JONAH’S PRAYER

The disobedient and faithless prophet attempted the impossible… He tried to run away from God. You know the story.

Jonah was commissioned to “go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it” (Jonah 1:2). When the patriotic Hebrew refused to take God’s message to the Assyrian’s capital city, he opted to run. “Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the Lord’s presence. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went … from the Lord’s presence” (Jonah 1:3).

In the middle of the Mediterranean, a mighty storm raged against the tiny vessel. The veteran sailors, fearing for their lives, tossed the cargo overboard. Having done everything within their power, the sailors sought the help of their pagan gods. When that did nothing, they looked to Jonah, who admitted that the storm was punishment for his disobedience. “Pick me up and throw me into the sea so that it will calm down for you, for I know that I’m to blame for this great storm that is against you” (Jonah 1:12).

Although they were reluctant, they finally gave Jonah the heave-ho. Amazingly, “the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” (Jonah 1:17).

What do you do when you’re swallowed by a fish? You pray! You pray like you’ve never prayed before. You beg. You plead. You pray with urgency and passion. That’s exactly what Jonah did. “Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish: I called to the Lord in my distress, and he answered me. I cried out for help from deep…” (Jonah 2:1–2).

“The Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (Jonah 2:10).

When there is no way, God can make a way! Never forget that!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).