the ages was revealed and that is that God is in us.

Colossians 1:25 ²⁵ I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

So it is interesting that the Gospel is yet again revealed in these verses from both New and Old Testament. In the Old Testament God was “with us” and in His presence his glory is reflected in individuals. As stated above in the example of Moses.

The question is, has anything changed after Jesus ascended? Yes there has been a change and that was the mystery of God has been revealed.

So post the ascension, Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit if we fully surrender to Him. We no longer reflect His glory as His glory lives within us. That is, they see Jesus glory in us.Also, there are no works we can do to “give Him glory” except that we surrender to God and then Christ will live in us. People will see Jesus in us, which is amazing. We don’t reflect God’s glory, His glory is in us and people see that glory.

Now applying that to Matthew 5;14,15 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

It is interesting that in Moses experience, when he was speaking to the Israelites he put a veil over his face. ³⁴ But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, ³⁵ they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.

Contrasting the two verses above God tells us now not to put a bowl over the lamp but let it shine. Whereas in Moses time he placed veil over his face when he spoke to the Israelites. It is a fascinating contrast. I believe this is a call for us to completely submit to God and don’t let other things in our lives prevent Jesus glory shining from within us.

Going back to the verse in Revelation “Fear God and give glory to Him” is about us surrendering to God and then Jesus will live in us. This is how we give glory to Him. Yes surrender to the Holy Spirit and Christ will live in us.

What an amazing God who literally does everything and even inspires us to give our selves completely to Him. Then He lives in us and that will influence others to accept and surrender to Him.

How many times have you heard the “preacher” say “you must build your faith in God” or “have faith and strengthen it” or  “this event is testing your faith”.

What does that mean? If you take that message on it’s own merits it sounds a lot like “works” to me. In other words building your faith through your own efforts towards salvation.

I often ponder on the way things are expressed and how misleading they can be. I have been very sloppy (still am but improving) with the use of my words. I would say the same old cliches and not think twice about the words and the message I am giving to someone else.

This is why I have chosen this subject for my blog.

Lets start with the question; what is faith as described in the Bible and by commentators:

‘Faith’ means trust, confidence, assurance, and belief”

Faith is the basic ingredient to begin a relationship with God. Faith is the assurance that the things revealed and promised in the Word are true, even though unseen, and gives the believer a conviction that what he expects in faith, will come to pass. … In other words, it becomes so tangible that you now possess it.

“We are saved by grace and not by our faith”. It is the faith of Jesus that saves us!!!

Another verse is “A measure of faith is given to us by the Holy Spirit”

The key text that changed the way I view faith is this one “

^{1 Corinth 12:4} There are ^[d]diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works ^[e]all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by ^[f]the same Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

^{Romans 12:3} For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit and it is Jesus faith that saves us.

So how do we strengthen our faith?

I always think of faith as a gift (so which it is!!!). The gift is a portion of Christ’s own faith graciously given to the believer to perform any or a specific task and towards righteousness. It is always distinguishably supernatural.

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

For me I would not have faith unless the Spirit gave it to me. I have “faith” the sun will rise in the morning and that gravity will keep me firmly planted on the earth. Is that faith from God or from human observation and reasoning? You may disagree but I believe even that “faith” is from God, the One who breathed his Spirit into me from birth. Even human reasoning is inspired by the Spirit that dwells within me and in all humanity. The beauty is that God gives us the choice to fully surrender, that is, give our heart, mind and soul to Him. It is then Christ lives in me through the Spirit. That is another topic for another day.

The take home message is the faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit and that we can only receive more faith as the Spirit gives it. Total surrender is the way to receive (or as they say the way to strengthen our faith) more faith, if that is God’s will of course. Faith is never achieved by our own works, it is only by surrender.

Oh the answer to my title question “FAITH – Mine or Gods or Both?” it is clearly Jesus faith only and his gift is a portion of his faith to us. Also remember it’s the faith of Jesus that saved us.Now look at the following verses in light of faith as a gift

Gal 5:5 “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”  Righteousness by faith – the gift of righteousness through the indwelling Spirit. The gift of faith!

