Jonah 2

As Jonah sank deeper and deeper into the crushing depths of a cold and angry sea, the only thought that could have brought him comfort was that at any moment, death would put him out of his misery. When you are on the run from God, you are always running toward your own destruction.

As all hope faded in the dark abyss, God in His infinite wisdom, had prepared Grace in the form of a supernatural great fish.  Notice that God did not send a great white shark to rip Jonah to pieces, merely a time out box with scales so the rebellious servant could have time to ponder God's call.          
       
On day one of his incarceration I'm sure Jonah wrestled with disbelief. As the great fish swam deep into the recesses of the sea, Jonah's mind must have been racing with panic as he found himself in the slimy confines of an overgrown tuna. Many thoughts crossed his mind but somewhere amid the nightmare he paused long enough to remember who he was and how he had been raised.

Verses 2 and 3 tells us that Jonah began to have church in the belly of that fish. His first song on that first day was from Psalm chapter 88. This was a grievous complaint to God; verse six states, "Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps."

This may have been a negative attitude but at least Jonah thought about all of those church services he had sat in and he was trying to find his way back home.

Day two of Jonah's sentence found him thinking that suddenly, Nineveh didn't look so bad.
Verse 4 says, "Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple."  As Jonah sang Psalm 65, he began to remember the infinite power and goodness of the only living God. The church will always be an oasis of encouragment and hope for all whom the Lord will call.

Jonah didn't know it but he was about to be paroled. Day three found Jonah with a repented heart and brokenness that God could finally use. With thanksgiving he sang Psalm 142.
Verse 5, "I cried unto thee, O Lord : I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living." We need to remember that Jesus is the only divine refuge that we will ever need.

The world is being filled to the brim with the spirit of rebellion and satanic forces are massing like never before for a futile push against the Almighty. The time for pomp and circumstance are over. The saints of God should be vessels overflowing with an everlasting annointing. Lift up your praises from the belly of your dilema, get in the face of hell and when you find yourself tossed overboard, just have church!

Robert MacPhee Jr