Before heading to Europe to study abroad, a son received advice from his father, “Beware son, don’t let them take Jonah from you.”
Father was worried about his son jeopardizing his humble faith, as he would deal with atheist professors. The father asked his son to experience the life of repentance that Jonah called for. In addition, he did not want his son to doubt the words of the Bible about Jonah.
After two years the son came back home. His father asked,
“Do you still have Jonah in your Bible?”
“Jonah!” the son replied. “That’s not a story in your Bible?”
“Yes, it is indeed,” the father said.
“Father, you don’t have it. Show me your Bible.”
It was so embarrassing when the father could not find it in the Bible that he referred to it in the index. Then he confirmed that it had been carefully taken out. The father asked, “Who cut this part out of my Bible?”
“Two years ago, I had taken it with me to Europe. However, you missed out on more than I have, even though I dealt with atheist professors. You didn’t look for it in two years,” he exclaimed.
Although atheist philosophers have tried to criticize the Bible, the word of God has never changed. What changed the Bible is the obstacle in the lives of some Christians who have denied the Bible by their behavior, even though they are proud of the Bible and have preserved it, preached it and explained it. The corrupt Christian is worse than the atheist who struggles against God’s word.
→ English translation of the story here at
St-Takla.org:
لا تدعهم يأخذون يونان منك!
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(1) Green, Michael P. Illustrations for Biblical Preaching. Baker Book House. 33.
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