Jonah And The Whale – God Wants You Back

Jonah and the whale are two biblical stories of faith. In the first story, Jonah, an adolescent, is trapped in a big fish, which is the opposite of a normal life. God reveals himself to him and he is delivered from death. In the second story, Jonah, who is in the same big fish, is rescued and given a new role as a prophet.

God Has Many Plans To Get Our Attention

#1 God Sends Storms to Your Life

Jonah 1:4 ESV But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea so that the ship threatened to break up.

The story of Jonah the prophet illustrates how God can send storms into our lives. Usually, when we experience a storm, we are led to be frightened. That’s the reason why Jonah felt that he was going to die. But in a storm, we can’t be frightened. We can find solace in God. After all, he is God, and his word is the final word.

Jonah is in dire need of a storm and was threatening to drown in it. The Lord did not want him to drown. Instead, He wanted him to be healed and restore Nineveh. God provides for Jonah and transforms his heart, ensuring that he will survive. In the end, the story of Jonah’s storms is a powerful lesson about God and his grace.

The people of Nineveh needed Jonah’s message, and Jonah’s message resonated with them. But he didn’t want Jonah to leave them, or even the city of Nineveh. He sent him into a storm to help them rebuild and heal. The storm didn’t destroy the city, but God used it to show Jonah that his faith in the Lord is worthy of a storm.

While Jonah’s mission wasn’t the greatest, God did have plans for him. He had a plan. As a result, He steered the ship to Nineveh, which was an impossible task. The storm was a reminder of God’s presence and His call to love and obey Him. But Jonah didn’t accept it. The storm made him realize that God is the one who created storms.

#2 God Touches Someone Near You

Jonah 1:5 ESV Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.

When you are touched by God, you will be reminded of his existence. You will find this sense of presence in all of your relationships. It is a sign of enlightenment, which will lead you to the realm of eternal grace, unbound freedom, and oneness with the Divine. However, be warned that awakening from enlightenment will not last forever. Just as your honeymoon ends when you get married, your election will end when you have to do your share of the work of government. Even your spiritual life will end with laundry.

It is also a sign of faith. In the Bible, God touched Abraham and Sarah. Moreover, it is a sign of being close to God. The patriarchs, however, were few in number and were wandering strangers in a strange land. But as the story goes, God protected them, and He increased the number of descendants.

He even protected Abraham twice when he was wandering through hostile nations. The kings wanted Sarah, but God sent them away without harming them showing that God is always close by. It is the same in our daily lives. If we feel close to God, we should pray for his blessing. This can be a sign that God is near us.

#3 God Sends Someone to You

Jonah 1:6 ESV So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

Waiting for a God-sent person is not an easy task, but God will send you someone who will give you a boost of confidence when you feel like giving up. You’ll need someone who can reaffirm the truth of what God says. A God-sent man will bring you joy and excitement, while he will also serve as your spiritual support system. Read on to learn about the qualities of a God-sent man.

One of the greatest forms of encouragement comes in the form of a word of confirmation. Sometimes God sends a person to you to confirm what you already know. For example, when David was in danger, God sent his friend Jonathan to tell him that Saul his father seeks to kill him. 1 Samuel 19:2 ESV

A word of confirmation is a powerful form of encouragement. When God sends someone to you, it’s to confirm what only God knows. For example, God sent Jonathan to David to tell him, “Do not be afraid. You are going to be King of Israel. Your father will never find you.” This kind of word of confirmation can reassure us in ways that no other thing can. You’ll know that the Lord will use this message to guide you.

#4 God Exposes Your Disobedience

Jonah 1:7-8 ESV ⁷ And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. ⁸ Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”

What does it mean when God exposes your disobedience? This is often the case when we are tempted to make choices we may later regret. This is when God’s plan to show us the way to God’s will becomes evident. If you’ve ever felt that your actions are not in line with the will of God, this passage is for you. This passage shows that God exposes our disobedience to Him and to each other.

When we are tempted to ignore the voice of God, we can turn to our own sin. Often, our actions affect others. In Jonah’s case, he is instructed by the Lord to go to Nineveh and cry against the city. But Jonah was afraid of the presence of God and fled to Tarshish. He escaped from His presence by going down to Joppa and boarding a ship headed to Tarshish.

When we are in danger, we should look for a place where we can escape the Lord’s will. For example, Jonah escaped the Lord and fled to the seashore. He saw a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and hoped to escape to the west. But as the storm hit, the sailors could not row their boat ashore because the waves were too rough.

#5 How God Touches You Physically

Jonah 1:15 ESV So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.

But what does it feel like when He touches you? It might be a combination of the two. Here are some of the things you can expect when you experience God’s presence.

The most common way you can experience God touching you is through prayer. You may feel a warm sensation when praying or meditating. It is important to know that you are not alone in experiencing this type of divine touch.

In prophetic visions, God often appears in the form of a human being. In John 13:1-4 ESV, Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, and in Luke 8:43-48 ESV, a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years is healed by the touch of Jesus. Both of these stories are evidence of how God touches us physically today. And if you want to feel more of this type of touch, pray and give God more time to transform you.

Conclusion

The Global Message of Jonah for Today

The Bible is a timeless book that can help us understand our place in the world. When the prophet Jonah was sent to the great city of Nineveh, he cried out against their wickedness. Prophets are called to preach warnings and pronounce judgments in order to lead people to repentance. However, the people of Nineveh resisted this prophet and ignored his message.

In today’s world, it’s important to realize that God is merciful to all of his creation, including the unfaithful. His message calls the global church to extend mercy and compassion to those in need. These acts can include financial generosity, hospitality, sharing resources, and personal possessions. It can also involve advocacy on behalf of the oppressed. Despite the warnings of God, the apathy in this society has led to a tragic result.

In contrast, God shows compassion for the innocent by removing a plant that gave Jonah pleasure. By doing this, God exposes the underlying problem of man’s sin, which affects all of creation. We cannot ignore the effect of our sin on our community and the environment. And that is the core message of Jonah. He reveals the need for God’s mercy in the world today. The prophet’s plight should not be overlooked.

Related Bible Story:

Jesus Heals At The Pool of Bethesda – Instantly, The Man Was Healed!