Worthy Brief - 3/15/2017
Friend, God is reaching all people – and you are part of His plan!
Jonah 1:14, 16 Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, "We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man's life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You."
Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.
While most read the story of Jonah focusing on Jonah's journey, I want to pause and examine the lives of the pagan sailors. What a journey they were on! We see the hand of God touching them providentially through Jonah's disobedience. Talk about God bringing good from evil. Here He draws them into a desperate sea voyage and almost incidentally reveals to them the impotence of their gods, who have no power whatsoever to stop the deadly storm. In their total helplessness the God of Heaven then introduces Himself through his runaway prophet. And suddenly, the sailors are crying out to YHVH.
They are not crying out to their gods any longer – but now are crying to the true God of Israel.
And God performs a miracle for them, when Jonah is tossed into the sea, the storm suddenly calmed... and the amazing miracle evokes what sounds like prophesying, as they offer sacrifices and vows in worship to YHVH. "For You, O Lord, have done as you pleased!" The whole crew is converted. So, while Jonah is fish food -- there's a revival happening on board.
And now these wonder struck sailors have quite a fish story to tell in all their subsequent travels concerning the wayward prophet who disappeared beneath the waves as his God stilled the perfect storm. And the Lord has a boat full of newborn missionaries heading to Tarshish...
Friend, our God desires all people throughout the world to hear His message. His providence is such that anywhere His servants find themselves becomes a place and a moment of opportunity for Him. The apostle Paul writes to Timothy "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; [2 Timothy 4:2] Even Jonah's gross disobedience didn't stop the Lord from using him as a testimony. We need to be aware of who we are and what we carry for Yeshua (Jesus). His love and faithfulness to us is such that even our discipline can become a vehicle for expressing His love to the world.
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Flagstaff, Arizona
Editor's Note: Join us, along with thousands of others in sending a strong, encouraging message to President Trump concerning the importance of the nation of Israel in relation to God’s Word, and encourage him to FOLLOW THROUGH on his affirmations concerning Jerusalem and the Promised Land! Our goal is to deliver a petition of 1,000,000 signatures! Sign and share on your pages and email lists! Sign our Petition!
Editor's Note: We are on a cross-country speaking/music tour this winter and early spring in the United States! If you see that we will be close to your area and you want to hear a timely word from Worthy News Founder and Director, George Whitten and powerful Israeli Worship Music from Baht Rivka Whitten, Lazman Hazeh Music, as well as testimony of life and ministry in the Land, we invite you to join us -- or even invite us to speak/sing at your Congregation, Conference, Church, Midweek Meeting or Israel focused Event, especially if you see a free date on our way! We hope to hug you! Send us an email to george [ @ ] worthyemail.com for more information. Check out our calendar and see if we're speaking near you!
Around the World
Trump administration threatens to leave UN Human Rights Council
The Trump administration is threatening to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council, citing among other things the intergovernmental body's 'biased agenda against Israel.'
Russia Extends Its Middle East Reach with an Eye on Libya
Russian President Vladimir Putin has had been busy in the Middle East this month. On March 9 he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Simmering discontent in Netherlands gives momentum to 'Geert Trump'
Aside from the repercussions here, analysts will be sifting through Wednesday's results to see if the populist, anti-globalist surge that helped fuel the Brexit vote and Mr. Trump's upset victory last year still has legs. And the Dutch vote is also being seen across Europe as a curtain-raiser for critical national votes in France this spring and in Germany in the fall.
Trump asks State Department for 50 percent cut to UN funding
The White House budget proposal is considering cutting funding of the United Nations and its programs in half as it looks to shrink spending by the State Department.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Bulgarian church nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for saving Jews
Bulgarian-Israeli lawyer Moshe Aloni is seeking support for a campaign to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the Bulgarian Independent Orthodox Church for protecting the country's Jewish minority during the Holocaust.
Inside the United States
New York court to consider whether a chimpanzee is a 'person'
The appellate division of the New York Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week in a case about whether two chimpanzees deserve the rights of 'personhood.'
Snowstorm dumps up to 30 inches, largely misses metro areas in Northeast
Winter Storm Stella wreaked havoc on the Northeast on Tuesday as airlines canceled most flights in and out of New York and Boston, Amtrak suspended service between the two cities and three governors declared states of emergency.
Congress Demands Investigation Into Obama Admin Meddling in Foreign Elections
A group of leading senators is calling on newly installed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to immediately launch an investigation into efforts by the Obama administration to sway foreign elections by sending taxpayer funds to 'extreme and sometimes violent political activists' that promote leftist causes, according to a copy of the letter.
Trump's new travel ban faces day in court
President Donald Trump insists his amended travel ban will survive any legal challenge and it's time to see if he's right, with the first court hearings on it scheduled for Wednesday.
Christian News
'JESUS' film, at 1,500 languages, reaches millions
Jesus Film Project is celebrating as it marks its 1,500th language translation this month, Josh Newell, the Jesus Film Project's director of marketing and communications, told Baptist Press.