Jonah I: Things Do Not Just Happen
And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. (Jonah 1:17 ESV)
Things Do Not Just Happen
My favorite football team had a defensive coach that was considered for many years to be the best in the business. Mostly, because he was not a reactive coach. Defense Coaches might be tempted to figure out what the enemy offense was planning, and defend against it.
That makes a certain amount of sense.
But this coach, instead, DID things… and made the offense react to him and his plans.
God is, in a way, like that coach.
While many see God as sitting in heaven reacting to what is happening on earth… helping in times of trouble… responding to tragedies and disasters… fixing what is broken…
Jonah presents a better, albeit a little confusing, picture.
God is at work. He acts, He does, He moves, He shakes. He builds. He redeems. He loves.
He is not merely a reactor.
He is a doer.
And thus we have hope, peace, and salvation.