Jonah Chapter 2

  • Barry Keldie
  • Jul 15, 2008
  • Series: Jonah

    Our story picks up with Jonah inside the belly of a whale or “great fish”.  Last week we looked at what it means to “flee from God.”  We learn several key things by watching Jonah run from God.  First, it is completely possible for Christians to run from God, it’s not just a non-Christian action.  We see text after text in our Bibles implore children of God to obey his commands, thereby remain in his presence or “abide in his love.” (John 15:10)  We saw how God expresses his love more plainly in some places in our lives than others, and running from God takes us to a place spiritually where God’s love “feels” much farther away.  We know God is everywhere (Psalm 139:7-8) so we can never be out of his reach, but we can flee from intimacy with Him. Secondly, we see practically that the action of “running from God” is the same as disobeying God.  When Jonah disobeyed God’s command the Scriptures describe that disobedience as “fleeing from the presence of the Lord.” (Jonah 1:3)  So when Jonah, a religious man, disobeys God he runs to a place spiritually where God’s presence is much harder to experience.  This leads us to Jonah being swallowed by a whale.
      
    Can you imagine being swallowed alive by a whale? Jonah runs from God, and God mercifully brings a “great fish” to swallow Jonah, and bring him back to God.  I know it sounds strange to describe the whale as merciful, but it is.  Jonah’s story is a great picture of the truth that God “works all things for the good of those who love him.” (Rom. 8:28) God can and will use anything He needs to in order to bring a child of God back to Himself and back to a place of obedience and joy.  Jonah speaks a prayer while inside the belly of the whale, and his prayer reveals the grace of God in his plight. 
       
    Jonah’s prayer begins with this phrase: “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress.”  Jonah describes his emotion when he feels far from God as “distress.”  Keep in mind why Jonah or anyone flees from God in disobedience.  We disobey God when we believe his way is not the best way to live and receive joy.  When we believe God is costing us joy or happiness we tend to disobey him.  Jonah believed he would be happier and safer disobeying God than he would be obeying God.  All his reasoning for happiness brought him to a place of…”distress.”  He believed he was running to a better life when in reality he was running from the best possible life. (Prov. 14:12) One of the most deadly lies we believe is that our way is better than God’s way. As Jonah finds out, and many of us have as well, joy will always reside inside the will of God.  Security will always be found near the presence of God.  Jonah realizes this and prays.
       
    Jonah’s prayer is a beautiful picture of hope for those who feel far from God.  Jonah has disobeyed, run from and been disciplined by his God.  He has purposely tried to get as far away as possible from God, yet now he prays and the amazing thing is…God listens! “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress 
and he answered me 
out of the belly of Sheol I cried 
and you heard my voice.” (Jonah 2:1)  How many times have you felt far from God because of your sin and disobedience?  How often have you thought your prayers don’t deserve to be heard because you should know better than to disobey?  No matter where you are physically, spiritually or emotionally God hears the prayers of his children, even the most rebellious ones like Jonah.  In verse 9 we see Jonah close out his prayer with this sentence, “but I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay.  Salvation belongs to the Lord!”  The merciful tragedy of being swallowed by a whale has led Jonah back to a place of obedience.  With this prayer God speaks to the whale and he “vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.” (Jonah 2:10) Jonah learns the invaluable lesson; disobedience births despair.  It is impossible to run to joy while running away from God.  Joy is in His right hand. (Psalm 16:11)

    Questions for Personal Devotion
    1.  Knowing we’ve all sinned, would you consider yourself now obedient, on a ship running from God, in the belly of a whale, or spit back on shore with a new perspective and repentant heart?
    2.  What does this teach us about prayer?