Are you skeptical of the story of Jonah because you think it is a fish story? Yet I mentioned it in reference to the similarities to my own story. You could look beyond the fish to see the real essence of the story is about a reluctant prophet. I called Jonah to serve me and he did it under protest, to put it mildly. He was my prophet but he was full of prejudice and he did not share my values. My word teaches you to love your enemies and I was trying to teach Jonah the same lesson, which he was slow to learn. Do you look upon your enemies as a ministry opportunity and rejoice when they respond and I pour out grace upon them? I'm leaving town for a few days.

I created man and said that it was not good for him to be alone, so I made a companion suitable for him. Men and women have been attracted to each other ever since. And I said that it was good, but there is the risk for both men and women that they will seek in relationship with each other what they can only find in me. This is a form of idolatry and it leads to expectations that no one can fulfill. This creates pressures to force apart what I have joined together. Substituting anything for the fulfillment I alone can give will cause you grief, anguish, and loss. Seek me first and all your other affections and expectations will be properly ordered.

When you first come to me and we begin a relationship, how great is your understanding of me? Most people start with a small and flawed image of me. I am receptive beyond your ability to comprehend, and will accept you no matter how limited your understanding is, but I want you to grow in faith. Consider the story of the mustard seed, which I use as an example of faith. It is a small seed that grows into a large plant. This story from nature illustrates a spiritual principle. It is normal for your faith to start out small, but it is not normal for it to remain small. Your faith will increase in like manner as your increase in understanding my true nature. 

Do you believe in equality? Nearly everyone does, but since people are not identical or equal in a mathematical sense some careful thought is required to understand the ways in which people can be equal. Even then there is a tendency for those who see themselves to be less than equal to grasp for advancement. My word addresses this situation when it says that I did not consider equality with the Father as something to be grasped. You know from the doctrine of the Trinity that I have a closer identity with the Father than between any two people, even twins. If I didn’t grasp for equality then you shouldn’t either.