A Giant Fish Follows GOD's Command

Jonah 1:17 - 2:10, "The LORD provided a giant fish to swallow Jonah and Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights."

It is not known whether the people of Jonah's day knew the difference of labeling fish, mammals (such as whales) or just called everything in the ocean fish. But, Jonah was indeed inside a large ocean creature that GOD commanded to swallow Jonah. 

"From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his GOD. He said, 'In my distress I called to the LORD and He answered me...You hurled me into the deep, in the very heart of the seas and the currents swirled about me and I said I have been banished from Your sight. Yet, I look to Your Holy Temple. The water threatened and engulfed me. Seaweed was wrapped around my head. But you brought my life up from the pit, O GOD my LORD. You remembered me, LORD.  My prayer rose to Your Holy Temple...What I have vowed (to You), I make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.

"The LORD commanded the fish and it vomited Jonah onto dry land."

I don't know about you, but I think it is much easier and more blessed to do what GOD wants you to do than to chance an experience that goes beyond our comprehension!

The GOD of Creation uses another one of His creatures from the animal kingdom to do His will. This animal was the cause for Jonah's preaching to the city of Nineveh which brought the city to turn from their evil ways. GOD had compassion on them and did not destroy them. (Jonah 3:10)

Have you felt in your heart when you do something that you know you shouldn't be doing? The Holy Spirit moves our spirit to realize right from wrong. When one dismisses GOD's Spiritual leading, it may cause Him to do something drastic that will cause us to realize His bidding. As did Jonah, He refused to preach the Word of GOD to Nineveh and the consequences were Jonah's experience with the giant fish! If the LORD will be this direct with one of His called out people, what will he do to those who reject Him. If not here in the now, it will be before His Great White Throne Judgment for those refusing His free gift of salvation. (Revelation 20:11-12) For those who belong to Him it will be before The Judgment Seat of Christ where believers and followers of Christ are rewarded for their faithfulness or lose rewards for their disobedience.  (Romans 14:10-12, I Corinthians 3:13-15) Choose your salvation in Christ, for this life is but the blink of an eye compared to all eternity which is forever! Choose this day Whom you will serve.  

Jesus Placed On The Cross

John 19:17-27, "Carrying His Own Cross, He went out to the place of the Skull."

Even to this day the Hill of Golgotha still portrays  the Skull within the rock.  Off to the right middle you can see the eye sockets and the nose bone coming down from between the eyes.

"Here they crucified Him with two others, one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

"Pilate had a sign fastened to the Cross that read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. The chief priests and scribes protested, 'Do not write King of the Jews, write He claimed to be King of the Jews.' Pilate answered them, 'What I have written, I have written.'

"When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they drew lots for His clothes which fulfilled a prophecy (in Psalm 22:18), 'They divided My garments among them and cast lots for My clothing.' 

"Near the Cross of Jesus stood His mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother there and the disciple whom He loved standing near by, He said to His mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, the disciple took her into his home."

This should not only be emotionally agonizing for Jesus, His family, and friends, but should also be for us today. Not only did Jesus go through this, but when the world around went black, Jesus took upon Him every sin every single human being had, was, and will commit!

He did it all for you and me. Come to His salvation if you have not already. Simply humble you heart and admit you are a sinner and ask Christ to forgive you and come into your heart by His Holy Spirit. You will be saved. Acts 16:31 says, "Believe in the LORD Jesus and you will be saved - you and your household!" Amen!

Balaam's Donkey Sees the Angel of the LORD

Numbers 22:21-34, Tells of Balaam's donkey, "seeing the angel of the LORD blocking the road and Balaam did not see the angel of the LORD's threat of death. When the donkey turned off the road into a field to avoid the angel of the LORD, Balaam began to beat her (the donkey).

The angel of the LORD moved further to block their way down a path that led between two vineyards with walls. When the donkey again saw the angel of the LORD (which Balaam couldn't see), she pressed against the wall, crushing Balaam's foot. So he beat her again!

The angel of the LORD moved to a narrow place where there was no room to turn around. When the donkey again saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. He was so angry he began to beat her with his staff.

Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth (to talk). She said, 'What have I done for you to beat me these three times?' (I don't know about you, but I would have been shocked to have a donkey talking yo me!) 

But, in his anger, Balaam answered, 'You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword, I would kill you right now!' Then the angel of the LORD shows himself to Balaam!

The LORD opened the eyes of Balaam to see the angel of the LORD! Balaam went face down on the ground! The angel of the LORD said, 'Do you know I would have killed you if your donkey had not turned you away from me these three times, yet I would have spared her.' Balaam admitted to the angel of the LORD that he had sinned (against the animal by beating her). For she had indeed saved his life three times!"

Matthew Henry's Commentary further shares, "GOD's holy angels are at war with those whom GOD is angry, they (angels) are the ministers of His justice. After the third beating, the LORD opened the donkey's mouth to speak. That was a miracle quite above the power of nature and wrought by the power of GOD! II Peter 2:16 shares, 'Christ has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.' By a 'dumb' donkey GOD rebukes the madness of Balaam. (Of course we shouldn't be surprised, for Psalm 145:21 shares that "All creatures will praise His, GOD's, Holy Name forever and ever!" I believe that will be by vocal words from them!) 

