Favorite Bible Characters

No coincidence in God's realm. God is simply that perfect, and awesome.

All of us, God's children, were brats in our past lives. God allowed that 'brat-ness'* so He could let us experience what 'real' grace means. AND so that we His children could give glory to Him for that grace.  (If you are still a brat today, think twice or many times. Do you really have a relationship with God?) 

*(Brat-ness -- pagiging brat; imbentong word 😆)

I just remember how brat Jonah was. Imagine, he tried to hide from the KING of kings. What was he thinking? I don't know. Maybe, he just don't feel like doing what God told him to do. (Ei kung ako si Jonah ganito ako dati mag-isip: Ayaw ko nga Lord. Bahala sila sa buhay nila. Ei di deads mo na silang lahat. Byers!) Poor Jonah, how could he fight against God?!?

Actually, when God sent the storm against the ship were Jonah was it was out of mercy. Mercy for Jonah. (It was given God has mercy for Nineveh, because, if he do not have mercy for that city, he would not send Jonah to warn them.) God had given Jonah another chance to obey God's command OR else Jonah would also receive God's wrath. 

Jonah finally came to his senses after 3 days in darkness in the belly of a big fish. He prayed to God. 

(Kung maarte si Jonah ganito sya magpray: Lord, ayaw ko na po sa dilim! Ayaw ko na po sa mabaho! Ayaw ko na po sa malansa! Ayaw ko na po dito sa tyan ng isda! Alisin nyo na po ako dito Lord at gagawin ko na po ang pinapagawa nyo.) 

Just by having a heartfelt confession, Jonah moved God's heart. God commanded the fish to bring Jonah to the shore. (Just a thought: either Jonah cannot swim OR GOD is just that thoughtful because Jonah does not have the energy to swim - he had no food for 3 days.) God told him again to go to Nineveh. He obeyed and the whole city repented. (Brat lang talaga si Jonah at nagalit pa sya dahil pinatawad na ni God ang Nineveh.)

The spirit of indifference (Jonah partnered with it when he ran away) is actually deadly. It will numb you and rob you of the joy of doing God's commands.

Anyways, such a long introduction. Jonah is not my favorite Bible character. Who would want a dive inside the fish's belly?


If God would only honor my audacity:

I would ask for double of Abraham's faith, triple of Joseph's blessings, twice of Moses' humility, five times Joshua's courage, 10x Caleb's strength, double of Elisha's spirit, Esther's beauty, Ruth's devotion, and Jesus' mind and heart.

But, really, for what? If I am just gonna use it for myself, why should God listen? If God would honor it, what he is up to would be beyond my imagination.

Honestly, I just wish for a simple life,  to be comfortable in my own little world. To be free from any vulnerability. But, God must have thought otherwise. So, here I am Lord, in your time send me for your glory.

Isaiah 49
Isaiah 60