God's Way with Jonah

Let me set the scene for you. God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh and relay a message from God. Jonah doesn't like this "request" from God. He doesn't like the people. Thinks it is unfair that God would send them a message to change to be saved from destruction. Jonah doesn't want any part in this plan. So he not only refuses to go to Nineveh, he also decides to leave and go the opposite direction! He didn't even want to stay where he'd received this request from God. Talk about stubborn!

Anyway, Jonah gets on a ship and heads in the opposite direction from Nineveh. He might have been better off just pretending he didn't hear God than try to run away from Him. The ship was tossed around like a bathtub toy in a storm. Everyone on the ship thought they were going to die, including Jonah. They were so afraid they threw cargo overboard. They were each praying to their own gods, (like that'd help!) Somehow Jonah slept through part of the storm. The captain of the ship came to demand that Jonah pray to his god, whoever that was. Well, Jonah knew why there was such a storm and told the captain to throw him overboard. The crew feared the storm and feared the consequences of throwing a man overboard! But Jonah insisted so in the drink he went.

But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17 - note, this is the last verse of chapter 1)

Jonah is being tossed around in the storm like sea weed after being tossed from the boat. He's in dire straits. But then he is saved....sort of....by being swallowed by a great fish.

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. (Jonah 2:1 - the first verse of chapter 2) Imagine that for a minute if you will.

Near drowning in a violent storm-ravaged sea. Now swallowed - and inside a great fish - with all the other stuff the fish has consumed recently - the smell!! The darkness!! The overwhelming-ness of it all! But what does Jonah do? He prays. What does he pray? For help? A prayer of anger, perhaps? Maybe one of fear? Nope. He thanks God. He acknowledges that God is with him, even inside the fish.

² He said: In my distress I called to the LORD,
   and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
   and you listened to my cry.
³ You hurled me into the deep,
   into the very heart of the seas,
   and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
   swept over me.
⁴ I said, ‘I have been banished
   from your sight;
yet I will look again
   toward your holy temple.’
⁵ The engulfing waters threatened me,
   the deep surrounded me;
   seaweed was wrapped around my head.
⁶ To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
   the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you brought my life up from the pit,
   O LORD my God.

⁷ “When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.

⁸ “Those who cling to worthless idols
   forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
⁹ But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
   will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
   Salvation comes from the LORD.”

What is God's response to this prayer? ¹⁰ And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.This is then followed by Jonah's trip to Nineveh.(God wins.)

Now for my response to this. 1) I hope I'm past holding grudges and refusing to go where God tells me......I said I HOPE. 2) I hope if /when I'm in dire straits that I first thank God and praise Him for being with me. 3) I hope I can be thankful in such times of uncertainty and calamity.

Dear God, Help me have the right responses! Amen.

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