I find this thread interesting. I think prophecy today is mostly about our gracious Lord, finding people who have presented their themselves to God, and who, by reason of use have exercised their skills in sensing the leadings of God, via scripture and intense, yielded prayer — and have obtained insights into scripture. These can be kept and pondered in the heart, like Mary did, or reserved for future reference in one’s own life, or in the life of one’s family, or congregation.
God comes to us from His unique dimension with His higher ways and thoughts. These are very beneficial, as they give to us the special boldness, access and confidence we need in order to speak and act with the assurance of the existence of those higher thoughts and ways.
The ink and paper of scripture constitute one aspect of God’s gift to us; but it is the Spirit disclosing to us what the words mean, specifically, for us, in our present weaknesses and dilemmas, that really open the New Testament doors into what is prophetic and what isn’t.
As to Jonah, I think God included that historical account mainly to show us what kind of foul ball, or incomplete pass, a prophet can become when his heart is not in the right place, or who has ulterior motives and is not fully yielded. The same can be said of Samson or King Saul. They are examples of how NOT to use the gifts and callings of the Lord. Lastly, Jonah is a lot like the elder son in the illustrative account Jesus told on the Prodigal Son. There is yet another example of missing God’s best by missing the point.
RE: As to Jonah, I think God included that historical account mainly to show us what kind of foul ball, or incomplete pass, a prophet can become when his heart is not in the right place, or who has ulterior motives and is not fully yielded. The same can be said of Samson or King Saul. They are examples of how NOT to use the gifts and callings of the Lord. Lastly, Jonah is a lot like the elder son in the illustrative account Jesus told on the Prodigal Son. There is yet another example of missing God’s best by missing the point.
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NOTE TO SELF: This is a good thing to include for the kids in my next Sunday School class...