COMMENTARY: ‘It was a sign’

By Sandra Phillip Hodge, Contributor

A few weeks ago, we saw something in the Territory that hadn’t been seen for a long time – a whopping mango crop.

There were mangoes left, right, and center; all kinds, all over the place. Every vendor had heaps of mangoes for sale. Little boys and girls had trays trying to make a few pennies from the mangoes that came from their yards.

I heard someone comment, while wending my way around one of the mango stalls, trying to get a few of my favourites: “This must be a sign. Something is going to happen this year… I never see so much mango in one place, so early in the summer.”

Yes. It was a sign. But who can read and interpret these kinds of signs these days?

In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 16 verse 4, Jesus commented to a group of followers: “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it, except the sign of Jonah”.

What does that mean? Well, read about the story of Jonah. You have probably heard of him before. He was the preacher that was sent to Nineveh to preach the gospel to the people there, but didn’t want to go, so he got on a boat to go to another city. A storm rose up and they had to through him over board, but he was rescued by a whale, and eventually ended up where he was supposed to be in the first place.

Jonah’s story is indeed the only sign we need. It tells us that no matter how a nation tries to go astray from what God intends, they will be arrested and turned back to go in the way God intends. It is a good sign.

For the first time in the history of my memory, an August Monday Parade was cancelled, and all other subsequent activities put on definite hold.

This occurred in the midst of public outcry about the political and financial affairs of the nation. Amidst declining morals, rising numbers of unsolved mysteries of a criminal nature, wanton revelry concerning what is supposed to be a thanksgiving affair for having prospered so well in the land were our ancestors were forcefully brought as hostages, and sold as slaves.

The mangoes were a sweet smelling offering before the Lord, and no doubt, He saw it fit to respond with an unmistakable flood of living water, demonstrating how justice is supposed to roll down as described in Amos 5:24.

Jehovah is the God of Justice. He wants justice to roll down like rushing water and sweep anything that is not righteous out of the way.

As an observer, I sincerely express my gratitude to Andre ‘Shadow’ Dawson for the wonderful photos of the revelers, and the damage caused by the flood as seen on the online news sites.

I sympathize with all who are adversely affected by the August Monday Flood, and wish our leaders wisdom and fortitude as they go about the business of addressing these challenges. But, let us not forget, that we will be visited with more signs any time the Good Lord decides to step in. He has the final say.

The sign says: Turn from your wicked ways. It is not too late. Everybody makes mistakes, regardless of how great or small. But God is a God of mercy as well as justice. He will not be denied. He has more power than climate change, whoever that is, for He is God almighty.