TODAY’S VERSE:
Revelation 3:19 “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”
As we move on in our study to chapter 2 of Jonah, let us first review chapter 1. God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn the people that He would destroy them if they did not repent from their sin. Jonah disobeyed God and, instead, boarded a ship for Tarshish (in the opposite direction). So, God sent a violent storm. The crew cast lots to see who was at fault for the storm and, of course, the lots fell on Jonah. He told them to throw him into the sea. They hesitated, which only made the storm worse. They, finally, did so and the storm stopped. This caused them to fear the Lord and make vows to Him. Jonah was drowning and close to death, but God sent a big fish to swallow him and this is where he stayed for 3 days and 3 nights. God disciplined Jonah for His disobedience, but showed him grace, as well.
You should stop and go read chapter 2 now, so you can follow along with us! We asked the kids what stood out to them in chapter 2. Here is what we all came up with:
1-Jonah recognized that being swallowed by the fish was an answer to his prayer.
Jonah 2:2 “He said: ‘In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”
2-He realized that almost drowning was discipline for his disobedience.
Jonah 2:3-4 “You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’”
3-He is humbled by God’s grace and mercy, which motivates his obedience.
Jonah 2:9 “But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”
4-The Lord is gracious, compassionate, and forgiving.
Lamentations 3:22-23 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Jonah chapter 2 ends with Jonah being freed from the belly of the fish.
Jonah 2:10 “And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”
We took some time to consider the reality of Jonah’s situation. We should always remember that the story of Jonah, as well as the entire Bible, is not a cartoon or comic, it all really happened. He almost drowned and then was swallowed by a huge sea creature. Can you image how frightening that was? Now, think about what it was like inside of that creature. It was most likely dark, and we can only imagine what it smelled like (yuck), or even what else may have been in there. We assume that it was very uncomfortable and, again, very frightening. Discipline is like that, though; it has to be in order to teach us a lesson. However, if we accept it, in humility, then discipline becomes a blessing!
Hebrews 12:11 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”