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Heb 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  

The Man Among the Myrtle Trees

I have found the visions in Zechariah are so revealing of the promises of God to send Jesus the saviour of all man and the endless grace and love of God. The first vision is testimony of these things as it is all through the book. It is so easy to look at the surface message of these visions as they do pertain to the “Jews” of that age. But like God has many layers (infinite) there are also layers of meanings in scripture. Ask the Holy Spirit to open these to you and it will be done. The gospel is all the way through the Old and New Testament and God is just waiting to reveal Himself to you.

⁷ On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo.

⁸ During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.

In this verse we see a direct contrast between what should happen and what stops it happening. Let me explain, the man riding on the red horse represents swift (because he is riding) bloodshed (colour of red) is what should “happen” to man who are not in a relationship with God. Here it is focused on the Jewish nation who had turned away from God but it has a universal meaning as well.

However, there is also a man in a ravine standing by a myrtle tree. As we are all aware a ravine (using the symbolic nature of this word) is a place of no escape with its steep sided walls. If we try to escape the ravine through own efforts it will lead to death. Yet at the bottom of the ravine is a man beside a myrtle tree and a river. What does that represent? The Man is Jesus or Jehovah (that was yet to come) and the river is the Holy Spirit. The myrtle tree represents a young budding (because in verse 1 it gives the time of the year – February to the new moon in March given the term Chaldee, which means “shoot,” ) tree. Note it isn’t a Cedar of Lebanon which is tall and solid but a small tree, which needs protection and care.

To further explain we have a red horseman coming to kill those in the inescapable ravine but the Holy Spirit is there beside the Jehovah/Jesus (as it will be when Jesus comes to earth) who by His presence and Grace will protect the tree (us) and enable the tree to shoot/bud grow and thrive.

What a great way to create context for the vision/s. Lets proceed with the remainder of the vision.

⁹ I asked, “What are these, my lord?”

The angel who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.”

¹⁰ Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.”

Notice here it says “throughout the earth”. This does remind me Job 2:2  “I (Satan) have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” Here we see the love of God as He (Lord) sends out angels to patrol the earth counteracting Satan’s efforts to defend his people.

¹¹ And they reported to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.”

Here we see “the earth . . is at rest and in peace.” the heathen are at rest with their lives while Judah was desolate and their Temple not restored. Here have a direct contrast to those who are happy with their lives (heathen) and the Jews who are desolate and not restored. You see here the Holy Spirit has enlightened them, albeit through adversity, that shows up their desolation (God not filling their heart) because God isn’t dwelling in their temple which has yet to be restored.

This verse lays emphasis on the relationship between man and God and how he is more than willing to restore our temple. It is when by the influence of the Holy Spirit we see the walls of the ravine and that we understand, there is no way out except by God.

¹² Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” ¹³ So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

¹⁴ Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, ¹⁵ and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’

Here we see the wrath of Jesus on those who suppress Judah or in our present day to those who love God. His people who need restoring are His people to show the world his love and mercy.

¹⁶ “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

The measuring line is a great vision which follows this vision. It shows God’s abundance  when we are restored (temple) in Him.

¹⁷ “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”

God is eager to bless us with the blessing that we can share with others. This can be wealth, love, mercy, long suffering, patience, etc. To impact others about His love and to draw them nearer to Him. God is love.

 

The vision in Zechariah 2 is short in length but provides another insight into God. So read on and I give my biblical thoughts at the end.

Zechariah 2: Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand.

2 I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”

3 While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him

4 and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it.

5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’

When I first read these verses I thought it was about measuring the size of Jerusalem. So that they knew the measurements for the number of people to live in Jerusalem.

But the angel goes on to say “Jerusalem will be a city without walls”. So in essence Jerusalem could expand way beyond what the Israelites ever imagined. It shows that God is an inclusive God. Whereas man tends to be exclusive and can’t think beyond the boundaries of human effort.

