I felt led this morning to talk about Jonah in the belly of the “great fish” gâdôl: exceeding great. dâg: fish. Many “unbelieving teachers” say that Jonah spending 3 days and nights in a fishes stomach was just not possible!!! Well let me say that the only thing that is not possible is this! “…the hope of eternal life, which God, WHO DOES NOT LIE, promised before the beginning of time…” (Titus 1:2) “…it is IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE…” (Heb. 6:18) So, listen to this account and look at the support Jesus gives it. “…they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm…Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS.” (Jonah 1:15-17) There are many who believe this is a “made up” story but check this out.
Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except THE SIGN OF JONAH…The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something GREATER THAN JONAH is here.” (Luke 11:29-32) What is this sign of Jonah? Jesus answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except THE SIGN OF THE PROPHET Jonah. For as Jonah was THREE DAYS and THREE NIGHTS in the belly of a huge fish, so THE SON OF MAN will be THREE DAYS and THREE NIGHTS in the heart of the earth.” (Matt. 12:39-40) Not 1½ days not 2 days but 3 days and nights. We’ve become a generation of questioning the accuracy of God’s word! Be assured EVERY WORD OF GOD, “…is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” (2 Tim. 3:16-17) “…O Lord GOD, You are God, and YOUR WORDS ARE TRUE…” (2 Sam. 7:28) What we need to do is remember that if some belief contradicts the Word of God, those who believe these contradictions “They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. WE ARE OF GOD. He who knows God HEARS US; he who is not of God DOES NOT HEAR US. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:5-6)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham