“‘But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.’ And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”
Jonah 2:9-10
Are there times when you’ve known God was asking something of you, but you were unwilling to do it? Perhaps you knew you should forgive someone, but you refused. Maybe there was a wrong you were reluctant to make right. Or a word of rebuke from a caring friend only made you turn away. There is some Jonah in all of us.
Jonah heard the word of the Lord telling him to go to Nineveh to preach against the wickedness there. “But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed to Tarshish” (1:3). In Joppa he found a ship, paid the fare, and attempted to evade the One who sees and knows all.
Then the Lord pursued him dramatically through a violent storm which sent Jonah sinking to the bottom of the sea. In his distress, Jonah called out. God heard his cry and provided a huge fish to swallow and sustain his life. There in the slime of the belly of a fish, Jonah’s defining moment came. He admitted that it is impossible to hide from God and humbly submitted to Him.
Obedience can be costly and the journey miserable. But our heavenly Father will answer and restore when we call out to Him.
Jonah heard the word of the Lord telling him to go to Nineveh to preach against the wickedness there. “But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed to Tarshish” (1:3). In Joppa he found a ship, paid the fare, and attempted to evade the One who sees and knows all.
Then the Lord pursued him dramatically through a violent storm which sent Jonah sinking to the bottom of the sea. In his distress, Jonah called out. God heard his cry and provided a huge fish to swallow and sustain his life. There in the slime of the belly of a fish, Jonah’s defining moment came. He admitted that it is impossible to hide from God and humbly submitted to Him.
Obedience can be costly and the journey miserable. But our heavenly Father will answer and restore when we call out to Him.
Scripture Focus
Jonah 2:1-10
Insight
“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings … as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22)
Bible In A Year
- Isaiah 55-56
- Psalm 98
- Acts 21