Arrange
Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17 NLT
One of my daughters and I arranged flowers for my son’s wedding. So many details, so many flowers and all on a time schedule as flowers are quite fickle. Copious decisions for seasonal flowers, colors, height of flowers, ones for bouquets, bouts, aisle lanterns, arch and more. It took a lot of coordinating so at crunch time we would be ready for the delivery of the flowers along with family and friends who would be helping. The day before the wedding we were then able to arrange the flowers – probably the most fun because we could be creative.
In reading the story of Jonah, we see God arranging His creation just for Jonah. Whether it was a great fish, gourd, worm or violent wind, God arranged for His creation to be where it needed to be at just the right time.
Arrange in Hebrew is mana (maw-naw), a verb meaning to appoint, ordain as well as count, reckon, number, assign, tell, prepare or set. It is used 28 times in the Old Testament with 4 of them being in Jonah.
Jonah was running from God – he went the opposite direction of what God had told him to do. He fled to a port, hopped on a boat and got himself in the middle of the ocean. He was supposed to be on land in Nineveh. Not that the location mattered to God. God was more concerned with Jonah’s heart and the people of Nineveh.
We cannot run from God. Oh, we can try, but He does arrange circumstances and His creation to intercept our running. We may not be swallowed by a great fish, but we could be stopped at a traffic light to avoid an up-ahead accident. We could be held up in a long conversation with someone to avoid another conversation. God is Sovereign. He arranges and prepares our lives to bring Him glory.
He is good and does what is good (Psalm 119:68). He works for our good (Romans 8:28) in Christ Jesus. He has the big picture and can orchestrate our lives in every circumstance.
Even in rebellion – like Jonah. And in complaining – again, like Jonah.
While in the fish, Jonah did repent and acknowledge God, His compassion and salvation. Eventually Jonah did make it to Nineveh, a frightful looking man for having been inside a fish 3 days. Jonah did testify to God’s salvation, and he did obey, but he still had some dark spots in his heart. At the end of the book, Jonah complains. He was looking for the easy way out, for comfort, for himself.
God was looking (and still is) for a soft heart – one of compassion, obedience, love and kindness. He will arrange our lives and give us opportunities to grow our hearts to look more like Jesus.
Is God speaking to you today? Will listen or buy a ticket for a boat?
LORD God, You indeed are Sovereign. You do arrange my life, every aspect of it. May I submit to Your leading, Your hand, Your guidance and not walk in rebellion. May I not complain of my insignificant uncomfortableness. May I have Your eyes to see the bigger picture – may I lay myself on Your altar as a living sacrifice and give myself to You wholly and completely. AMEN
