Jonah, the prophet, wrestled with God through direct disobedience. God told him to do one thing. What did Jonah do? Just the opposite. He ran from the Lord. I did that one time. I did just the opposite of what God told me to do and paid a very high price, a broken heart, and financial loss too.
God told Jonah: "GET UP AND GO TO THE GREAT CITY NINEVEH. ANNOUNCE MY JUDGEMENT AGAINST IT BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN HOW WICKED ITS PEOPLE ARE." BUT JONAH GOT UP AND WENT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO GET AWAY FROM THE LORD. HE WENT DOWN TO THE PORT OF JOPPA, WHERE HE FOUND A SHIP LEAVING FOR TARSHISH. (The opposite direction from Nineveh) HE BOUGHT A TICKET AND WENT ON BOARD, HOPING TO ESCAPE FROM THE LORD BY SAILING TO TARSHISH. (Jonah 1:2-3)
Isn't that hilarious? He thought he could escape from the Lord God. (Why do we humans think we can do that?) God had other plans for Jonah. Our Lord was going to get him to Nineveh no matter what. God caused a great storm at sea which was Jonahs fault. The sailors had to throw Jonah into the ocean for the Lord to stop the storm. NOW THE LORD HAD ARRANGED FOR A GREAT FISH TO SWALLOW JONAH. AND JONAH WAS INSIDE THE FISH FOR 3 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS. (v. 17) That's how long Jesus was in death before He resurrected. Jesus had told his disciples: "FOR AS JONAH WAS IN THE BELLY OF THE GREAT FISH FOR 3 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS, SO WILL THE SON OF MAN BE IN THE BELLY OF THE EARTH FOR 3 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS.(Mt. 12:40) ..BUT ON THE THIRD DAY HE WILL BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD. " AND THE DISCIPLES WERE FILLED WITH GRIEF.(Mt.. 17:23b)
Back to Jonah. THEN JONAH PRAYED TO THE LORD HIS GOD FROM INSIDE THE FISH. HE SAID, I CRIED OUT TO THE LORD IN MY GREAT TROUBLE, AND HE ANSWERED ME. I CALLED TO YOU FROM THE LAND OF THE DEAD, AND LORD, YOU HEARD ME! BUT YOU, O LORD MY GOD, SNATCHED ME FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH!"
(Jo. 2:1,2,6b) THEN THE LORD ORDERED THE FISH TO SPIT JONAH OUT ONTO THE BEACH. (V. 10) Wonderful. God saved Jonah, got him back to life and sent him on his way to Nineveh again. Jonah went this time. THIS TIME JONAH OBEYED THE LORD'S COMMAND AND WENT TO NINEVEH.. (Jo. 3:1)
A miracle happened in Nineveh thanks to Jonahs' message. All the people stopped doing bad. They started doing good instead. The Lord had mercy on them. GOD SAW WHAT THEY HAD DONE AND HOW THEY HAD PUT A STOP TO THEIR EVIL WAYS... (Jo. 3:10a)
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