Scripture
“The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s preaching, and look — something greater than Jonah is here.“
~Luke 11:32, CSB
Quote
There can be no such thing as chance from God’s point of view. Since He is omniscient, His acts have no consequences which He has not foreseen or taken into account and intended.
~C.S. Lewis
Later in the chapter, a Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner and is offended when Jesus does not follow the tradition of the elders by washing his hands seven times. Trust me, it is a mundane, ritualistic and boring routine. I made one flight with orthodox Jews and they drove me insane. I couldn’t get to the bath room because they go through this ritualistic washing every time the airline serves a snack. A little soap and water or hand sanitizer and Jesus was good to go but the poor fool who invited Him to dinner forgot that Jesus could read minds. He was thinking some condescending thoughts when Jesus went off on the hypocritical Pharisees…“You fools, the inside is what is important, not the outside and on the inside you are full of evil and greed.” A Scribe was present and he came to the aid of the Pharisees; his said to Jesus…“Master when you say these things, you insults us too.” At this Jesus undressed the Scribes, the students, copiers and teachers of God’s word. The Scribes knew the word but they didn’t obey it.
There are some lessons to be learned:
[1] Never make demands of God: just don’t go there; He doesn’t respond to fools.
[2] Don’t major on minors. The Pharisees were more concerned about clean hands than a clean heart. In stead of critiquing Jesus, they should have been concerned about the evil and greed in their own hearts.
[3] God’s ways are unfathomable. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! {Romans 11:33 and Job 9:10} You and I will never understand why God used Jonah to preach the greatest revival in history but I have an idea it has something to do with GRACE. Have you ever heard anyone talk about the greatest of Jonah? By using a jerk, God gets all the glory. Just an idea, probably not the reason.
- Another mild day and I took advantage. They say more hot weather is coming so I will be in my study if I get my A/C working. I don’t know who is more addicted to A/C, me or Chloe Bug.
- September is flying by and I haven’t gotten the Digest much more than started: I need a couple of extra days each week, like two Fridays and two Saturdays.
- Hurricane Florence is supposed to hit North Carolina. Seth is leaving this morning. The crew he is on works storms.
