Jonah 2

Bible Passage: Jonah 2

Today we read about the world renoun story! Jonah was praying in the fish’s belly!

It is an incredible story. Even trying to think how it really was is difficult. But I have no doubt this incredible story truly happened because it is in the Bible, and Jesus testified to it.

As I try to imagine how it was like in the belly of the fish, lots of imagery conjured in my mind, but nothing really makes sense. Was it complete darkness or was Jonah playing with flipping fishes? Could Jonah see a gush of new fishes when the big fish opens its mouth to swallow coming at his face and was he really deep in like in a cave? Will he feel sea-sick in there or was it like sitting in a big cruise ship? Or only when the fish is sleeping that Jonah gets to sit still? Under what circumstances did Jonah make his prayer?

” I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me.“

In the first line of Jonah’s prayer, he said that he cried to the Lord and He answered him. At what point of time did Jonah think that God has answered his prayer and have the faith that He has saved him? He was thrown into the sea; the rush of waters surrounding him must have made him thnk he was going to drown. But God made a big fish swallow him! That must really have been heart-pounding excitement!

When he found himself not dead in the fish’s belly, that was probably the time he realised that God had saved him. But the fact was, he was still out in the sea and in a fish’s belly! He was still far from shore, and he did not know how long he has to stay in the belly of the fish, or if he were to think pessimistic, not even sure whether he could survive. Did he make the prayer on the 1^st day? Or 2^nd? Or 3^rd? But he knew; he had the faith that God will save him.

Now have we experienced some kind of tribulation in our lives? Recall at what point of time do we consider ourselves saved by God. When we are still in the middle of it, do we have the faith that God has already saved us? Do we worry until the point when everything is fine as we want it?

Worshipping in dire circumstances

Imagining Jonah’s situation in the fish’s belly also made me consider about worship in the most extreme circumstances. I would imagine the belly of the fish to be very dark and I am quite sure Jonah would not be able to take up a manuscript to read. He could not read from the scriptures nor attempt to draw on the fish’s belly. It was a time that everything is about thinking, and he had to rely on his memories. It makes me wonder if I were to encounter a situation like this, to be stuck in the rubble of a fallen building or caught somewhere in the middle of war. I will not have our Bible or hymn book. Can I remember the words of God? Can I sing hymns to comfort our souls? Nowadays I do not have the chance to join choir much. I am not put into a situation where I need to memorise hymns. In fact my memory is quite bad. While playing the game “Don’t forget the lyrics” hymnal version in church, I actually realised I am so bad at memorizing hymns… There are some people I know that are not good with their memory but somehow can memorize Bible verses and hymns. How I wish I have such an ability too. Are you good with memorizing words? Do you spend it on memorizing secular songs or church hymns? Do you spend it on memorizing secular knowledge or the Word of God?

Finally, some words of Jonah made me think of an issue. He said to God,

“I have been cast out of your sight.”

He thought that he could flee from the presence of God when he embarked on the opposite direction and a very long journey to Tarshish. But God found him. Sometimes we think that we could ignore God, go away from Him and try to get rid of Him. Sometimes we feel that we are oppressed by the knowledge of the presence of God always looking over our shoulders, and we wish that He can don’t pay attention to us at times, especially when we are lured to sin and indulgance. 

But have we thought about that possibility that God can cast us out of His sight?

I have seen people who have lost the presence of God in their lives, and I think we who are in the grace now should consider this seriously. When God really departs from our life, it is not something we can recall back as we like it. God is no longer just a prayer away.

Is there still hope that He watches over me? Is there still hope that He hears my prayers? If the devil were to confront me, will I have the faith and confidence to cry out to God to my defense?

Some of us may wonder how long God will take to answer our prayers, but at least we can have the faith that He listens. I think that if we pray with no hope that God will actually listen to our prayers, it is a terrible feeling, and I think that we should really cherish this privilege that He has given us as children of God to talk to Him directly with the promise that He listens, and never ever risk throwing it away.

After writing all these, a hymn pops into my mind, with much greater appreciation now.

The Lord bless you and keep you,

The Lord lift His countenance upon you

and give you peace

and give you peace

The Lord makes His face to shine upon you

and be gracious unto you, be gracious

The Lord be gracious, gracious~ unto~ you~