Let Me Open My Mouth and Fearlessly Make Known the Mystery of the Gospel!
Jonah 1-3
A ship heading for Tarshish was on the verge of being broken up by a violent storm. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god, and they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. However, the fierce storm did not let up. Finally, they cast lots to find out who was responsible for the calamity, and the lot fell on a person named Jonah.
“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
Nineveh was the capital of Assyria that was a great and powerful nation, and its people were brutal and did not know God. God planned to judge the Ninevites because their wickedness was so great, and chose Jonah as a prophet who would speak for Him. However, Jonah was afraid and tried to run away from God’s command, taking a ship to Tarshish.
As the sea grew even wilder, the sailors became more fearful and threw Jonah overboard. Then the raging sea grew calm, and a great fish swallowed Jonah. Being inside the fish three days and three nights, Jonah prayed to God while deeply repenting. Then the fish vomited Jonah onto dry land.
God said to Jonah again,
“Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
Nineveh was a great city—a visit required three days. According to God’s command, Jonah entered Nineveh and proclaimed the message of God boldly and loudly while going through the city one day’s walk. Then something unexpected occurred. The people of Nineveh, who heard the message Jonah preached, believed God and began to repent by fasting. Even the king of Nineveh rose from his throne, covered himself with sackcloth, and issued a proclamation in Nineveh.
“Do not let any man or beast taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
God saw what the Ninevites did, and withheld His judgment of destruction on them. So, the 120,000 Ninevites, who repented before God, were saved.
‘Since they do not know God, will they really listen to me? What if they laugh at me and point their fingers at me? They may even attack me.’ Stricken by all these kinds of worries and fears, he fled from God’s presence. However, he finally overcame his fears and boldly proclaimed God’s word. Then a miracle occurred―120,000 people repented within just one day.
In this age, we have been entrusted with the great work of salvation which can lead the whole world to repentance through the water of life flowing out from Heavenly Mother. Wherever we boldly proclaim the gospel, an amazing work is being accomplished. Let us shake off our hesitation and fear right away. When we absolutely rely on Elohim and proclaim the salvation of Heavenly Mother confidently and vigorously, we will experience an amazing miracle which we have never seen before.