 

That probably explains why the Israelites built a wall around the city. They did so to set up a defence against the enemy, including those that were not liked by them. By doing that they demonstrated two things:

1. They would restrict the number of people who could live in Jerusalem which is direct opposition to what God wanted. It actually reminds of the time Jesus walked on this earth. The Jews were very exclusive (keep it to themselves eg Gospel) when it came to the Jewish religion. Gentiles were not liked and certainly not included. Jesus came to bring the Gospel to all people including the Gentiles

2. They put their faith in the wall that they were building to protect them and make them feel safe and secure. Whereas they should have put their faith in the promises of God. In verse 5 the Lord said “And I myself will be a wall of fire around it”.  They couldn’t bring themselves to rely totally on God. Interestingly God was with them in the sanctuary/Temple but not in their hearts because of the walls they built.

In essence these verses remind to put our complete trust in what God says, because we know He will do it. We are not to make our own defence or put up walls through our own effort. We don’t realise that when we put up a wall to defend ourselves we not only prevent God showing His love for us but we prevent others knowing God because we leave them outside the walls we build.

These verses show God’s love and mercy through His  inclusiveness. He wants all people to come to Him. He wants us to turn away from the wells we have built which have become dry and wants us now to turn to the source of everlasting water.

God’s love and mercy is such that it will cover all who come to Him (and beyond) and that there is no wall to prevent you coming to Him. Unfortunately religions put up walls therefore we must always look to God not man.

As they say “look to God and you will never look back”

The book of Zechariah details a number of visions and my previous blogs I detail some of those visions and their interpretation e.g. the flying scroll, the woman in the flying basket etc. This time I have chosen Zechariah 6:11, which is about the vision of the 2 crowns.

Zech 6:11 “Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.”

What an interesting start, but wait there is so much more to unpack. Firstly, we see the command to make a crown made of two metals. Scholars say the crown were like two strands being intertwined to form it. It was also the only crown that was to be made in this form. In other words, there is one crown and only one wearer of the crown.

Interestingly, gold in the Bible generally symbolises wisdom, goodness, even wealth and power. If we examine the root Hebrew word in this text it literally means to shimmer or shine. I conclude that wisdom and goodness can “shine” rather than wealth and power.

The silver in the crown symbolises truth. So when we view the crown as an intertwined rings of silver and gold (like a wreath) we know it symbolises three things and these are:

GOLD: Wisdom and goodness

SILVER: Truth

A CROWN shaped as a WREATH: Points to the symbolism of the wreath (crown of thorns) that was placed on Jesus before his crucifixion

In terms of history and the Levitical priesthood the combining of a crown was not known. Usually the King wore one crown and the high priest another. A person wearing both at the same time was not known prior to Joshua.

You see Joshua in these verses represents the Jesus to come. The Jesus, who will be both our King and High Priest simultaneously . He will be King of the Universe (and king of this world that incidentally Satan claims to be) and the High Priest who is the atonement (the action of making amends for a wrong) for our sin. Jesus has the right to wear the crown that is in the shape of a wreath, which symbolises in part the “crown of thorns”that Jesus was to wear on the cross. The wreath symbolises the fact that He is both wisdom and goodness (gold) and truth (silver).

^{Verse 12} Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is ^[f]Branch, for He will ^[g]branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the Lord. ¹³ Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two ^[h]offices.”’

This verse points us to the the verse in John 2:9 where Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”  Where the Branch (Jesus) who is the Temple will raise it again after it has been destroyed by the people when they place Jesus on the Cross. As predicted in three days the Temple (Jesus) was rebuilt but this time Jesus is both the High Priest because of His sacrifice and the King because Satan was defeated and He is claim of King of this kingdom was established.

¹⁴ Now the crown will become a reminder in the temple of the Lord to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah and ^[i]Hen the son of Zephaniah.¹⁵ Those who are far off will come and ^[j]build the temple of the Lord.” Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely obey the Lord your God.

This verse tells us that the Crown (wreath) that Jesus wears has a twofold dignity. That Jesus should wear at the same time the crown of a king and that of a high priest (Ps 110:4; Heb 5:10). His kingship will be revealed to all when He restores the kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6) Equally importantly the crown made of gold and silver represents Wisdom, goodness and truth.

It also illustrates the parallel of Joshua who is commissioned to rebuild the Temple to its original purpose and glory. To also right the wrong that other rulers, in this case Babylon, have no right to their claim on the land or the Temple. Just as much that Satan has no right to claim the world as his own.