If GOD would not suffer the donkey to be wronged (by Balaam) how much more if one commits wrongs against another human! Our Righteous GOD will not accept the abuse of the meanest upon the weak, whether animal or man. Balaam's brutish, head-strong passion so blinded him, he didn't consider the strangeness of the donkey talking to him, even more so his answering the donkey's question!!

The dominion GOD has given to man over the creatures of the earth is the reason we should not abuse them. They are inferior to us and we should be thankful to GOD and care for them, not abuse them. When animals depart from obedience to us, we should immediately inquire of ourselves of what have we done to have them act in disobedience. When our eyes are opened (as was Balaam's) we shall see the danger we are in when we sin."

If you are not a believer in Christ Jesus' salvation for you, you won't have the prompting of the Holy Spirit. If you have His salvation, follow His Holy Spirit's prompting your life to become more like Christ and less like fallen man. 

Jesus' Innocence Condemned

We saw last Thursday how the Jews chose the barbarian, Barabbas to be freed instead of Jesus. Now comes the horrific abuse of an innocent Man, the GOD Man, Jesus Christ.

John 19:1-16, "Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head."

"Once again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, 'Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know I find no basis for a charge against Him.' When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and purple robe, Pilate said, 'Here is the Man!' As soon as the chief priests and scribes saw Him, they shouted, 'Crucify crucify!' But Pilate answered, 'YOU take Him and crucify Him. As for me, I find no fault for a charge against Him.'  The Jews insisted, 'We have a law that He must die because He claimed to be the Son of GOD!' Pilate went back into Jesus. 'Do you refuse to speak to me? Don't you realize I have the power to free you or release you?' Jesus answered, 'You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.' From that point on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, 'If you let this man go you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king is an enemy of Caesar.' Pilate asked, 'Shall I crucify your king?' The chief priests answered, 'We have no king but Caesar!' Pilate handed Him over to them to be crucified."

The commentary mentions, "The Jewish leaders were so desperate to get rid of Jesus that, despite their intense hatred for Rome, they shouted, 'We have no king but Caesar.' How ironic that their false allegiance would be to Rome while rejecting their own Messiah! Their own words condemned them, for GOD was to be their only true King, and they had abandoned ever trace of loyalty to Him. Instead of turning people to GOD, they claimed allegiance to Rome in order to kill their Messiah."

Jesus is the Savior of the world. "Believe in the LORD Jesus and you will be saved - you and your household." Acts 16:31 A true Friend indeed!

Substitutionary Sacrifice of Baby Animals

The Book of Leviticus is about the priestly duties for the sacrifices of animals. The Life Application Bible explains, "There are five kinds of offerings that fulfill two main purposes:  one to show praise, thankfulness, and devotion; the other for atonement, the covering and removal of guilt and sin. Animal offerings demonstrated that the person was giving his or her life to GOD by means of the life of the animal. Through the sacrifices we learn about the cost of sin. The animals lives were only a temporary measure until Jesus' death paid the penalty of the sins of all mankind forever. "

The first thought of seeing these baby animals, knowing they will be sacrificed for the sins of those bringing them is heart breaking. How much more the heartbreaking was to our Almighty Creator when man chose to sin. These innocent lambs, goats, calves, and doves were a substitute, temporary covering for when Christ's innocent blood would be shed for man's fallen existence. "For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD." (Romans 3:23)

This was a strict covenant GOD established which looked to the future time when He in the Flesh of Jesus Christ would be the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind; from Adam and Eve to the last human being He will create. Jesus is the Lamb of GOD. "John saw Jesus and said, 'Behold , the Lamb of GOD Who takes away the sins of the world.' " (John 1:29)

GOD is all-knowing. He knows the end from the beginning before He ever created the universe. The past, present, and future are one in the same to Him. It is man who is on the time-line, not GOD.

One day in mankind's future, all the animals and chosen man will be as it was in the Garden of Eden. "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down beside the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together ; and a child shall lead them.

continued, "The child will play with the cobra and neither will be harmed.' (Isaiah 11:6-9)

GOD's glory will liberate! "The creation itself will be liberated from (this present) bondage of decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of GOD!" (Romans 8:21) GOD will redeem! And, His animal kingdom is part of that creation!

We will then be apart of the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem spoken of in Revelation 21:1-3, "I saw a New Heaven and New Earth for the first heaven and earth had passed away... The New Jerusalem came down from GOD...now the dwelling place of GOD is with men."

Imagine the size of the New Earth!!! The  New Jerusalem is 1500 miles wide, 1500 miles long, and 1500 miles high!!! The space station is only 220 miles high above the earth.

The New Jerusalem is 1,280 miles higher than the space station in this picture of the present earth!!!

