Part 2 of Jonah's decision which I have titled "Living in Darkness"
After the sailors threw Jonah overboard and repented and worshipped our God, the event takes a different turn. Jonah went from living in the light, to living in total darkness. Here's where the symbolism gets heavy. The symbolism is in God's movement and works with man, not necessarily Jonah's behavior. Jonah was in the daylight with men and because of God's miracles, these men repented and began to worship God. Now Jonah goes down to the depths and spends 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of what we call a whale, but what scriptures simply call "a great fish". Let's look in on Jonah. He finds himself in the belly of a fish and seeing no way out, he once again turns toward the God of his fathers. Here he speaks to him the only way he knows how. He goes to God in prayer.
Jonah recognizes that there is no escape from God. (King David had that same feeling and he expresses it in Psalm 138:7-8. I know, it's an aside. We weren't talking about King David.)
Anyway, Jonah first cries out to God about his plight. He told the story of his frightening descent into the water. He says that he felt as though he were in hell. (sheol). "I cried for help from the depths of sheol." Jonah 2:2. How often do we get ourselves into messes and then cry out for help. We start getting into trouble from the time we are babies. You'd think we'd know better than to get ourselves into tight spots when we're grown, ...but, ...no.
Crawling and toddling babies get into things they can't get out of, teenagers get into things and then they find they need help. Even we as adults get into trouble and discover that there is no help except for God. So Jonah has found himself in "sheol". It's from here that he says oops and turns back to God. It's from here that he realizes he's not smarter than God. It's from this tight spot that he realizes that when God tells you to do something, he means it.
Sound familiar? We've all found ourselves in a predicament like his at one time or another in our lives. (No, I don't mean in the belly of a whale)... symbolism, remember? When God, or someone in authority, tells you to do something, they mean it and there's no escape. Tax time is a particularly good example in the U.S. we don't want to do it, but when Uncle Sam says pay up, he means it. There is no escaping it and sooner or later, "The tax man cometh."
Alright, enough examples, now back to Jonah. He is crying out to God, telling him of his troubles and of his fears, and he says, "You heard my voice". His description in verses 3 and 4 of chapter 2 sound almost like a time out in today's vernacular. His feelings about it sound like those of a little person in time out. From Jonah's description of his despair you become keenly aware of his feeling of desperation as he realizes he has been removed from the presence of God.
In verse 6 of chapter 2 we see the ray of light and of hope as Jonah says, "but you have brought up my life from the pit oh Lord my God". He had to repent acknowledging that "salvation is from the Lord"v9, and he made a vow to God just like the sailors had done in the boat. Restoration with God came as he was vomited up onto the shore.
*Recognize your sin, repent of your sin, God will forgive and restore you to a place of communion with Him.
Repentance from us......restoration from God.
Ok. Let's look at the symbolism
1. A great number of people were living in sin and violence and God hates sin and violence.
BUT.....God loves people and we are all sinners, so....God loves sinners. He doesn't hate us at all.
He loves us, he just hates our sinful behavior. They are two different things.
2. Here are 3 scriptures to remember;
1. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
2. " The word of God is quick and alive and able to separate the soul and
spirit" Hebrews 4:12. Our behavior is governed by our sourish realm
but our spirit is the life breathed into us by God. In other words, it's
who we are. See? Two different things.
3. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that
who so ever believes in him will not perish, but will have everlasting
life. John 3:16
3. Jonah was in "sheol" for 3 days and 3 nights. Who else was in hell for 3 days and 3 nights? Who
else rose again? Jesus, that's right. God planted seeds of familiarity throughout the ages so that
the people would recognize him when he came.
4. Jonah declares that "Salvation is from the Lord!" (Jonah 2:9) Another memory jogger for the
people. A word of truth. Jesus died and rose again. He is our salvation . We don't have to go
to hell if we accept him as our savior. We will have "everlasting life" (see above)
If you would like to accept Jesus into your heart and accept him as your personal savior, say this prayer with me. You're one step closer to the promise of eternal life with Christ.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father I confess that I am a sinner. Please wash my sins away. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he died on the cross for the removal of my sins. I believe that he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. I thank you for the gift of eternal life. I thank you that I now have an intercessor in heaven. Please lead me and guide me in the path you want me to take. Help me to become the person that you created me to be. This I ask in Jesus name. Amen.
**Now find a bible believing church. Ask a person who knows Christ and you can see it in their behavior. Go to bible study. "Study to show yourself a workman approved to God, who doesn't need to be afraid and who can rightly divide the word of truth.
HAPPY RE-BIRTH DAY.! Jesus said, " Unless you are born again, you will not see the kingdom of heaven." John 3:3 and also, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." John 14:6
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