A TIME TO RETHINK
Opening Prayer
Merciful God, thank you for the truth of your Word. Without it, I would never have known of your great love for me, I never could have received salvation in Jesus. Please continue to teach me through it.
Read JONAH 1:17–2:10
Jonah’s Prayer
17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 2 1 [a]From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said:
“In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
4 I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’
5 The engulfing waters threatened me,[b]
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
brought my life up from the pit.
7 “When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
8 “Those who cling to worthless idols
turn away from God’s love for them.
9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”
10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Footnotes
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Sit quietly for a moment and try to relax. Breathe slowly and deeply. You can hand your cares over to the God who loves you and watches over you, even in your distress.I have occasionally invited retreat groups to use their imagination to enter into a Bible story. I’m not sure this part of Jonah’s story would be suitable though. Not everyone could cope with the graphic imagery it might suggest!
It is instructive to see how God engineered circumstances to bring the reluctant prophet to a place where he could face up to his own inner reality, first through the storm (1:4) and then through the huge fish (1:17). There in the darkness of the belly of the fish Jonah was alone, confronted by God and his own hardness of heart.
Jonah was there for three days and nights. It seems to suggest a resurrection-type experience where he was called to die to his own will and ways, and let go of his prejudices (2:7–9). Only then could he come forth from the darkness into the light of a new day and a second chance (2:10).
The mercy of God was not just for wicked Ninevites, but also reached disobedient and stubborn prophets. That means there is always a way back and a chance to recalibrate our hearts.
Apply
Think back over your life to any time of enforced stillness. What happened to make you slow down? What did you learn, if anything, from the experience?
Closing prayer
Heavenly Father, whatever my circumstance, help me to trust in your presence, remain constant in your loving care, and ready to do your will.
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