It’s a whale of a tale that Jonah recounts, captivating the young and old for thousands of years. I’ll recap the highlights just in case you’re a little rusty.
#1 God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell them they are about to suffer the consequences of their sin. No one would want that job, let’s be real. Personally assessing this mission, I would say there was ZERO upside for Jonah to head east EXCEPT for the fact that God said it. Remember that. His direction may not be your preference, but God knows best.
#2 Jonah’s response, RUN! Jonah caught the first west bound boat he could find. You’ve heard the phrase, “you can run but you can’t hide”. Jonah definitely gets credit for trying. He boarded the boat. He went below and took a nap. Meanwhile God prepped a second chance for Jonah by causing havoc with the boat, the water, and the crew.
My observations: What the crew thought- they had to appease the gods to survive. What Jonah thought- he’d have to give up his life for the ship and the crew. What God thought – I have chosen Jonah specifically for this mission and have something even greater to teach him, the crew, the people of Nineveh, and everyone else with “ears to hear” going forward. (insert smile) Isn’t that God’s way? Higher, better, always right. . (Isaiah 55:9) Oh yes, what the “big fish” thought- nam nam nam.
#3 Yes, the fig fish dropped it’s jaw just in time to provide an oasis for Jonah and a little down time to rethink his decision. Question? If you’ve lived long enough you’ve had days (or extended periods of time). You may have had moments of panic where you saw your life “flash before your eyes”. I remember a brief moment years ago that I was in a boat, holding a tow line. Just for a split second I could feel myself being pulled and envision the trip out of the boat, sucked into the propeller, hacked into pieces and sinking to the bottom of the lake, never to be recovered. (A little too much drama?) It was just that quick, that vivid, and probably something similar to what Jonah was thinking on his way down. I wonder if he saw the fish?
What happens next is what was really the lesson for today. Jonah prays.
It was a prayer of deliverance and my first question is not, did God deliver him? Because we all know that He did. No, my question is, when did the deliverance come? We read in the text, Jonah prayed and God listened and answered.
I would argue the deliverance came immediately. Why? Because Jonah recognizes that he was the one that walked, no, RAN away from God. Jonah rightfully felt shame yet, he called out and God listened and even from the belly of this fish- which by-the-way had to have been really really really gross. Side note: Do you remember the scene in Pinocchio where he and Gepetto end up in a whale on a raft, they build a little fire, it’s a sweet little moment of rescue as I recall. This is not Jonah’s picture. The slimy, smelly, physical place Jonah calls out to God from is a picture of the dark and dirty place of spiritual sin He was in. Directly from that place he can meet with God. (vv. 4 & 7) He can worship God. He can find forgiveness and restoration with God (v.9)
That’s the miraculous deliverance! No matter where or what condition you are in you can meet with God. You can see and experience His greatness and His grace. You can worship. You can repent and be restored.
My first lesson from Jonah’s prayer is one of AWE. Remembering that God doesn’t not need me to be in a certain physical or spiritual place to hear me. And when I pray I enter into His “space”. Into a holy perfect place of truth, justice, righteousness, and so on. It’s a place where He can examine my heart. He can lovingly correct me and nudge me to seek righteousness and holiness. All of that is just simply miraculous. As a Christian do you ever stop and thank God for this miracle that we take so for granted? Sometimes I have thought of prayer as a duty or chore certainly not a miracle. So be GRATEFUL for the miracle of entering into the presence of God through prayer, and recognize that whatever it is that you’re seeking is already granted because you are in the presence of God.
My second lesson from Jonah 1-2 is that God gives second chances. Jonah was not perfect, as we can see from his initial response to God’s call. But Jonah’s second response comes at the end of his prayer. “What I have vowed I will make good.” As soon as Jonah commits to obey God he is released and God gives him great success. As the prophets go, I can’t say that any other message is heard and valued like this one that Jonah gives to Nineveh. So my question to me and you is how do we respond to God’s call? The first time? How about the following times? Do we learn from our mistakes like Jonah did and do better? Become more obedient? Quicker to respond? More authentic? Do we trust that God would not send us somewhere to fail. Do we worry more about pleasing Him, than ourselves? You might wonder, what is my call? God hasn’t given me a personal message to go to Nineveh or any place else. But God HAS called every believer to go and make disciples. So who are you praying for, talking to, and walking with? There may be other things you know God has called you to do. If you didn’t get right to it the first time, God is likely to give you a second chance. Make the most of it!