Many of you are familiar with reading about Jonah in the Bible, how he fled from God, was swallowed by a great fish, eventually spat out, and then did what God had wanted him to initially do. It is a short book in the Bible, but contains many lessons which we should all learn. One part of the narrative, though, is often overlooked or just quickly skimmed over, and that is chapter 2, where Jonah prays to the Lord from the belly of the fish. If that prayer had not happened this story might likely have had a very different, more tragic ending. Let’s take a look.
As we know from the account of Jonah in the Bible, the prophet had been called by God to go bring His message to the people of Nineveh. Nineveh was the capital city of the ancient Assyrian Empire, who were enemies of both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Southern Kingdom of Judah. Jonah hated those people and did not feel that they deserved to hear God’s message nor receive His mercy. Because he would not obey, Jonah thought he could go far from home and hide from God. However, as we should all know, no one can hide from God. While on board a ship a violent storm came, and Jonah was thrown overboard. At this time, God prepared a giant fish to swallow Jonah so that he would not drown (Jonah 1:17).
Jonah remained in this fish for three days and nights, and while inside this creature, he prayed to God. This prayer is what we will be looking at today. This is a chapter in the Bible that vividly shows a picture of repentance, mercy, and God’s sovereign deliverance. It shows Jonah’s cry of distress, his acknowledgment of God’s justice, his repentance, and God’s gracious deliverance.
We read that Jonah prayed “out of the belly of Sheol” (vs. 1-2). Sheol indicates a place of death. Jonah must have felt, having been swallowed whole by some giant fish or type of sea creature, that though he was still alive and conscious, he was as good as dead. He acknowledged that it was his own rebellion that led him there, but still he knows that God will hear him as he prays. God will discipline His children, but His ear is still open when they repent (Hebrews 12:6; Psalm 66:18-19). God has a purpose when He chastens His believing children. Even when they fall, He remains merciful to the repentant.
Even though it was the sailors who threw Jonah overboard at his own request, the prophet knew that God was the ultimate cause, that the storm had been caused by Him specifically because of his rebellion (vs. 3-4). God has supreme and ultimate power over circumstances, even those caused by human sin. Even though Jonah felt cast out from God’s sight, he still expressed hope. His faith was being revived, and he believed that restoration was possible.
God arranges and plans events to bring His children to repentance. Rather than just having Jonah wash up on shore somewhere, He used something as horrific as being swallowed alive by a giant fish to bring him to repentance. Sometimes God has to use something big and shocking in our life to get our attention and bring us to our knees in repentance. But, like with Jonah, He always has mercy if we turn to Him. Jonah recalled the experience of his near drowning (vs. 5-7). God sometimes needs to bring sinners to the end of themselves so that they will turn to Him. It was here, where all of his pride was stripped away, that Jonah cried out to God.
As Jonah continued in his prayer, he recognized that running from God was trusting in his own way, instead of God’s command, and that this was a form of idolatry, in his case by putting himself and his wishes before those of God (vs. 8). Idolatry is not only worshiping statues, it is anything placed above obedience to God. Jonah promised to give God obedience again (vs. 9), and he believed that God would save and deliver him. At this time God commanded the fish, and it spat Jonah out upon land (vs. 10). Salvation, whether physical or spiritual, is entirely God’s work. Jonah contributed nothing to his rescue except by being repentant of his sins. God’s mercy followed his genuine humility, and He restored the once disobedient prophet.
As we see, Jonah’s suffering was a direct result of his disobedience to God. The Lord will discipline His children to restore them. Jonah’s prayer is a model of repentance. He acknowledged his sin and God’s sovereignty, and then renewed his commitment to Him. His rebellion and then repentance did not cancel God’s mission for him. God restored Jonah so that he could fulfill the calling he tried to escape.
The Lord brought a corrective storm into Jonah’s life. Because He loves us, He will similarly disrupt our plans when we insist on going our own way instead of submitting to His will. God’s storms are designed to get our attention. They will humble us so that we realize we are not in charge. God’s storms should lead us to repentance, and then for us to yield to His will. We can remember, though, that even when the consequences are severe, such as being swallowed whole by a giant fish, God’s mercy is always available.
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