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Thanks from the Belly of the Fish

“But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”¹

The other day we read about Daniel and the great example he was of being faithful to God, despite the risk. Today we will see another story, but unlike Daniel, this guy found himself in big problems due to his own disobedience!

God had told Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn the people of the coming judgement if they didn’t repent. Instead of obeying God’s command, Jonah jumped on the next ship to Tarshish. What is so interesting to me is that Jonah knew God and that He is all-knowing, yet he still thought he could run and hide from Him! When a violent storm threatened to sink the ship, Jonah knew immediately that it was from God. Jonah did the respectable thing and took responsibility for his actions. He asked the sailors to throw him overboard, where he was promptly swallowed by a large fish.

Now, Jonah could have simply given up at this point. I am sure his surroundings in the belly of the fish were less than ideal, but this was just the push he needed to repent. In addition to repentance, Jonah remembered the Lord and prayed with gratitude. After this, God commanded the great fish to spit Jonah on dry land and Jonah headed to Nineveh.

If I am honest, I have been much more like Jonah than Daniel in my life. My stubbornness has led me to make poor choices that I think are best, but have not been what the Lord is asking of me. I, too, have had to spend time “in the belly of the fish” to reflect and remember. But GOD… in His great love and mercy hears us, and when we genuinely repent, He forgives, forgets, and let’s us start over.

Friends, we all mess up from time to time. God knows we are human and loves us anyway! Never let your mistakes keep you from returning to God’s welcoming arms and the great plans He has for your life.

Suggested prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me despite all my flaws. Please help me live in obedience to your will, and when I make mistakes, help me be quick to repent and remember who YOU are. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1. Jonah 2:9 (ESV).  

 

Today’s Encounter was written by: Crystal B.