And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah…Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish…
Jonah 2
To end chapter 1, we read that Jonah was swallowed by a great fish that God appointed to swallow Jonah. Now, inside the fish, Jonah prays to God. Jonah’s prayer is written in the form of a poem. The translation from the original Hebrew does not transfer rhyme and meter but, it is a poem form of prayer. In Jonah’s prayer, we read of Jonah’s desperation inside the fish. He prays that God was right to have him thrown into the sea to drown for Jonah sees that his running from God’s command to preach in Nineveh was a sin deserving of death. Jonah describes the drowning in the sea that he felt and, as he remembered the Lord, his prayer came before God and Jonah realizes that the great fish was sent by God to save Jonah’s life, not to kill Jonah. This great fish, appointed by God, saved Jonah from sure death by drowning when Jonah was thrown into the sea. So, God brought salvation to Jonah, unworthy servant of God. But Jonah wasn’t sure that he would survive in the belly of the fish. So, Jonah offers thanksgivings and praise to God, making vows to make sacrifices and offerings to God if he is not digested by the fish. At last, God spoke to the fish and Jonah was vomited upon dry land. Such incredible circumstances Jonah found himself in, thrown into the sea by men, drowning, swallowed by a great fish appointed by God, able to breathe inside the great fish, not be consumed by the fish’s bodily functions, praying to God in his dire situation, and, God having the great fish spit Jonah out onto dry land. These are all demonstrations of God’s great love, grace and, mercy shown to His prophet who had disobeyed His command to go to Nineveh! Christian, you are never so far from Holy God that you are lost. God will never desert His own! Yes, we are punished because we sin against our Savior and Lord. But, He will never forsake His own! Sing praises to God for His great Love, Grace, and, Mercy!!
Source: S C Ball September 19, 2023
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