JONAH & THE GREAT FISH
Today’s Reading: Jonah 1-4
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Jaffa, Israel (ancient Joppa), is one of the world’s oldest harbours still in use today. “He (Jonah) went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish (Spain); so he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:3b).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Jonah 1:17, 4:11
Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights….
And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left–and much livestock?
Instead of going 500 miles northeast in obedience to God, Jonah disobeys God and sets out for Spain, 2,000 miles west. Jonah lived in the northern kingdom of Israel and had to travel 50 miles southwest to reach the harbour of Joppa, exactly the opposite direction from Nineveh. Read the historical reference to Jonah from 2 Kings 14:23-26. “Gath Hepher,” Jonah’s home village, is the modern village of Mishad, an Arab Muslim community three miles north of Nazareth. Jewish tradition says that Jonah was the son of the widow of Zarephath, whom Elijah had raised from the dead (1Kings 17:8-24).
Jonah knew his Bible. He quoted from four different Psalms while inside “the belly of the fish” (Psalm 3:8, 31:22, 42:7, and 69:1). In fact, he quotes from 14 Bible verses. When he finally confesses, “I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord,” the fish rises to the surface and spits him out onto shore, perhaps the very one in Joppa.
The Apostle Matthew records that Jesus likened his time in the grave to Jonah’s experience inside the great fish (Matthew 12:38-41). Another time Jesus speaks of the “sign of the prophet Jonah” (Matthew 16:2-4).
When Jonah finally reaches Nineveh and preaches a one-sentence sermon, “Yet 40 days and Nineveh shall be overthrown,” we read that the entire city “turned from their evil way.” That’s called repentance! (Jonah 3:10a).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, give me grace to always obey You. I pray that if I should, like Jonah, go in the opposite direction that You desire of me, that You will do whatever it takes to turn me 180 degrees back into the centre of Your perfect will! Lord, You prepared a great fish to turn Jonah around, and I ask You to prepare a circumstance of Your choice which, if necessary, will do the same for me. I pray this in the Name of the One who taught about Himself using the story of Jonah, Jesus Christ (Messiah)! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
There is a tradition that says that Jonah was a student at the “School of the Prophets.” Remember the student who was chopping down a tree to help build a new building at the Bible College when the axehead came loose, sank to the bottom of the river, and became the occasion of one of Elisha’s miracles? The axe head floated to the surface and the student picked it up (2 Kings 6:1-7). Do you think that student could’ve been Jonah who, when the sailors threw him overboard, knew that if God would save an axehead, He would also save him from drowning? Maybe yes maybe no. I like to think about what was going on inside Jonah’s head when he said, “Throw me overboard” (read 2 Kings 6:1-7).
Some say that the story of Jonah is way too unbelievable. The way I look at it is this…I’ve decided for myself that if God decides to do anything, He has the ability to do it. Of course I don’t understand how this could be, but then I certainly don’t understand the nature of the billions of stars and planets in the cosmos either. There’s an old chorus I’m singing under my breath just now, “God can do anything, anything, anything, anything but fail” (I forget some words here, help me out). I’ll try to find it on “Google”…Yes! here is an unusual version of the song. I’m worshipping the Lord along with the singer (click here).
Yours for believing that God can do anything but fail!!!
David
Love Jonah; we just did a bible study on him at church. Every soul we can bring to know Christ is a great victory for His Kingdom. All for the glory of God! Lifting up all saints for a blessed day in the Lord.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 NIV
Waiting Here For You, Martin Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8d80ok40TQ
great song, Beverlee…thank you!
In regards to Sah’s messages in recent days that the Prayer Lines at 100 Huntley Street are blocked and an answering machine with a cold message is heard, this is incorrect information. Perhaps, Sah, you misdialed the number and heard someone else’s machine, which might explain the coldness.
Earlier this morning, I called to check, confirmed with the lovely prayer person who answered and prayed with me for this misinformation to be corrected on the blog. I am going to phone back and ask for prayer for your ants, Sah, and a peaceful day for you. I am sure the next time you phone them, you will connect with them. Ever thankful for the prayer lines.
