A FISH AS A TRAVELING COMPANION

CAN YOU IMAGINE A FISH AS A TRAVELING COMPANION?

Jonah didn’t either—I would imagine. Humanly speaking, it seems to me Jonah was done for, asleep in the ship, tossed out at sea, and had come to the end of life as he had known it. Have you ever felt that way? 

Jonah’s disobedience and running from God cost the ship’s crew their cargo, and nearly their lives. Who on earth would have imagined that in the midst of Jonah’s crisis, a huge fish would arrive and swallow him up—having a belly large enough for him to live in! God had prepared a huge fish for Jonah. 

The Bible says that every one of the crew cried out to his god, but when the storm would not cease, they asked Jonah to cry out to his God. Even in Jonah’s disobedience, God got the attention of the crew—and they cried out to God not to perish either. 

God can use the most unusual means to provide, to get our attention, and there is no telling what He will use for your predicament. One thing I know for certain, God’s provision always has an element of surprise. 

Jonah chose to travel the long way around. Whatever crisis we find ourselves in as individuals, or as a nation, God wants us out of the boat so that we can enter a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.  God got Jonah’s attention—look at this…..as the water rushed over Jonah’s head….he said, “I remembered the Lord” (Jonah 2:7). Imagine that!

Unfortunately, most don’t turn to the Lord until they experience some type of crisis. “Whatever it takes, Lord” is a good prayer for a nation headed to disaster, and for those who don’t know the Lord. Life is short–eternity is forever. 

Jonah didn’t obey God immediately, and neither, much of the time, do we. All of us have drifted off God’s perfect course for our lives. There is great news in the story of Jonah for us today. We can never stray off so far in the distance that God cannot bring us back. That is a great word of encouragement for all. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords–He is our anchor through every storm. 

He is the God of second chances. Whatever you are facing today, choose to get in agreement with God. Jonah got in agreement with God and preached to the people of Nineveh. And guess what….Nineveh repented. There is hope for America. 

May GOD use the next President of the United States to lead us as a nation in repentance and prayer–to return to God–advancing His Kingdom here on earth.  

 Take time to read the following passage….notice what the King did in response to the word preached by Jonah. 

 JONAH 3

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk. Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.” When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it. 

BOOKS BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)

GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.