The Book of JONAH

Chapter 2

Jonah 2: [1] Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,

We are Joining Jonah on his Journey.

1) Downturn of Disobedience (2:1)

How did Jonah get into that fish’s belly?

Jonah was called to go and preach the grace of GOD to the sinful Gentile city of Nineveh.

Jonah responded in disobedience as he resisted GOD’s call and ran the other way.

Notice the downturn of sinful disobedience. When you run from GOD down is your direction.

1. Down to Joppa (1:3)

2. Down into the ship (1:3)

3. Down into the sides (1:5)

4. Down into the sea (1:15)

5. Down into whale (1:17)

I have never known anyone who ran from GOD and their life ended up better for doing it.

When you hinder the work of GOD in your life, you will pay for it.

GOD spoke to the wind (1:4) and it obeyed. GOD spoke to a whale (1:17) and it obeyed.

GOD spoke to a wayward prophet (1:1,2) and Jonah disobeyed.

Psalm 106:15 he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

We must learn to obey GOD!

2) Direct Determinations (2:1)

According to Jonah 1:17 the LORD “Prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah”.

The great fish was obedient as he swallowed Jonah up.

Jonah was in the belly of the great fish 3 days and 3 nights!

Many have a hard time believing this could be true.

BUT GOD can do anything!

“For with GOD nothing shall be impossible” Luke 1:37

“The things which are impossible with men are possible with GOD.” Luke 18:27

GOD prepared :

1. A great fish (1:17)

2. A gourd (4:6)

3. A worm (4:7)

4. A wind (4:8)

It is GOD who can do all things that prepared this great fish.

After all how long has GOD been preparing a Jonah?

God will use time, effort, and compassion to touch the heart of his man.

Thus Jonah is a story of the grace of God to sinners and to rebellious saints.

In fact Jesus referenced Jonah and this whale.

Matt 12:39,40

[39] But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
[40] For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

I believe if it were not so, Jesus would have told us.

This fish was prepared and sent after Jonah.

Before Jonah ever bought a ticket, went the wrong way and was thrown overboard this fish was waiting.

GOD is a prepared GOD.

Though Jonah was rebellious and resistant, GOD has a personal escort to head Jonah back the right way.

3) Desired Deliverance (2:1)

“Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD.”

When? After three days and three nights? Did Jonah pout and sulk for 3 days and 3 nights?

It is for sure that he prayed “out of the fish’s belly.”

Jonah 2: [2] And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. [3] For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. [4] Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. [5] The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. [6] I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. [7] When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

4) Depth’s of Despair (2:2-7)

Here was GOD’s man living below sea level in the belly of a fish.

Jonah must have felt that he had died a thousand death’s.

He was living like a dead man in an unseen world.

Imagine the utter darkness, the stench of the digestive process and the feeling of being buried alive.

Doubt must have told him that he has gone too far and that he was forgotten about.

Then he remembered GOD’s word.

Psalm 18:6

[6] In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Psalm 31:22

[22] For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

It was right there that Jonah prayed from the depth’s of despair.

Jonah had faith to believe that GOD would still hear his cry.

In verse 3, Jonah says “thou hast cast me into the deep.”

Who threw Jonah into the raging sea? I read it was the sailors (1:15).

But Jonah says it was GOD that allowed it to happen.

Jonah understands that though you may run from GOD, you are never out of His hand.

John 10:28-30

[28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
[29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
[30] I and my Father are one.

Remember when Joseph was sold by his brothers, into a life of bondage in the land of Egypt.

GOD raised Joseph up to be the governor of the land and listen to what Joseph said:

Genesis 45:8

[8] So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

In verse 4, Jonah says that his greatest pain was sin that separated him from fellowship with GOD.

“I am cast out of thy sight.”

Isaiah 59:2

[2] But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

The only prayer GOD will hear is the prayer of repentance. (Ps 66:18)

This separation drove Jonah to turn to the LORD in repentance, though in the belly of a fish.

In verses 5 and 6, we note that Jonah felt great calamity but his separation from GOD was greater.

Jonah felt the waters inside the fish compass his soul.

Jonah lived in utter darkness.

Jonah felt the seaweeds wrap around his head.

Jonah felt the pressure of living far below sea level.

Jonah felt he was surrounded by prison bars.

In verse 7, Jonah remembered the LORD in the midst of his calamity and separation.

Jonah called on GOD in the depth’s of despair.

Jonah 2: [8] They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. [9] But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

5) Diligent Declarations (2:8,9)

Jonah realized that resisting GOD, running from Him, and lying to self was like forsaking mercy.

GOD said rebellion is like idolatry. Rebellion is you thinking your way is better than GOD’s way.

1 Samuel 15:23

[23] For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

GOD had said “thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”Ex 22:18

Jonah deserved to die. Maybe he should have drown, BUT the mercy of GOD was extended.

Jonah humbly repents of his rebellion and running away.

Jonah turns to GOD with the sacrifice of repentance and in thanksgiving.

Jonah promises to pay his vows to GOD and do whatever GOD tells him to do.

Triumphantly Jonah says, “salvation is of the LORD”

Jonah learned salvation is not about being a Hebrew (race) or being a Jew (religion).

Salvation is of the LORD and has nothing to do with man at all!

Jonah 2: [10] And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

6) Divine Deliverance (2:10)

When Jonah repented, the LORD spoke to the fish.

The fish was still under the command of GOD.

GOD had commanded the fish to swallow Jonah up and now GOD commands Jonah to be spit out.

By the grace of GOD, the fish vomited Jonah out on dry land, probably closer to Nineveh than before.

Jonah is ready to walk on new ground.

Jonah is again trusting GOD.

Thus Divine Deliverance came after repentance.

7) Distributing Doctrine (2:10)

Jonah will walk the rest of the way into Nineveh to preach repentance unto that wicked city.

What a message Jonah has to preach, “Salvation is of the LORD.”

All of this really makes me think about this verse:

Hebrews 2:3

[3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation

Great Salvation is too great to neglect. Consider this “great salvation” as being too much salvation for:

1. Too much salvation for the whale Jonah 2:9

The whale couldn’t stand Jonah’s prayer

Salvation is of the LORD was too much salvation for the whale & spit Jonah out on the shore

2. Too much salvation for the well John 4:4-6, 12-13, 28-29

The well couldn’t satisfy the woman as she came back and forth daily.

Jesus was too much salvation for the well as she left her water-pot and the well behind.

3. Too much salvation for the veil Matt 27:50-51

The veil had stood between GOD and man in the Temple.

When Jesus died and shed His blood it was too much salvation for the veil and it was rent in twain.

4. Too much salvation for the jail Acts 16:25

Paul & Silas were locked up, beaten, bloodied, and left for dead in prison.

In the midnight hour Paul and Silas sang praises unto God.

The LORD was too much salvation for the jail, as an earthquake opened the doors of the jail.

5. Too much salvation for the nail John 20:25-27

Jesus was nailed to a cruel cross as they crucified the sinless Savior.

Jesus was too much salvation for the nails as death did not hold Him.

Up from the grave He arose.

6. Too much salvation for them to sell Acts 4:20

Peter & John after being locked up forbidden to speak of Jesus.

Rather than sell out and comprise they preached anyway.

Acts 4:20 “for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard”

7. Too much salvation for us not to tell Heb 2:3

We need to share the message “salvation is of the LORD”

Hebrews 2:[3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation

Jonah has a message to preach and so do we.

Let us not neglect to tell the gospel, tell it to others