March Madness Bracket

A Lenten Series on the number 40
Jonah’s 40‑day warning to Nineveh
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Jonah 3:1-4:3 

[Historically, Lent is a 40‑day period of preparation leading up to Easter. It involves reflection and repentance with the ultimate goal of transformation. The number 40 is significant in the Bible as it is associated with multiple stories of preparation and testing. In this Lenten series, we will be looking at various Biblical stories that include the number 40, and how it applies to us.]

  

I recently filled out my bracket for March Madness. I’d love it if Michigan State would win it all, but it’s highly unlikely. So, in the spirit of being objective, I picked them to lose in the Sweet Sixteen round. That seemed like a reasonable choice.

 

However, when it came to MSU’s archrival, the University of Michigan, objectivity and being reasonable went out the window. I did pick them to go to the Final Four. After all, I could win some money if my bracket does well. But, when it came to winning it all, I chose the other team. Being reasonable has its limits.

 

The story that most people know about Jonah is that he spent three days in the belly of a whale where he would have died. Instead, he had a “come to Jesus” moment. As a result, he lived. But it’s the backstory that makes it so interesting.

 

First, Jonah ended up in the whale because he was trying to escape the Lord’s call to go to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. However, the Assyrians were known for their brutality, and Nineveh was described as wicked. And, although they hadn’t invaded Israel yet, it was just a matter of time.

 

Also, the message that he was to take was to warn the people of Nineveh that the Lord would destroy their city in forty days unless they repented of their sins. There were two possible responses they could have had, neither of which Jonah liked.

 

One was they could reject the message and take it out on the messenger – Jonah. The Assyrians had a reputation for “corpses impaled on stakes; severed heads stacked in heaps and captives skinned alive”. None of these appealed to Jonah.

 

A second possible response is that they might repent. This sounds desirable except Jonah wanted justice, not repentance. In fact, when they did repent, Jonah defiantly told the Lord, “I told you so”!

 

² So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.          NLT   Jonah 4

 

The book of Jonah is a story about his spiritual journey and the “unfailing love” of the Lord. No matter what Jonah did – whether he boarded a ship to cross the Mediterranean, had a temper tantrum with the Lord or pouted outside Nineveh – the Lord was always drawing him back. Just like he did with the Ninevites.

 

One final observation about Jonah. He’s the only Old Testament prophet who was physically sent to a foreign country to give a message of repentance. Why do you think the Lord chose him? No doubt he knew how Jonah would react.

 

Maybe it has to do with the fact that even as sinners, God is still at work in our lives drawing us to him and including us in his plans. Thankfully, even though we’re not all that different from Jonah, the Lord hasn’t dropped us from his March Madness bracket.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

The Test of Time

A Lenten Series on the number 40
Elijah’s 40‑day journey to Horeb
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
1 Kings 18:16-40; 19:1-18 

[Historically, Lent is a 40‑day period of preparation leading up to Easter. It involves reflection and repentance with the ultimate goal of transformation. The number 40 is significant in the Bible as it is associated with multiple stories of preparation and testing. In this Lenten series, we will be looking at various Biblical stories that include the number 40, and how it applies to us.]

 

When I was in high school, there was a classmate of mine who was a bully and liked to get into fights. One day after school, he picked a fight with me. It’s extremely unlikely that I started it, because I hate confrontation and conflict. I would have been a terrible prophet of the Lord, unlike Elijah. Although, he had his moments.

 

From the time of Moses, Baal worship was a serious problem for the people of Israel. It became exponentially worse following the marriage of Ahab, who became the king of Israel, and Jezebel, a Phoenician princess who worshipped Baal.

 

In fact, Jezebel was a fanatical follower of Baal and created a culture in Israel that promoted its worship. She personally supported 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. At the same time, she persecuted and killed many of the prophets of the God of Israel.

 

Into this violent culture, the Lord sent Elijah as a prophet to confront those who worshiped Baal. When the “word of the Lord” came to him, Elijah spoke confidently. It didn’t matter whether he was telling Ahab about the drought, or whether he was mocking the prophets of Baal. He took control because the Lord had called him.

 

In fact, after defeating the prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel, Elijah commanded the people to seize them and take them to the Kishon Valley where Elijah slaughtered them. When Ahab reported this to Jezebel, she sent a message to Elijah promising that she would have him killed within 24 hours.

 

Despite all the miracles that Elijah had seen and experienced, he feared for his life and fled. After traveling over 100 miles, Elijah hit rock bottom emotionally. He stopped and prayed for God to end his life. Following this, he traveled another forty days and nights to Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai – the mountain of God.

 

Elijah’s name means “the Lord is my God”. As a prophet of the God of Israel, that was his message. It was a message of hope and redemption. But when he heard the words of Jezebel, he lost focus. He forgot that God was in control. It’s easy to do.

 

Before Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, he challenged the people of Israel to follow the Lord.

 

²¹ Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.        NIV    1 Kings 18

 

About 550 years before this, Joshua also challenged the people of Israel as they prepared to cross the Jordan River into Canaan.

