Jonah Was "Swallowed Up"

As Christians, we’ve all heard and studied the story of Jonah and the great fish. But do we know that the disobedient prophet was “swallowed up” — not once, but three times?

1) Jonah was “swallowed up” by prejudice — The Ninevites were a wicked and idolatrous people (Jonah 1:2), and God wanted Jonah to preach repentance to them. But Jonah wanted them to feel God’s wrath (Jonah 4:2), so he boarded a ship and headed in the opposite direction (Jonah 1:3).

2) Jonah was “swallowed up” by the sea — A wild storm was battering the boat, so the superstitious sailors cast lots to find out who was to blame, and “the lot fell on Jonah” (Jonah 1:7). He said, “Throw me into the sea” (Jonah 1:12). As the swirling waters engulfed him, he sank toward certain death.

3) Jonah was “swallowed up” by a large fish that God had prepared to rescue him (Jonah 1:17) — Inside the fish 3 days, he confessed his sin and promised to obey God (Jonah 2:1-9). After he was delivered, he followed God’s directive and preached judgment to Nineveh, and all the people repented (Jonah 3:1-5).

Dear reader, sometimes God allows us to face frightening circumstances so that we will learn to trust and obey Him. It’s always best to obey the Lord right away — then we won’t be “swallowed up.”

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets