Appointed by God
And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights… Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint.
Jonah 1:17; 4:6-8
We read in I Chronicles 9:29 about the role of the Levites in the Temple: “Some of them also were appointed over the vessels and over all the instruments of the sanctuary…” These individuals appointed by God were ordained for the fulfilling of His sacred purposes.
Interestingly, that same word – appointed – is also used in the book of Jonah. Look again at the text noted above.
“And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights… Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint.
Jonah 1:17; 4:6-8
The Levites were appointed by God. The fish was appointed by God. The plant was appointed by God. The worm was appointed by God. The wind was appointed by God.
Fulfilling God’s Sacred Purpose
There’s an important truth to be seen here. Even as the Levites were holy ministers ordained for the fulfilling of God’s sacred purposes as it related to the Temple, so the seemingly unholy ministers of the fish, plant, worm, and wind were also appointed by God to fulfill His sacred purposes as it related to Jonah.
My guess is that Jonah never considered the fish, plant, worm, and wind to be God’s appointed ministers. But they were.
Likewise, you probably have never thought of your problems as appointed ministers either. But they are.
For the child of God, everything – the good and the bad, the joys and the sorrows, the victories and the defeats…all things – are appointed. Each is His sacred minister ordained to bring about His plans and His purposes for your life.
For the child of God, everything – the good and the bad, the joys and the sorrows, the victories and the defeats…all things – are appointed. Each is His sacred minister ordained to bring about His plans and His purposes for your life.
Let me encourage you to see your problems and challenges in a new way today. Rest in the fact that, in the words of the Apostle Paul, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
PRAYER
Lord, I’ve never thought to thank You for the fish, the worms, and the wind that are so painful and challenging. Now I understand that even they are Your appointed ministers for the fulfilling of Your plans and purposes in me. May I accept them as such.
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