The last couple of weeks we have talked about the story of Jonah. Thomas Q. Robbins is also conducting a sermon series on Jonah. Growing up as a kid the only thing I really knew about Jonah was that he was swallowed by a whale and spit up (or as veggie tales puts it barfed up) on shore three days later. I suppose that everyone knows that part of the story because we have seen plays or musicals about it or because it makes for interesting coloring pages for children. But really that is only a small part of the story. In fact the whale is only mentioned in these three ways:
1. the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah (1:17)
2. from inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord (2:1)
3. the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land (2:10)
The big fish is a very important part of the story. God sends the fish as a means of salvation not punishment. (thanks to the Wesley Study Bible for making me sound so eloquent.)
There is much more to the story. Jonah first responds to God's call by running away and then when given a second chance (after being swallowed by a big fish) he does what God asks. How many times have we ran the other way when we are asked to do something? How many times have we not responded to God's call when asked?
And yet God does for us what he did for Jonah. Time and time again we are given a second chance to do what is asked of us by God. Not because we deserve it but simply because that is who God is and what he willingly does for us.
grace&peace
kevin
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