In first day of the Seeds of Faith Israel Tour II, the group visited Joppa or Yafo. This is a significant place because this is the port where Jonah boarded a ship in order to run away from God. This is also the place where Peter stayed with Simon the Tanner, and where God showed him a vision to do ministry to the Gentiles.
What can we learn from the story of Jonah?
First, God is calling each one of us for a specific purpose.
In Jonah 1:1-2 it is clear on what God wants Jonah to do — “The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
For us, God may not be calling us to preach but to do something for His glory and honor. Embrace the calling of God and start doing it.
Second, God will find a way to bring us back to Him.
Jonah 1:3 says, “But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish . He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.”
Jonah thought all the while that God is not Joppa or in Tarshish. He thought that God was in Jerusalem only. But God is everywhere. In Jonah 1:17 God provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah when he was thrown overboard. After 3 nights, the fish vomited Jonah into dry land, and then he began his journey to Nineveh.
God will surely find a way to bring you back and will use anything like a “huge fish” to bring you back to you back to Him.
Third, God will use you mightily to bring about success.
When Jonah preached in Nineveh, the people listened and and repented from their wicked ways. Jonah 3:10 says, “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.”
God will bring also success to the ministry that God has brought to us. If we just offer our lives, God will use us mightily.
May God bless us all!
Sincerely,
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Director, Office of Communications