You didn't need to attend Sunday School, to know the story of Jonah. This story brings to mind images of a Whale, an act of disobedience and sometimes a withered plant! Yet, in the few pages of this book there is an even greater story - a story about the Eternal Purposes of God. The story of Jonah reveals that what God has purposed -nothing and no-one has the power to change. Jesus say's "Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away". Matthew 24:35. God's word is eternal and what God declares, he will do.

Jonahs' life represents the many obstacles that life can bring. He rejects the word of God, he disobeys God, runs from God, attempts suicide, gets angry with God and yet none of these things could alter the purposes of God for the people of Nineveh. You might have experienced a set back, or feel like a failure but these things are temporary and God's plans and purposes are not altered by our current situation. God has not forgotten you, he has not abandoned ship!

The devil might be trying to discourage you and oppress you and your immediate circumstances may say that there is no hope but God's word cannot return void, he is the same yesterday today and forever. God spoke through the prophet Isaiah and said; "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11.

Don't allow your present circumstances to alter your opinion of God and give up on your dream. He wasn't going to allow Jonah's actions to change the outcome for Nineveh and nothing that has happened to you will alter God's eternal purpose for your life. His purposes are like the tide of the ocean, unstoppable, relentless and unchangeable, they cannot be manipulated or defeated.

"according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord" Ephesians 3:11

The apostle Paul urges the people to not be discouraged because of his afflictions and tribulations, because nothing is able to change what God has purposed. The doctors might say no, the banks might say no, your peers might doubt you but if you are a born again believer, you can call upon the name of God and he has placed All things under Christ's feet. ( 1 Corinthians 15:25-27).

God took authority over the wind and caused a storm to disrupt Jonah's plans, he caused a whale to come and swallow him so he would not drown and he caused that same whale to vomit him onto the beach... .all because God had purposed that Nineveh would be saved. " For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, And who will turn it back? (Isaiah 14:27.)

Don't look to the circumstances, look to the word of God. The bible says to stand firm, and gird your waist with the truth. (Eph 6) Take a hold of God's word and his promises, and declare them as the authority over life. Defeat is not in God's vocabulary, his word will always win!