Jonah Sleeps

Welcome to the minutes of the third meeting. I hope and pray that everyone is experiencing fullness in the Spirit! Last time we considered the verses in Jonah 1:4-6, and asked the general question, "What does this ship represent?" There are many pictures in this section, but the two I see now are the pastoral and prophetic ones.

Pastoral Picture:
There have been times I disembarked on a journey, and perhaps it is not within the Lord's plan for me. That journey is disobedience. Much like a willful child, rejecting the word of life. Our flesh can rise up and convince the mind, the will, that to follow God will be to hard, to painful. And then make the choice, transgression, the path of death. I struggle with my back to Him, attempting to journey out of God's presence. Without the flow of life, the inner man slumbers.

Consider that the wind was howling, the waves were crashing, the sailors were running all over trying to save the ship. And Jonah slept. In the physical word, I couldn't sleep in such a situation! The connection to God in the vessel was not functioning. Transgression suppresses the life we live by, interferes with the communication link. And then leads to the outcome of all that is not preserved, death.

The boat was in grave peril. The sailors scurried about, doing what was in their power to do. That is my reaction sometimes, to try and fix things, save myself. It is automatic, we have self preservation high on the 'to do' list in the natural man. And when the sailors efforts failed, they turned to their gods. I may not have idols and charms as a believer, but there are plenty of dead things in the world to turn to for help, when the matter is entirely between God and the soul. Then when things get really bad, the very essence of self awareness stands up, the I in charge, the master of my vessel, gives up its own authority, recognizing that all is lost. And goes to wake up the inner man.

Our answer in so many situation is to 'call upon our God', the faithful one who has conquered death and will deliver us.

Prophetic Picture:
Jonah left the very presence of God, and went to a people who were separated from God. He dwelt with them, then when the master called, he awoke. Oh how good is our God! We know where this is headed! "Arise oh sleeper! Call upon thy God!" There is only one who can deliver us from death! Only one who calls upon God forever, from the rising of the sun. Only one who lifted the curse of demise, who became the acceptable sacrifice.

For this meeting, here is the current agenda:

Prayer and Thanksgiving:
Lets lift up those we fellowship with, that the Lord would protect them and make them shining lights in the workplace. Pray for me, that God would hold me to stand in His counsel. Ask Him to open up the word to us, fill us with life from the Spirit and the resulting wisdom. Praise Jesus, for fully answering the Father, for rising up and performing the singular ministry only He could do.

Open questions:
I have heard nothing more concerning Tarshish beyond the popular scholars. A place of trade, perhaps Jonah had family there. He paid his fare to go. Still wondering where that leads.
What about Jonah in the 'sides' of the ship?

Current topic:
Now we head into the "What have you done!" part, verses seven through twelve. Prayerfully read these, and see what the Spirit is speaking. Does the questioning of the sailors seem important? What about the word, "God of heaven, maker of the dry land and sea." Struck fear in to the listener, why?

Conclusion:
It was brought to my attention that I failed to explain that to participate you can just reply with a email. No need figure out the blog or discussion group. May everyone find thirst quenching life in the Spirit this week!