“They remembered that God (Elohim) was their Rock, that God Most High (EL Elyon) was their redeemer.” Psalm 78:35 NIV

El – Elyon – God Most High.  God is sovereign, nothing happens without His knowledge.  He is supreme power and authority over absolutely everything.  

He has a plan

He is in control

In His timing

For His purpose

In His Will

Let’s take a brief look at the story of Jonah. You probably know it well.  God came to Jonah and told him to go to Ninevah because He was about to bring His judgment against that city.  Jonah ran away from the Lord in the total opposite direction. Did Jonah really think that he was going to outrun God? I find that laughable.

The story continues with Jonah on a ship, but the journey was interrupted by a dangerous storm. The sailors knew Jonah was trying to outrun God and questioned him about it. In Jonah 1:12 Jonah says, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea”, he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” It took the sailors a bit to obey because they were fearful, but they eventually threw Jonah overboard.  The seas grew calm and Jonah sank. However, the Lord provided a big fish to swallow up Jonah.

Jonah prayed while inside the big fish and told God he would do what the He had asked of him. No use in running. Then the Lord had the fish vomit Jonah up onto dry land. GROSS!  Not sure where Jonah “landed”, but it wasn’t Ninevah.  Ninevah is inland and not a port city. Many scholars think that Jonah was brought back to Joppa. It says in Jonah 3:3, “Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Ninevah.” So, he had to travel to Ninevah. That must have been an interesting trip.

I couldn’t think of a better way to describe the absolute Sovereignty of God than through the book of Jonah. We learn so much from this short book in the Bible. First, we learn that God has a plan for us. He communicates His plan and whether we choose to listen or not, it up to us. But, we need to be ready to accept the consequences if our choice is our own will. What He asks of us is not always easy and we may not THINK He knows what is best for us, BUT He does!  You can trust that fact. Because it is all for His good and perfect will. Just think of all the trouble Jonah could have avoided if he would have just have gone to Ninevah in the first place.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for being on control and having a grand plan! Thank you for holding us in Your hands and leading us in Your good and perfect will.

For Today:  Is there anything that God has asked of you and you have ran in the opposite direction? Has He asked you to give something up? Has He been asking you to serve Him in some capacity?