Jonah 2
Call Upon The Lord
In Matthew 12:38-40, we see that Jesus compared Himself to Jonah. As Jonah was in the whale's belly for three days, Jesus would be three days in the heart of the earth. Also, we see that Jonah being thrown into the sea brought the sailors to the Lord and calmed the sea. Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection has brought multitudes to God and when He reigns, Jesus will bring calm to the world.
Now God hadn't forgotten about Nineveh. He never loses sight of His plans. But, He had to deal with Jonah's attitude and disobedience before He could work through Him. As we will see in this book, Jonah was a hard nut to crack! It is the same with us. We had to repent and confess our sins and declare that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Now the Holy Spirit will work through us only according to the extent that we let Him deal with our sin, attitudes, and disobedience.
1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord after being in the fish for three days. I don't know about you but, I believe I would have started praying much sooner than that! We can hardly know all that went through his mind in three days. I don't think he forgot about Nineveh either. It reminds me of Saul being blind for three days before the Holy Spirit took the scales off his eyes. His whole world and mindset were destroyed. A whole lot to think about!
2 Jonah is not fleeing from the Lord now! Let us not have to go into the belly of a fish before He gets us to listen to His word and obey Him. This chapter should be a great encouragement to us. It says, Jonah called to the Lord, and He answered. I cried for help, and He heard. Hallelujah! You see, despite Jonah's disobedience, running from the Lord, and endangering others, the Lord is still there. He still hears. He still inclines His ear towards us. He still answers our cries and prayers. Is He good? He is good and His lovingkindness is everlasting! See Lam. 3:53-57, Psalm 18:4-6, 31:22, 130 :1,2
3 There is a cost for our disobedience and it does affect those around us. We are not in this alone and God always has a much bigger picture in mind. He cast Jonah into the deep. He cast the Israelites into the wilderness for forty years. Num.14:25,34.
4 It seems that in a way, Jonah may have gotten his wish here to be away from the presence of the Lord. It didn't turn out too good. Being in the Lord's presence is better than being away from it. It is so easy to isolate ourselves when we have been hurt or in difficult situations. Processing is one thing, isolation is another. There is a big difference. Like Jonah, let's look again towards Him in those situations.
5,6,7 Jonah describes the terrors and distress that he went through down in the deep. But, the Lord God brought his life up from the pit as his prayer came to Him in His holy temple. This is how our salvation comes about when we are lost in our sins. The Lord lifts us up and out of that pit.
8 Being consumed by vain things in this life forfeits the Lord's many blessings and His faithfulness towards us. Vanities do not answer our cry. They do not hear our voices. They do not answer our prayers. They are not holy. Praise the Lord that He does and He is!
9 In the deep and the darkness, His light shone forth and Jonah now runs towards the Lord his God! It's called repentance. I will sacrifice to Thee with thanksgiving. I will pay my vows. Salvation is from the Lord. Romans 5:8 says, But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. What a picture of God's great love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness towards us! Do you love Him?
10 THEN, after a change of heart, the Lord commanded the fish to vomit Jonah on to dry land. Not into the ocean but safely on the dry land. Wonderful!
Things To Consider
Are you isolating yourself now because of various trials and tribulations? Turn towards Him today. Call unto the Lord and cry for help. He hears and He will answer. Take time to listen. Prayer is not just you talking, it is listening too. You need the fellowship of believers to encourage you at this time.
Are you running from His presence and call on your life? Don't end up in the belly of a fish! You and those around you will benefit from your obedience to the word of the Lord.
If you have never turned to the Lord, the Bible says today is the day of salvation. Nothing you have done or could do is greater than His love, mercy, grace, and faithfulness, towards you. Nothing! His light can penetrate any darkness you are in right now. Let Jesus bring you up out of the deep and put you safely on the dry land of His glorious salvation.
In Matthew 12:38-40, we see that Jesus compared Himself to Jonah. As Jonah was in the whale's belly for three days, Jesus would be three days in the heart of the earth. Also, we see that Jonah being thrown into the sea brought the sailors to the Lord and calmed the sea. Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection has brought multitudes to God and when He reigns, Jesus will bring calm to the world.
Now God hadn't forgotten about Nineveh. He never loses sight of His plans. But, He had to deal with Jonah's attitude and disobedience before He could work through Him. As we will see in this book, Jonah was a hard nut to crack! It is the same with us. We had to repent and confess our sins and declare that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Now the Holy Spirit will work through us only according to the extent that we let Him deal with our sin, attitudes, and disobedience.
1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord after being in the fish for three days. I don't know about you but, I believe I would have started praying much sooner than that! We can hardly know all that went through his mind in three days. I don't think he forgot about Nineveh either. It reminds me of Saul being blind for three days before the Holy Spirit took the scales off his eyes. His whole world and mindset were destroyed. A whole lot to think about!
2 Jonah is not fleeing from the Lord now! Let us not have to go into the belly of a fish before He gets us to listen to His word and obey Him. This chapter should be a great encouragement to us. It says, Jonah called to the Lord, and He answered. I cried for help, and He heard. Hallelujah! You see, despite Jonah's disobedience, running from the Lord, and endangering others, the Lord is still there. He still hears. He still inclines His ear towards us. He still answers our cries and prayers. Is He good? He is good and His lovingkindness is everlasting! See Lam. 3:53-57, Psalm 18:4-6, 31:22, 130 :1,2
3 There is a cost for our disobedience and it does affect those around us. We are not in this alone and God always has a much bigger picture in mind. He cast Jonah into the deep. He cast the Israelites into the wilderness for forty years. Num.14:25,34.
4 It seems that in a way, Jonah may have gotten his wish here to be away from the presence of the Lord. It didn't turn out too good. Being in the Lord's presence is better than being away from it. It is so easy to isolate ourselves when we have been hurt or in difficult situations. Processing is one thing, isolation is another. There is a big difference. Like Jonah, let's look again towards Him in those situations.
5,6,7 Jonah describes the terrors and distress that he went through down in the deep. But, the Lord God brought his life up from the pit as his prayer came to Him in His holy temple. This is how our salvation comes about when we are lost in our sins. The Lord lifts us up and out of that pit.
8 Being consumed by vain things in this life forfeits the Lord's many blessings and His faithfulness towards us. Vanities do not answer our cry. They do not hear our voices. They do not answer our prayers. They are not holy. Praise the Lord that He does and He is!
9 In the deep and the darkness, His light shone forth and Jonah now runs towards the Lord his God! It's called repentance. I will sacrifice to Thee with thanksgiving. I will pay my vows. Salvation is from the Lord. Romans 5:8 says, But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. What a picture of God's great love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness towards us! Do you love Him?
10 THEN, after a change of heart, the Lord commanded the fish to vomit Jonah on to dry land. Not into the ocean but safely on the dry land. Wonderful!
Things To Consider
Are you isolating yourself now because of various trials and tribulations? Turn towards Him today. Call unto the Lord and cry for help. He hears and He will answer. Take time to listen. Prayer is not just you talking, it is listening too. You need the fellowship of believers to encourage you at this time.
Are you running from His presence and call on your life? Don't end up in the belly of a fish! You and those around you will benefit from your obedience to the word of the Lord.
If you have never turned to the Lord, the Bible says today is the day of salvation. Nothing you have done or could do is greater than His love, mercy, grace, and faithfulness, towards you. Nothing! His light can penetrate any darkness you are in right now. Let Jesus bring you up out of the deep and put you safely on the dry land of His glorious salvation.
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