Isaiah didn’t say, “God made a way,” but that God “makes a way.” He told them, “Remember not the former things,” but “behold” the Lord is “doing a new thing.” The original Exodus did not exhaust God’s power but provided a pattern of new exodus-like deliverances.
Isaiah’s experience with the coals of God’s grace leads him from “Woe is me!” to “Here I am! Send me.” He goes from being convicted of his sin, to being cleansed from its guilt, to being commissioned to serve God’s purposes for his life.
Jonah was self-righteous, bitter, and lacking in mercy and compassion. The stubborn prophet had to learn a hard lesson about grace.
The Sign of Jonah: Jonah was hurled into the sea to appease the wrath of God. Jesus appeased the wrath of God on the cross for our sins.
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us,” wrote A.W. Tozer.
They called him “Wrong Way” Roy. His gaffe on New Year’s Day, 1929, is often cited as the worst blunder in college football history.
When a humpback whale off Herring Cove Beach swallowed Michael Packard, it was utter darkness for the veteran lobster diver.
C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
Pagan sailors seem to have more sensitivity and awareness to things God is doing around them than does Jonah, who ironically is a “prophet.”
It’s been said that most Christians are educated way beyond their level of obedience. As a prophet, Jonah waseducated in the things of God.