You see the destruction and rebuilding of the Temple is a metaphor for the destruction and rebuilding of Christ at the time of his death and resurrection. Where he also demonstrates through love his right to this world and His created beings. Christ wants us to come to Him because of His demonstrable love as opposed by Satan.s through deception and use of pride.

Praise God that He is Love.

Jonah 4 is the chapter that generally turns readers against him and write him off as an ungrateful sod and unsaved. Maybe I am a Jonah advocate because this passage again shows Gods love and what we do to push God away. So lets get into the passage:

Jonah 4.1. But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. ² He prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was not this ^[a]what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore ^[b]in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.

Clearly Jonah spoke to God before he fled from home and he basically says “Yea, I told you so. I know you too well and know you are so merciful and full of grace that you will probably save them”

Jonah actually reminds me of the rich young ruler. The young man stated everything he had done then Jesus asks him to sell everything (the things that was holding him back from truly knowing God) and follow me. Jonah had hatred in his heart for the Ninevites and God was teaching him mercy, grace and forgiveness.

Jonah goes as far as to want to die and God says “do you have a good reason to be angry”. Interestingly this statement is repeated again later on. However, the context here is that God is asking Jonah “do you have a right to be angry” because I am merciful and full of Grace? I think we are all guilty of this thought in our life at one time or another. Have you ever been secretly angry when people who do “bad” or unjust things, never get punished. Or there is an injustice and it makes you angry.

You see, God works in a different realm. He loves people no matter their sin. He continually pursues us, so that we see his love despite. Even despite us pushing God away He continues to love us.

Anyway, Jonah leaves the city and goes to the hills that overlooked Ninevah. Maybe he was thinking I can watch those Ninevites turn back to their old ways and then see what God will do or perhaps he wants to see if the change in the Ninevites continues or Jonah wanted the chance to say to God “I told you so”. What do you think?

Nonetheless, he is planning to sit there for some time because he builds a rather inadequate shelter. So God in His mercy and Grace prepares a plant to cover his head as Jonah wallows in pity and misery. Jonah acknowledges this and is grateful for the plant. Isn’t it funny that he appreciates Gods mercy on him but doesn’t equate that to the mercy shown to the Ninevites. Maybe he was making a judgement upon who should receive God’s love. It is easy to do that but I remind myself that when I judge others I am thinking I am equal to God.

The next day God sends a worm which slowly withers the plant. Then the hot wind and sun beats on Jonah. So,in his misery he again wishes he was dead. Jonah also demonstrates more compassion and concern for the plant than he does for the Ninevites.

I get two messages from this event. Firstly, Jonah was really more concerned about being seen as a false prophet i.e. his reputation, rather than the saving of the Ninevites. In fact he was even more concerned about a plant than the Ninevites.  Secondly, God loves us so much that he wants to experience His love without things in our life like pride that push God away. So God uses situations to draw us near to Him and remind us of the things that push him away.

It is easy to say “God is love” but when one experiences and contemplates God’s love that phrase has so much depth, meaning and fulfilment.

 

 

 

 

Jonahs response in Chapter 3 is a stark contrast to his response in Chapter 1. It is interesting to read the two similar verses (I have italicised the common words). As follows:

Jonah 1 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me”

Jonah 3 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you”

The subtle differences between the 2 verses are important to understand. Firstly God says to Jonah to simply cry out. Well did Jonah know what to say? Was he just going to denounce their wickedness using words tainted with revenge and not words from the heart of forgiveness and mercy? Would he really say the right thing if in his heart he had “hatred” for the people of Nineveh. After all he had good reason to think like that, considering how they killed many Hebrews in the past.

In  Chapter 3 we see that Jesus will give him the words to speak. I think the difference is significant. The first arise and go to Nineveh (in Chapter 1) was more about a metaphor about Jonah going to the place where he was really no different to the people there. Yea Jonah’s relationship with God was no different to the people of Nineveh despite him being a Hebrew and I say that because of his response to God’s call to him. You see Jonah was quite comfortable with his lifestyle on his farm and practicing the traditions of worshipping the one and only true God.

