A Song from a Fish – Jonah 1:17-2:10 – Message #2

Description

The story of Jonah and the fish is probably one of the most well-know stories from the Old Testament.  Most people, however, focus so much on what Jonah was doing in the fish, that they miss what God was doing in Jonah.  This song from a fish is a song of praise.  While it might seem unlikely for a person swallowed by a fish to be praising God, Jonah did just that.

Jonah realized that he was not deserving of God’s mercy and grace. Then, he remembered that the Lord is a God who extends his mercy to those who don’t deserve it.  God sent the fish, not to punish Jonah, but to rescue him from drowning.  In the song, Jonah recounts his trouble in the sea.  About to drown, Jonah thought he had outrun God.  He thought he’d arrived where he had wanted to go – away from God’s presence.  Here he quickly discovered that he didn’t like where he was and that God was still there, just waiting for him.

When Jonah called out to God, he extended his mercy to Jonah and rescued him (using a “great fish”). The same God is ready to extend his mercy and grace to you as well – just call out to him!