 

¹⁵ But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”  NLT Joshua 24

 

So, who do you choose to serve? This is a question that has stood the test of time.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Finding Peace

A Lenten Series on the number 40
Moses’ 40 days on Mount Sinai
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Exodus 33:12-34:35 

[Historically, Lent is a 40‑day period of preparation leading up to Easter. It involves reflection, repentance and readiness for the resurrection. Ultimately, it leads us to transformation. The number 40 is significant in the Bible as it is associated with multiple stories of preparation and testing. In this Lenten series, we will be looking at various Biblical stories that revolve around the number 40, and how that applies to us.]

 

The year 1996 was a turning point in my career in full time urban youth ministry. I was choosing between staying with the ministry that I’d been with for 20 years, or starting my own non-profit ministry. Looking for the Lord’s guidance, I decided to go on a 24-hour personal retreat at Mohican State Park.

 

The only things that I took with me were my Bible, a notebook and my Sports Illustrated. Most of my time was spent reading from Exodus about how God called Moses to lead his people. Although I didn’t come away with a specific direction from God, I believed he was telling me that, like Moses, “I will be with you”. 

 

When God called Moses to lead his people out of Egypt, he told him that he would give him a sign. And that sign would be that Moses would worship God on the same mountain as where the burning bush was – Mount Sinai.

 

Three months after the Israelites had left Egypt, Moses went up Mount Sinai to worship the Lord – the first of two visits of 40 days and 40 nights. It was there that the Lord reaffirmed his covenant with Israel.

 

In the covenant, the Lord promised to protect Israel when they entered the Promised Land. He would drive out the nations that were already there. In return, Israel was to be obedient to him; to not serve other gods. The people of Israel all responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” But of course, they didn’t.

 

During Moses’ first visit on Mount Sinai, the people became impatient and convinced Aaron to make a golden calf that they could worship. When he did, they proclaimed, “These are the gods, Israel, who brought us up out of Egypt.”

 

The second time that Moses was on Mount Sinai for forty days and nights, he pleaded with the Lord to forgive his people and for the Lord’s presence to go with them. During this visit he also asked to see the Lord’s glory.

 

⁶ The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. ^7a I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty.      NLT   Exodus 34

 

As a result, something startling happened. When Moses came down, his face was so radiant that Aaron and the people were afraid. Because Moses had seen the glory of the Lord, he had experienced a physical manifestation.

 

There’s only one time in my life when I’ve experienced anything close to this. It was after my personal retreat. The following Monday in the office one of the staff, without any prompting, commented that I looked different; more at peace.

 

Being in the presence of the Lord may not change us in our outward appearance, but it will change us inwardly. Before Israel left Mount Sinai for the Promised Land, the Lord spoke this blessing to Moses so that it might be given to the people of Israel.

 

²⁴ The Lord bless you and keep you; ²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; ²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. ESV   Numbers 6

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

The Rainbow

A Lenten Series on the number 40!
Noah: 40 days and nights of rain
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Genesis 6:5-22; 9:8-17 

[Historically, Lent is a 40‑day period of preparation leading up to Easter. It involves reflection, repentance and readiness for the resurrection. Ultimately, it leads us to transformation. The number 40 is significant in the Bible as it is associated with multiple stories of preparation and testing. In this Lenten series, we will be looking at various Biblical stories that revolve around the number 40, and how that applies to us.]

  

During the fall of 2025, my wife and I took a trip to Maine to visit Acadia National Park. The scenery was beautiful, although the weather didn’t cooperate. We went up on Cadillac Mountain to see the sunset. Instead, the wind was howling and blowing so hard that I had to brace myself or be blown over.

 

Even though we couldn’t see the sunset on Cadillac Mountain, the next evening we did see it while driving around the park. Although it rained all day, as a result, we were treated not only to a beautiful sunset, but also to a rainbow.

 

There’s a lot that we can learn about God from the story of Noah. First, God hates sin! At the time of Noah, the world was flooded with wickedness. It was to the point that the Lord even regretted he had ever created humanity. If you’ve ever regretted something, you might be able to relate to how God felt.

 

⁶ So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. NLT

 

Therefore, God came to a decision. A decision on how to correct what he regretted.

 

⁷ And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.”    NLT

 

Thankfully, the story didn’t end there. Despite the fact that since creation humanity has repeatedly sinned, God has repeatedly provided a way to be reconciled. This is the second thing that we learn about the Lord. He loves us so much that time and again he has provided a pathway back to him. In this case, Noah was the path.

 

⁹ Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.            NIV

 

The Lord told Noah his plans to destroy all of his creation by sending a flood. There would be forty days and forty nights of torrential downpour. But before that, Noah was to build an ark. He, his wife, his sons and their wives, and two of every animal would be safe in the ark.

 

Despite the fact that there was no body of water nearby, Noah did what God told him. You can imagine that people ridiculed him for building an ark so far from water. You can also imagine that Noah felt discouraged at times during the project.

 

Anyone who has worked on a building project knows the feeling. Murphy’s Law – “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong” – was undoubtedly in play. Despite taking decades to build the ark, Noah persisted trusting God to be faithful.

 

After the flood, when the ground had dried, God made a covenant with Noah to never destroy his creation again. As a sign of this covenant, he gave Noah the rainbow. The same rainbow that we saw in Acadia.

 

What a wonderful reminder of God’s love, forgiveness and faithfulness.

 

¹⁷ So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”  NIV

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

Feel free to share this blog with others.

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com