God is not a Mystery
One of the aspects of our God that I am so grateful for is His willingness to explain and prepare His people for His plans. Daniel mentioned this truth when King Nebuchadnezzar asked his wise men to do what was not possible: reveal a dream the king had which only he knew the details of. Daniel’s response was simply, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.” (Daniel 2:27-28) God prepares us for His plans, if we are careful to pay attention to His lessons.
Jesus referenced Jonah and Ninevah in today’s reading as the only sign that generation would receive. The encounter Jonah had with God serves as a powerful example of God’s plan for man’s salvation. While not the only foreshadowing of the redemption of mankind, Jonah’s story might just be the most vividly symbolic of what Jesus accomplished. Jonah remained hidden within the belly of a great fish for three days. After this, the fish vomited him up on the shore, and Jonah preached the message of repentance to the people of Ninevah (Jonah 1-4). This shows us that Jesus would spend three days in the belly of death, buried in a borrowed tomb. Afterwards, he would burst out from the grave and preach the message of salvation and redemption. No sign would be given to that generation other than this, but none would be needed.
There are things God keeps hidden from our understanding until the time is right. However, He chooses to reveal so much to us. Salvation was far too important of an issue for Him to leave our understanding to chance. 1 Timothy 2:4 reminds us that God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Therefore, He prepared us for the most selfless act of history. He sent men like Jonah to walk according to the prophesy of Jesus’ acts of salvation. He led Moses in acts which depicted his work on the cross. He spoke through the prophets again and again to prepare His people for their Messiah, and He leads people into our lives to do the same. If we miss it, we cannot say we were not told. We cannot pass off the blame of our rejection onto a lack of knowledge. History holds the lives of many who had far less information and yet fell at the Lord’s feet. Let us be both chastised and inspired by today’s reading. Open your eyes and see. Soften your heart and understand the work of the Lord on your behalf. Also, open your mouth and proclaim what you have seen and understood. Let us not dismiss His invitation or keep our mouths shut to give it to another. “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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