"All creation will be liberated..." (Romans 8:21) ALL includes the animal kingdom! The only ones who will not take part in this glorious eternity with GOD will be those who have rejected salvation in Jesus Christ. Instead, their's will be an eternity of punishment (beyond present comprehension) with no second chance. You either choose Jesus paying your penalty of sin upon His Cross or you pay for it yourself forever in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15) This fallen Universe's Laws of Thermal Dynamics doesn't apply there! You will burn and not be consumed. You will be in total  darkness though the flames of fire and brimstone will inflict you to your very bones. The only things your eyes will see is when you look up into heaven and see the joy you could have had. Be sure your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life and not in The Books of your recorded sins of every sin you have thought, said, and done in the flesh!

Jesus' salvation is so simple, a child can understand. No matter how "simple" or severe your sin is, humble yourself to accept you are a sinner. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD" (Romans 3:23) Confess your sin to Jesus and ask Him to save you and He will! "Everyone who calls on the Name of the LORD (Jesus) will be saved!" (Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13) Instantly you will know by the filling of the Holy Spirit of GOD, a joy that only Almighty Father GOD through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, can give to you about Eternity with Him and all of His creation, including the animal kingdom, "ALL creatures will praise His Holy Name forever and ever!" (Psalm 145:21) Hallelujah to His Holy Name!  

Pilate's Trial Finds No Fault With Jesus

John 18:28-40, "The Jews led Jesus to the palace of the Roman governor (Pontius Pilate). To avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. Pilate came out to them and asked, 'What charges are you bringing against this man?' They replied, 'If he were not a criminal, we would not have brought him over to you.' Pilate said, 'Take him yourselves and judge him by your law.' The Jews objected, 'But we have no right to execute anyone!' (Sounds like guilty before trial to me! That's known as a lynch mob!) This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicated the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. Pilate then went inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked Him, 'Are You the King of the Jews?' Jesus asked, 'Is that your own idea or did others talk to you about Me?' Pilate replied, 'Am I a Jew? It was Your people and Your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it You have done?' Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is from another place.'  Pilate said, 'You are a king, then!' Jesus answered, 'You are right in saying I Am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.' Pilate asked, 'What is truth?' With this he went back out to the Jews and said, 'I find no basis for a charge against Him. It is your custom to release a prisoner at the time of the Passover.  Do you want me to release the king of the Jews?' They shouted back, 'No, not Him! Give us Barabbas!' Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion."

Commentary shares more about Barabbas, "Barabbas was a rebel against Rome. He had committed murder and was probably a hero among the Jews. Barabbas had led a rebellion against Rome (which failed) and paying taxes to the despised government. He was released instead of Jesus, Who was the only One Who could truly help Israel."

Allow Jesus to free you from your sin. He came to die for mankind's sin!  All can know the salvation He brings to everyone who accepts His free gift to be with Him in heaven for eternity! "For ALL (mankind) have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD." (Romans 3:23) "To ALL who receive Him (Jesus), to those who believe  in His Name (Jesus), He (Jesus) gave the right to become the children of GOD." ( John 1:12) 

The Animal Kingdom Becomes Food For Mankind

Man was a vegetarian before the flood. When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, "...by the sweat of his brow, he tilled the ground for food." (Genesis 3:15)

Man became a meat eater after the flood. When Noah's family and all the animals came out of the ark, GOD said, "The fear and dread of you (mankind) will fall upon all the beasts of the earth, birds of the air, creatures that move along the ground, and fish of the sea. They are given to your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be given to you as food. Just as I (GOD) gave you green plants, I NOW give you everything." (Genesis 9:2-3)

An important mention is "lives and moves." What we call "road kill" is for the animals to eat, not man. Another important mention GOD said was, "But you must NOT eat meat that has the lifeblood still in it." (Genesis 9:4) Matthew Henry's Commentary further explains, "...that is, man shall NOT eat the raw flesh as do the beasts of prey." (Volume 1, page 70, Column 1) That's another separation of man from the animal kingdom. We know of the consequences of salmonella and other diseases associated with eating raw meat.

 Man's cruelty definitely came upon the animal kingdom. What is so harsh is the slaughter of thousand's of elephants a year by poachers just for their ivory tusks! The slaughter of animals to make fur coats when there are so many man made fibers, silk from silkworms, cotton fibers from the cotton plant, wool from sheep that doesn't mean the taking of their lives. It's a tragedy of killing animals like  baby seals, minks, and rabbits just for the pleasure of one's edification to own such an "extravagant" coat.

  

I still claim GOD's Word for the animal kingdom from Psalm 145:21, "Let all creatures praise His Holy Name forever and ever." I believe this occurs in Eternity. In this fallen world the animals suffer to become food, clothing, and labor for mankind. GOD will reward them to forevermore be with Him upon the New Earth. They will know their Creator and He will reward them for being created only to die for man's fallen needs. Like GOD's Chosen people, once all are with GOD in Eternity forever, the animals too will never die again for in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem, there will never again be death. "For death will be swallowed up in Victory!" (I Corinthians 15:54)

What GOD has prepared for His Chosen of Israel and His Church (and the animal kingdom) has yet to be revealed! Make sure you belong to Him through the Salvation of Jesus Christ! Accept Christ Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross for your sin and the Holy Spirit will open your heart and mind to His Glory!

Next Sunday:  The Substitutionary Sacrifice of Baby Animals for Sin