100 Huntley Street 24/7 PRAYER: 1-866-273-4444
Amen, Beverlee!
Thank you Beverlee for doing this! God bless you and blessings to all !
thanks Beverlee, believe me I have tried everything, the prayer line is blocking prayers not sure why yet!!!!!but I am working on the situation……I am trying to speak to Lorna Dueck who is the CEO of Crossroads Communication but it seems that calls to her are screened also, I am not sure why..
I so appreciate people trying to help.
The other side of this issue is that in my community, many people donate financially to this Ministry however, some are delving into this issue and for some reason I feel that whatever is going on will affect the donations…..so,
Please continue to pray and ask the Lord to fix this problem in which way He feels is the right way and to communicate with the people who are affected….
TY again for all on this prayer site…..God bless each person abundantly…amen amen amen
what is going on??????? it says PTL…..WHAT??????
I am sah…….Lord in Jesus Name I rebuke the devil in all his ways….amen
Amen, Beverlee and thank you. Love Jonah as well and David’s blog on it. Thinking of how precious Jesus is and the many times He has been present for me has made me weep and pray in the Spirit this morning. Your prayers have been part of it too saints. I have a new name for you to meditate on this morning; David Mainse’s anointing; rising early to pray.
It’s a sweet, sweet anointing, flowing down to make to make me clean like a mighty rushing stream. Will try to find the song.
Here it is, Ger:
Sweet Anointing w/ Lyrics – JOHN HARTMAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6sq2r-SK3w
beautiful Ger and Beverlee!
Still thinking and praying for the precious young people and grieving parents of Humboldt. Holy Spirit move among them today as they are experiencing the loss.
Lets us not forget to pray for the grieving the loss of 23 children and four adults when the school bus in New Delhi plunge into a gorge on Monday. Those children were between the ages of 4 to 12– it may not have happened here in Canada, but this loss of life is just as tragic and need our prayers– May our Lord comfort them as well.
Amen. Lord God, we pray for people everywhere, for salvation, healing, comfort. Please, Lord God, send out your workers, and may all your people be involved in your work more & more everyday. In Jesus’s great name amen
Agreeing in prayer with you Donna M, for comfort for the grieving in there tragic loss; Lord, I pray wrap your loving arms around each one and hold them close, in Jesus Name I pray, AMEN!
yes Donna amen amen amen May God bless the families and may the families reach out to the Triune God for healing, support, forgiveness of all our sins, for any and all help they will need and we know that God will provide….
it’s too much for me to take in……
Praying for the families of those who have been killed in the Syrian chemical attacks and for the children and women currently suffering. Are missile strikes by the US, France and Britain imminent? We call for the protection of angels, the blood of Jesus, breath of the Holy Spirit and Your Hand upon the world, dear God.
Amen Beverlee!
amen Beverlee, again, I can’t deal with these horrible issues, it is to much for my brain and mind to take in……..I pray for the families and that the Lord will be very evident for them all for the rest of their lives……
Yes, David, how true “God can do anything, anything, anything, but fail!! What a wonderful God we serve!!
Amazing, Jonah running away because he knew God would answer his prayer for Ninevah’s salvation. Strange reason to run away from God? It would not seem so strange if Jonah thought God would not answer his prayer?
Thank you Beverlee for the song. God bless you and thank you Irene. Prayers also for the loss of children and adults in new Delhi as well as the victims of the chemical attacks in Syria. So much needless suffering in the world today. We commit them all to you dear Lord for your healing, and help.
God was patient
with Jonah even
as God is patient
with the world today.
Lord we are all mourning the loss of so many people, children, adults, we know that You dear Lord have everything in Your control; You have Your reasons for taking people home to be with You, the Father and the Holy Spirit,
we pray You dear Lord will give us peace trying to deal with all these issues; bless the families and friends as they grieve the loss of family, friends,
Lord we confess that we sinned against You and our neighbours, we are sorry Lord we ask that You forgive us in Jesus Name TY Lord
Bless our families/friends/missionaries, Pastors, all those who take the Gospel around the world, TY Lord,
TY for all the blessings of this day In Jesus Name we Pray amen amen amen