Ezra made the cutest little prophet for Fall Festival at our church. My crafty daughter fashioned a giant fish from foam board last year and Thomas gave out candy from inside the belly of the big fish. This year, we borrowed the fish and Ezra played the part of Jonah. I’ll be honest, I expected our trunk to be more recognizable, especially at a church event. After all, Jonah’s story appears in nearly every children’s Bible in print. Even Jesus pointed back to Jonah during His ministry. It concerns me that the Bible is not valued and taught in more homes today. We can give our children the world and still fail to prepare them for eternity. So I must ask myself, am I offering anything of eternal value?
“One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”
But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.
For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah.
Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.”
Matthew 12:38-41 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.12.38-41.NLT
“One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’
You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!
Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.”
Then Jesus left them and went away.”
Matthew 16:1-4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.16.1-4.NLT
The first month in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar introduced the Exodus strategically, in preparation for the first Passover. Every Old Testament feast and festival ordered by the Lord was filled with purpose and each one ultimately pointed to Messiah, Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God.
“While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron:
“From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you.
Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household.
The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects.
Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month.
Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight.
They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal.
These are your instructions for eating this meal: Be fully dressed, wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand.
Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the Lord’s Passover.
On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt.
I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord!
But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying.
When I see the blood, I will pass over you.
This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.
This is a day to remember.
Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord.
This is a law for all time.”
Exodus 12:1-3, 5-7, 11-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/exo.12.1-7.NLT
Four hundred forty-five years before Christ, fifty thousand people descended from the very families who came out of bondage in Egypt found themselves back in the land of promise, returned from exile but still enslaved.
““So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment!
We are slaves here in this good land.
The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins.
They have power over us and our livestock.
We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery.””
Nehemiah 9:36-37 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/neh.9.36-37.NLT
The leaders among the Levites called a solemn assembly, the Law of the Lord was read aloud, and the people prayed. It was a Halloween prayer meeting like nothing I’ve ever experienced.
“On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads.
Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors.
They remained standing in place for three hours while the Book of the Law of the Lord their God was read aloud to them.
Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God.
Then the leaders called out to the people: “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!”
How often have I groaned inwardly at the length of time we stand to sing during worship when I’m wrangling a wiggly toddler who just wants his snack? When have I thoughtlessly rolled my eyes, having just taken my seat, to be called to stand for the reading of God’s Word? Confessing such trivial annoyances stings a little but not nearly as much as it should. These people stood for three hours and then prayed for three hours more, likely on their faces before the Lord.
“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.
For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.””
John 4:23-24 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.4.23-24.NLT
“Then they prayed: “May your glorious name be praised!
May it be exalted above all blessing and praise!
You alone are the Lord.
You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars.
You made the earth and the seas and everything in them.
You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.”
Nehemiah 9:1-3, 5-6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/neh.9.1-6.NLT
The intervening verses can be summarized fairly easily by two words: rebellion and restoration. If you are at all familiar with Israel’s history, you know the storyline repeats. It may be easy to stand in our place and time scratching our heads and wondering why they were so stubborn, why they never seemed to learn from their failures. When we do so, we only condemn ourselves.
““But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands.
But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you.
They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies.
So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer.
But in their time of trouble they cried to you, and you heard them from heaven.
In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies.
But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, and once more you let their enemies conquer them.
Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven.
In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times!”
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ch.7.14.NLT
“You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands.
They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey.
They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen.
In your love, you were patient with them for many years.
You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets.
But still they wouldn’t listen!
So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them.
But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever.
What a gracious and merciful God you are!
And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you.
Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now.
Every time you punished us you were being just.
We have sinned greatly, and you gave us only what we deserved.”
Nehemiah 9:16, 26-33 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/neh.9.16-33.NLT
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.6.23.NLT
The people confessed not only their own sins but the sins of their ancestors, acknowledging God’s just judgment. They recognized aloud, corporately that they did not follow God’s Law by which people will find life if only they obey.
“Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.
For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.”
1 John 5:3-4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.5.3-4.NLT
Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commandments.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.
The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.
But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.
And because they love me, my Father will love them.
And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.””
John 14:15-17, 21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.14.15-21.NLT
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.
“They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
In those days when you pray, I will listen.
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.29.11-13.NLT
October thirty-first has become quite controversial in Christian circles. Before we get too caught up in arguing for or against, we would be wise to ask another more pressing question. Rather than how will you choose to spend Halloween, ask how you will spend eternity? Instead of discussing how many trick or treaters might come knocking and how much candy you should buy, ask yourself, “When was the last time I spent half a day reading God’s Word, confessing my sin, and asking for God to intervene on behalf of lost and dying souls? Eternity hangs in the balance. Choose wisely.
“Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
So be careful how you live.
Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”
Ephesians 5:14-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.5.14-17.NLT
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”
Colossians 4:2, 5-6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/col.4.2-6.NLT
Jesus Is Coming Back Soon~ Forrest Frank and Josiah Queen
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