Jonah in the Belly of the Whale

Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. Jonah 1:17-2:1

In the second chapter of Jonah, which you can read HERE, we find Jonah drowning in a sea of shame.

Here are three things I note in the first few verses for today:

1. The Lord provides for us. Jonah was not saved from death by some random fish. No, “the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah.”
2. God’s timing is perfect. Why three days? My guess is that is how long it took for Jonah to get himself right with God. I can relate to this in my current situation of chronic pain. It is likely my pain would dissipate with weight loss. However, I continue to argue and try to bargain with God about the whole diet and exercise regimen.
3. God provides us sanctuary. “From inside the fish Jonah prayed.” Sometimes we need to be separated from the world to hear God. Do you have a special place you like to go to pray? Perhaps a prayer closet?

We have probably all had some experience in the belly of the huge fish. Here is another example from my life.

My belly of the whale experience

There was a time when I was reading so many self-help books and books about the Bible that I neglected to read the Bible itself. I heard God tell me to put other books aside for a season and read HIS Word only.

But, one day, as I was preparing to lead a small group study on the “Women of the Bible,” I reached for a book called “All the Women of the Bible” to hear what other authors had to say.

I knew God wanted me to trust Him and not use outside sources to prepare my study. I walked to the bookshelf anyway.

The book was right there; the index said the page I wanted was 148, and I knew by turning to it, I would get an expert description for my study.

That chapter was missing out of the book. It had not been torn out, it was merely a printing error. The page numbers simply skipped from 148 to 160!

I was sitting in the belly of a whale forced to turn to God and repent and beg Him for His mercy. I had disobeyed the Lord, and He called me on it.

God had to put Jonah in a place where his only hope was God. So with a head full of seaweed and life ebbing away, Jonah makes a final appeal to the Lord for mercy.

I am like Jonah.

I had made an idol of other people’s opinions and expertise. I never considered that God wanted to make me an expert with my own opinion. Only after I obeyed God and stepped out in faith to form my own beliefs was He able to begin developing me as a writer.

Jonah’s Prayer

Let’s walk through this prayer together:

• “In my distress, I called to the Lord,” – How many, many, many times I have waited until I was in distress before I prayed. Oh, how I wish I were better about putting Him first on the emergency call list!
• “and He answered me.” – The absolute beauty of this truth stuns me every time. We cannot outrun God’s faithfulness to us.
• “You hurled me into the depths” – Did you catch that? God put Jonah into that stormy sea and let him sink to the very bottom! God loves us too much to allow us to stay comfortable in our sin. I am learning to praise God in my pain and thank him for loving me enough to save me. Just like Jonah, I know the Lord will not forget or neglect me. I will praise Him before the solution, trusting that I will be spit out onto dry land.
• “I have been banished….yet; I will look again.” – Jonah knew God would be waiting for him with open arms. The nature of God does not change. If you have been away from the Lord for a while, He is waiting for you with arms opened wide.
• “the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God” – Only God can save us from death. Notice the continued tone of thankfulness we hear from Jonah? I can feel how much Jonah loves God in this poetic prayer.
• “Those who cling to worthless idols” – Those who worship idols have abandoned the love of God. Jonah shouts with joy and grateful praise that he knows better and will sacrifice only to the one true God.
• “What I have vowed, I will make good.” – Finally, we see a genuinely repentant heart. It would have been a greater tragedy if God had not stopped Jonah from running away.

Has there been a time you run away from God and then turned and repented of it?

Ultimately this fish story is our story of deliverance. Just like Jonah, we have been delivered, through Jesus death on the cross, from sin and rebellion. Let’s pray together with a psalm of thanksgiving.

Lord, you are the God who saves me! Even when in the darkest pit, deep calls out to deep. When the waves and breakers have swept over me, you heard my cry for mercy.

In my distress, I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your goodness. In my sanctuary, I will meditate on all your mighty accomplishments.

I will sacrifice offerings of thanks to God and fulfill my vows to the most high. I honor you with offerings and thank you for my salvation.

Praise the Lord of my deliverance, may your blessing be on your people! 

Amen

Click HERE for a free printable copy of the prayer

Join us next week to hear Jonah preach his first sermon to the Ninevites!

{Originally Posted May, 2019}