You see Jonah may not have been showing the evil deeds and wickedness of the Ninevites, but inside he hated the Ninevites because in reality his relationship with God was more about traditions and not from the heart. So God sent him on a mission to find Him. Because God could have called many others to warn the Ninevites and we see  when Jonah gave his heart to God that he could then be an instrument to save others.

God literally had to shake him up and pull him out of his complacency. In Jonah’s case do you think God used a rather extreme method of winning him back to God? Do you think God used an extreme measure to win your heart?

Jonah certainly had a conversion experience and this resulted in him becoming a mouthpiece for God. Sort of reminds me of Moses. He was reluctant to go back to Egypt for a host of reasons. Yet Moses had the experience of the burning bush. Yes, God spoke to him and despite his lack of confidence he went back and Aaron was his spokesperson.

As you know, the people of Nineveh turned from their evil ways and God spared them. The only reason the words were life changing was that they were from God. It wasn’t Jonah’s words that saved them, it was God speaking through Jonah that saved them. We are simply portals for God to express His love to mankind.

After thought

Don’t you find it also interesting that Jonah cried the following words out to the Ninevites “Yet in forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” What does “40 days” remind you of? It reminds me of the 40 days Jesus was in the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan. It also reminds me that Jesus was with the disciples for 40 days after His resurrection and that Moses was in the mountain with God for 40 days as well and the list goes on. Why was Jonah preaching to the Ninevites for 40 days. Maybe it symbolises a testing period or a period of reflection and meditation on what really matters in life. In all cases after the 40 days great things happened. Especially when you remember the Holy Spirit came after the 40 days.

I am thinking this is a great topic for another blog, so I leave it for you to ponder for now.

 

 

 

Chapter 2 of Jonah has a definite duality. I believe it is about Jonah and his journey and Jesus experience on the cross. The latter I have already blogged about, so refer to the blog “Jesus Prayer on the Cross” for more details.

So I am going to concentrate on Jonah and the words he utters when he was spending that time in the belly of the fish. Before I go on, I would like to add that at one time in our life we will have a time in the metaphoric “belly of the whale or big fish”. By going through this chapter of Jonah you will see why I say that.

When Jonah was in the “belly of the fish” we find Jonah in a very dark place, in fact he says “Out of the belly of Sheol”. Ok, where is Sheol?  Sheol not only figuratively represents the grave, it can also refer to the actual physical place where the literal bodies of the dead are buried.

Therefore what Jonah was experiencing here is an acute realisation of being separated from God, in this place of deepening darkness. Jonah actually says “I have been cast out of your sight” indicating he is in spiritual darkness or separation. For where God is, there is Light because He is Light. Jonah goes on to say “the deep closed around me” and “The earth with its bars closed behind me forever”. This gives the feeling that he is so deep in darkness that he was never to be released from this spiritual darkness. Stuck there forever. Separated from God forever. Jonah was also physically on his way to Sheol or the grave.

If not for Jesus death and resurrection that is our fate, that is, eternal separation from God. However, God’s love and grace is so strong that He wants us to be in a relationship with Him. The cross is an example of God’s love because it was love that kept Jesus on the cross. It wasn’t the nails in his hands!!

I believe Jonah’s experience, is something that all christians experience at one time in their life. There comes a realisation (all because the Holy Spirit chases us and works on our heart) that God loves me so much that He gave His son for me and I believe in Him I will be with God forever. The choice for us is very simple. Either choose “Darkness or Light”.

It is from that time of reflection in the “belly of the whale” where darkness surrounded that Jonah made his decision. Even though is was deepening darkness God was still there in the darkness seeking Jonah;s heart.

Jonah says from the darkness “Salvation is of the Lord”. He gives himself completely to God, saying “But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving”. Those words tell of his choice. In essence his response to seeing God’s love, was to give his “heart, mind and soul to God”, which is one of the commandments Jesus taught along with the second – Love your neighbour as you love yourself, even if your neighbour is your enemy.

When he gave all to God, to the point he would do as God commands him, he was “vomited” out of darkness and into Light. It could also be stated that when Light came to him he was was vomited out of darkness.

