Scripture:
Jonah 2:1-10 NKJV
[1] Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. [2] And he said: “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, And He answered me. “Out of the belly of Sheol, I cried, And You heard my voice. [3] For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. [4] Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight, Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ [5] The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head. [6] I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. [7] “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple. [8] “Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy. [9] But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” [10] So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Observation:
Anyone who went to church as a child knows the story of Jonah and the big fish. We have all heard it many times, I’m sure. He was running from the call that the LORD had placed on his life. Because he thought it was bogus. He didn’t think the Ninevites were worth the salvation of the LORD, and he knew exactly what would happen if he went to Nineveh and preached GOD’S word. Great revival would break out, and a bunch of people would turn to the LORD who, in his mind, should be on their way to hell. So he made a wrong choice. He ran. But the LORD has a funny way with us… Jonah as well. He finds a ship loaded on board and stows away in the belly of the ship. Until calamity hit. The sailors desperate for answers start casting lots to find out whose fault it is that they don’t have the favor of the sea and find that it’s Jonah’s doing. Casting him into the sea to calm the store, we find ourselves picking up right there in the belly of the fish. Jonah realizes the depravity of his choice to disobey what GOD had asked him to do directly. Had put him in a spot. Now, in the belly of a huge fish, it was time to look up. Jonah starts with the truth. ” I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction. ” That brings a question to mind. Is this the only reason? Did he cry out only because he found himself in a hard spot? It honestly seems that way. How quickly did Jonah forget his his decision to have the saviors cast him into the sea. As he seems to blame GOD for the trouble he finds himself in in verse 3. Backing up to verse 2, we see that in the desperation that Jonah was in GOD had heard his prayer. All the way to the middle of verse 6, you can hear his despite crying for help. That’s where he seems to switch gears, saying, ” Yet you have brought my life up from the pit, oh LORD my GOD.” That moment of surrender. Calling upon the name of the LORD. In verse 7, we hear the change knowing from seemingly blaming this issue on GOD to somewhat taking responsibility for where he found himself. Knowing that his decision to run from GOD had gotten him to where he was but also know that his pray went right to where it needed to go, also knowing that he was going to end up right where HOD had asked him to go in the first place. To men and women who regard worthless idols and forsake their own mercy. But the salvation of nineveh was not up to Jonah to was GOD’S to give or withhold, and the LORD had chosen to give it. As soon as Jonah chooses to do the right thing. The LORD spoke to the fish and brought him right to the edge of nineveh.
Application:
I’m sure we can all relate to this story. With our fish being a hard spot in our marriage, or the back of a police car, maybe even our business falling apart. The fish may look different, but the desperate cray is the same. I remember a time in my life when I prayed that fox hole prayer GOD get me out of this, and I will never do it again. The crazy thing is that even though HE knew that as soon as I got out. I would do it again. HE still answered my prayer. Getting released from jail, I started walking. I had no money and had a long way to go. So I started looking in cars for something to steal hopefully money. So I could go get high. Looking in the back window of a car, I saw a black day planner, or so I thought. Thinking it could possibly have some money in it, I open the car and take it. Walking away quickly down the street, I open it to find out it’s a bible. GOD had heard my desperate prayer, and HE was showing me how quickly I would forget about HIM. That moment was probably 25 years ago, and my life changed drastically since that day. Yes, GOD hears you. Every time you cry out because of the pain of where you are, HE knows, and HE is listening. The crazy thing is that HE never gives up. His love is relentless, and HE will pursue you to the end of the earth. HE knows exactly what it’s going to take to get your full surrender. HE will stop at nothing. The question is, how long do you want to pray out of desperate. Is adderation not better? Over the last few years, my pray life has changed. It’s few, and far between that, I feel like I have to approach GOD from desperation because I know exactly what HE has done for me. Don’t get me wrong, there are still times when I go the wrong way, and HE has to bring my back to where HE was taking me to begin with. But I tend to listen a lot better now, and when HE asks me to do something, it doesn’t always take a humbling experience to get my attention. My question to you is, are you tired of the belly of that stinky old fish. Are you in a spot? You know you got yourself into, and you desperately want out. Run to the father. Call out to him even if it’s desperate…. scratch that, especially if it’s desperate. HE hears you and is waiting for you to get tired of the pig slop and turn to HIM. DO you think HE doesn’t see every little thing you do? Do you think you don’t matter to him… you’re wrong. ” FOr GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only son, that WHOSOEVER. Believes I’m him shall not perish but have everlasting life. That you. The mess you are in is so you will desperately seek him. Surrender. HE is waiting.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you see us. The slave woman Hagar told us that when she called your name, the GOD who sees me. You know our desperate cry, and you have a plan in place to do something about it. We want to lift up prayers of Adiration. But it may take the prayer of desperation first. Help us to be willing to see our need for you in all things. We love you, and our hearts long to be with you. But we find ourselves going the wrong way at times. Correct our course, bring us to where you want us to be and do it gently. It is the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen