Jonah 2
1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, 2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
NOTE: God calmed the sea for those who turned to Him
Keep in mind, the men on the ship had to obey the man of God for God to calm the sea
God can speak through His man even when His man is not fully obeying Him
God will deal with His man, He does not need any help
Jonah’s pride brought about his trial
Proverbs 16:18-20
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
It is better to be poor and meek then to be rich and proud – Lowly – poor, humble, afflicted, meek
Haughty spirit – to think of yourself as better or above anyone else –
- Strife – to be contentious with the idea of control or gain
- To think others cannot be as good as you
- Always “right” attitude
God prepared a way out even before Jonah repented
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it
Temptation: (Strong’s definition)
- an experiment, attempt, trial, proving1a) trial, proving: the trial made of you by my bodily condition, since condition served as to test the love of the Galatians toward Paul
- the trial of man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy1b1) an enticement to sin, temptation, whether arising from the desires or from the outward circumstances
- an internal temptation to sin
- of the temptation by which the devil sought to divert Jesus the Messiah from his divine errand
- of the condition of things, or a mental state, by which we are enticed to sin, or to a lapse from the faith and holiness
- adversity, affliction, trouble: sent by God and serving to test or prove one’s character, faith, holiness1c) temptation (i.e. trial) of God by men1c1) rebellion against God, by which his power and justice are, as it were, put to the proof and challenged to show themselves
God already knows you are going to face difficulty as a believer
God already knows you will have times of unbelief
God has already made a way back to Him even before you leave
Repentance is the key back to a close relational fellowship with Him
Sometimes storms are just God’s way of helping us get back on track
- Learn to thank God for the storms of life that correct our way
- Learn that not all storms are bad
- Understands that God DOES send storms into your life.
- We often can control how long the storm lasts
- Let us be sure we apply
- humility in all things
- defer to others
- prayer of repentance for our own sins and the sins of our nation
- full obedience to His every word