If I briefly look at Jesus when he was “in the belly” of the grave, it was His purity and righteousness that spewed Him from the grave. The parallel in our lives is that when we believe and give our all to God, we are clothed in Jesus righteousness. That is why the verse “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55-56) can be said.

So for those who rest in the grave as a child of God, they too will be spewed out of the grave like Jesus was, because God will see Jesus righteous in us.

What a great chapter in the book, especially when you see the parallel of Jesus in this chapter.

Praise God that He loves us without restraint and his grace is sufficient. All He wants is our heart, mind, soul and time.

 

 

One of my favourite books of the Bible is Jonah. Let me say up front I think Jonah gets a really bad rap by most commentators. So in response I say “he who is without sin cast the first stone”. The reason I love the book Jonah is that it uniquely reveals the power of Jesus love for us.

Anyway here is my perspective on Jonah. The first thing we read is that God spoke to Jonah. God said “Arise, go to Nineveh….and cry out against”. Lets put ourselves in Jonah’s place. God speaks to him. That in itself would make his mind race at a thousand mile an hour! Imagine if God spoke to you right now and he asked you to go to the people who killed your son or your closest friend. After all the Ninevites were the enemies of the Hebrews (Jonah was a Hebrew) and they were brutal in their attacks on the Hebrews.

Imagine God speaks to you and asks you to do something that is not what you want to do.   Maybe we are all afraid of what God may actually ask of us unless of course we have 100% given our heart and life to Jesus? Giving up that last bit of control in our lives can be hard but there is nothing better than to rely completely on Jesus.

So Jonah tried to run away from God, that is, do the human response to a moment that confronted him. Yes fight or flight! Jonah chose flight. Maybe he still wanted some control in his life and wasn’t prepared to give it all to God? We all know he ran the opposite direction to God’s request and he thought he could hide from God in the “belly” of the ship. Little did he know that God had a different belly for him to be in. I detect God’s sense of humour in that scene.

The boat set sail and the inevitable big storm came and “the mariners were afraid, and every man cried out to his god”. Then the mariners dumped the cargo overboard to prevent the ship sinking, but their efforts were not enough. Much like us if we think our efforts contribute to our salvation. Remember Jesus did it all.

Meanwhile Jonah was fast asleep in the belly of the ship. The mariners woke him and ask him to call upon his God. Just like they called upon their gods. The mariners also called upon their superstitions and casts lots and Jonah came up short. Interesting they are were trying all the things they thought would work. In this case it did! So they ask Jonah who, what, where, when questions. When the mariners knew he was a Hebrew they had fear because they knew of the Hebrew God. Interestingly the mariners ask Jonah what shall we do to calm the sea. Again it is all about “what works can I do to be saved” or salvation by works!

Eventually, the men cried out to the Hebrew God and basically said don’t let us perish because Jonah ran from you. The ask to be forgiven for what they are about to do, which is followed by the proverbial “BUT” we see this man was running away from you and you sent a raging storm to take revenge and kill him. So we are helping in that process. Then threw him overboard. Following that the seas went calm.

That event and witness alone, converted the mariners to offer a sacrifice to the Hebrew Lord and they also took vows to the Lord. Instant conversion! Amazing how God uses all sorts of circumstances and events and people to bring people to Him.

I ask is there any parallels between Jesus and Jonah in this chapter of Jonah? Lets look at the time Jesus slept in the boat when the storm raged about Him (and the disciples). Jesus was calm because He had faith in His Father. Whereas Jonah was ready to go down with the ship because he knew he was running away from God. You see the thing that God ask Jonah to do was too much for him to do. Also what the Father asked Jesus to do was also too much but Jesus but He trusted and had faith in His Father. Jonah did not.

The last verse in Chapter 1 states that a great fish swallowed Jonah and he was in the belly for three days and three nights.

Now that is a direct parallel to Jesus, as Jesus was in the belly of the tomb for 3 days and nights as stated in Matthew 12:40 : “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” So is there a parallel between Jonah and Jesus? After all Jesus said these words to the disciples. Or is this verse there to get our attention about the following chapter?

