Jonah 2:1
"Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord
his God out of the fish's belly"
God and his servant Jonah had parted in anger, and the quarrel began on Jonah's side; he fled from his country that he might outrun his work; but we hope to see them both together again, and the reconciliation begins on God's side. Observe when Jonah prayed, it was when he was in trouble, under the tokens of God's displeasure against him for sin. When we are in affliction we must pray. Being kept alive by miracle, he prayed. A sense of God's good-will to us, not withstanding our offenses, opens the lips in prayer, which were closed with the dread of wrath.
Men may shut us from communion with one another, but not from communion with God. He prayed to; the Lord his God. Jonah reflects on the earnestness of his prayer, and God's readiness to hear and answer. When we receive good out of our troubles, we must notice the hand of God in them. Jonah had wickedly fled from the presence of the Lord, who might justly take his Holy Spirit from him, never to visit him more. But know this! "miserable will be those, whom God will no longer own and favor. But though he was perplexed, yet not in despair. Jonah reflects on the favor of God to him, when he sought to God, and trusted in him in his distress. He warns others, and tells them to keep close to God.
Those who forsake their own duty, forsake their own mercy; those who run away from the work of their place and day, run away from the comfort of it. Believer's that copies those who observe lying vanities, he forsakes his own mercy, and lives below his privileges. I pray that Jonah's experience of running from God, and God's faithfulness encourages others, in all ages, to trust in God, as the God of salvation.
Amen!!
Reading: (Jonah 2:1-9)
(Rom. 8:33-35)
(James 5:16)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
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