DAD'S RAMBLINGS – The East Wind
Jonah 4:8
"And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind, and the sun beat on Jonah's head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, 'It is better for me to die than to live.' "
When we lived in Portland, the wind usually came from the west, from the Pacific Ocean, laden with moisture. But sometimes the wind would come down the Columbia River Gorge from the east. It was dry and hot, coming from the desert in Central Oregon. Nineveh was located on the east bank of the Tigris River where it joined the Euphrates, and was in the Fertile Crescent. To the west was the Mediterranean Sea, and to the east was arid land. If the wind had come from the west, it would have come from the ocean and would have been more comfortable. But coming from the east, it was hot and dry. Jonah was in a dry place, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, camped on the east side of the city. No wonder Jonah wanted to die. Not only was the sun hot on his head, now it seemed God was piling it on with a hot, dry east wind. Sometimes it seems negative things just pile up. In Jonah's case, it took multiple attacks to humble him. He could have avoided all of this if he had just submitted to God.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: When things pile up on my head, maybe God is trying to get my attention.
Have a "west wind" day. Love you.
Jonah 4:8
"And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind, and the sun beat on Jonah's head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, 'It is better for me to die than to live.' "
When we lived in Portland, the wind usually came from the west, from the Pacific Ocean, laden with moisture. But sometimes the wind would come down the Columbia River Gorge from the east. It was dry and hot, coming from the desert in Central Oregon. Nineveh was located on the east bank of the Tigris River where it joined the Euphrates, and was in the Fertile Crescent. To the west was the Mediterranean Sea, and to the east was arid land. If the wind had come from the west, it would have come from the ocean and would have been more comfortable. But coming from the east, it was hot and dry. Jonah was in a dry place, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, camped on the east side of the city. No wonder Jonah wanted to die. Not only was the sun hot on his head, now it seemed God was piling it on with a hot, dry east wind. Sometimes it seems negative things just pile up. In Jonah's case, it took multiple attacks to humble him. He could have avoided all of this if he had just submitted to God.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: When things pile up on my head, maybe God is trying to get my attention.
Have a "west wind" day. Love you.
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