“Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.” Jonah 2:1-4
The three short words “Then Jonah prayed” pertain to the place to which the Holy Spirit had been attempting to bring the Prophet all along. His cry for help basically refers to destitution and a situation so terrible, from which only the Lord could deliver by His Mercy. Consequently, and with great joy, he once again says, “And You heard my voice”
Many people say that Jonah was the wayward prophet, but he wasn’t wayward; he was stubborn. God spoke to him specifically that he was to go to Nineveh and tell the people to repent.
But Jonah was so prejudiced against the people of Nineveh that he said, “God, I would rather die than do that,” and so he bought a ticket to a boat going to Tarshish, the opposite direction. Some people would say that the ensuing storm that God sent was His judgment on Jonah, but the storm was actually God’s grace.
Sometimes, difficult times are God’s way of getting our attention, and Jonah knew why it was happening. But even then Jonah did not fall on his knees and say, “Lord, forgive me. Make the weather better, and we’ll turn the boat around.” He was so stubborn that he preferred being thrown overboard.
Some people also mistakenly say that Jonah’s being swallowed by a big fish was God’s judgment rather than His grace. But in His mercy, God waited three days for Jonah to finally say, “I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed.” That was all of grace and miracle-working power. Don’t mistake trouble for judgment when it’s really God’s grace. Consequently, and with great joy, he once again says, “And You heard my voice”
LET’S PRAY.
May the Lord help you conquer every emotion in your life that keeps you from reaching your divine potential. For in His grace, He will give you the desires of your heart if you will submit yourself, heart, soul, mind and body, unto Him. Be blessed with the knowledge that nothing is impossible for you as long as Jesus is guiding you as the Lord of your life, in the mighty name ofJesus Christ. Amen Amen Amen. Fountain to your life.
Categories