on April 5, 2018
Needing but not knowing God
Jonah 1:5 “Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.”
The situation in the above text caused uproar as people are always alarmed by challenges, especially troubles that could lead to death. There were people in the ship that do not know whom God was. They cried every man unto his god, they threw away valuables and that was the way they knew out. Most times, when faced with troubles, do we not also consider our strength, abilities and experiences (gods) first instead of crying to God? Until we run out of our own techniques of doing things or solving problems, we cannot allow God intervene. These men tried all they could and have exhausted all of their options. Is it when other options fail that we remember God?
Jonah, the cause of the tribulation was fast asleep while others struggled. What do you think made him so confident even in such a situation that he didn’t know what was going on? He knew the God he served! That situation only required God, but those who didn’t know Him struggled for the way out, it could never have been fruitful. When what you need is what you don’t know, you keep looking for what you don’t need.
The shipmaster’s then thought of one last untried resort, the sleeper. And there was the solution. He said. ‘Call upon your God’. This type of phrase is often used in our generation. People go to men of God to find answers and solutions, yet, they do not really want to have anything to do with that God! They want those who can trust in God and talk to Him for them but they distance themselves from Him and expect God to intervene for them.
Have you truly known the God you need? If you don’t, situations are meant to bend you to the extent where you are confused about what next to do; they can blind you from knowing what you really need. Beloved, all you need is God, know Him truly! If you are yet to accept Jesus as your personal saviour and Lord, now is the time, don’t wait till situations stray you away from Him again. Confess your sins to Him and be saved today!
Talk to God: Father, I want to be filled with your knowledge, to understand fully that I need you for everything, help me O Lord in Jesus’ name, amen.