I believe Chapter 2 has two themes. One is about Jonah and the other is to give us an understanding of the feelings and anguish Jesus felt on the cross. I refer you to my blog “Jesus Prayer on the Cross”.

As for Jonah in Chapter 2 and 3, I will leave that for my next blog.

 

 

Light is a word that is used frequently in the Bible and the first mention is in Genesis when God says “Let there be light”. There is a constant reference to light in the Old Testament and the following are just a few:

1. Psalms 36:9 “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light”

2. Isaiah 9:2 “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: that they dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined”

3. Psalms 18:28 “For thou wilt light my lamp: Jehovah my God will lighten my darkness”

When we enter the New Testament we see the “Light” (note capital L) is mentioned a number of times, predominately in John’s chapters, and always referring to Jesus. As a note I recommend the use of the New American Standard as it is closest to the original. Other versions do not display Light with a capital “L”. However, Jesus is the capital “Light” as it is described in the Greek language as φως, φωΤσς.

See John 12:36 “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.”

You will note, John refers to the divine Light with the use of a capital letter and in the Greek it is φως i.e. Phos. However, other writers of the New Testament also use a capital letter when referring to “Divine” light. But the word “Light” (capital L) is not used in the Old Testament. It generally state something like “Your light” (capital Y referring to God with lower case “l” for light).

Paul writes in Ephesians 5:8 “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth)” Remember we cannot be “Light” or divine Light, but the Light must live in us.

One also cannot but see the parallel between Genesis 1 and John 1. Light is mentioned so many times and the language in John 1 is certainly remininescent of Genesis 1. For instance the first phrase in John 1 is “In the beginning was the Word” and in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God”.

Genesis 1 also states “and darkness was upon the face of the deep…………And God said let there be light” “And God saw the light, that it was good” and then we read John1 and it states v4 “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” v5 “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” v7 “He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.”

John 1:9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. This verse really emphasises the difference between Jesus and man. Jesus enLIGHTens man with His presence.

There other references where the same Greek word (φως) is used but is written in lower case. So it can be a bit confusing. The word light also generally refers to the light emitted by a lamp or a heavenly light such as surrounds angels when they appear on earth. It could also refer to a star, fire because it is light and sheds light, a lamp or torch or light as in brightness. The only other use is as a metaphor. For instance, truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it or reason and mind.

The word “Light” refers to God whereas “light” refers to something given by God. For God is the emitter  and creator of all Light, in a spiritual sense. He is Light in a divine sense.

Other significant verses are as follows:

John 12:36 “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. 

The Light here is the pure light – Jesus! It is the pure love of the Father shown through Jesus. With Jesus or Christ in us we become sons of Light. It is Jesus Light in us that others see and that we respond to.

Ephesians 5:13 “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”

Luke 11:36 “If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays”

John 9:5 Jesus said “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”

So what is the “Light”?

Light is the revelation of God’s love in Jesus Christ and the penetration of that love into lives darkened by sin. So how does that love penetrate into man that is darkened by sin? If the “Light” (Jesus) lives in you that Light will dispel the darkness of sin.

The Light in us is the same a Christ in us.

Jesus came as the Light that enlightens all people, so that those believing in him will no longer be in darkness John 12:46. In other words the Father showed His love for us through Jesus. Jesus said “If you see me you’ve seen the Father”

Seeing His love will enlighten us as to what pure love is all about. However, it is only when we let Jesus in our hearts, will darkness flee.

John 8:12 “Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Remember Jesus is the incarnate Word of God.  John 1:14 states “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth”

The Light is God’s character which is pure love, full of grace and truth.

God is Light and created physical light “in the beginning of mans existence” as well as the Provider of spiritual light by which we can see the truth. Remember Jesus said “I am the way the truth and life”

Light exposes everything, even those things that are hidden in darkness; it shows things as they really are. That is why Light is so uncomfortable to those who chose to live in the dark. John 3:20 states “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”

Not wanting to be negative but there are false lights too. 2 Corinthians 11:14 states “No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

But if you experience the true Light, one will recognise false light as nothing of substance, compared to God’s pure love.

I encourage you to seek with all your heart, mind and soul, the love (Light) of God that is full of grace and truth.