Praying At The Crossroads预览

The Prayer of Jonah

Jonah’s story took place around 750 BC. As a prophet, Jonah, was called to speak to the people of Israel on God’s behalf. When God told Jonah to go outside Israel and speak to the people of Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, he refused and fled in the opposite direction. 

No doubt Jonah knew the people of Assyria were enemies of Israel, renowned for their cruel, vicious atrocities against humanity, including the people of Israel. Jonah simply didn’t like them and didn’t want to go, despite what God said. The climax of the story came when the prodigal prophet was swallowed by a great fish, which God had appointed for this special purpose. It’s from the belly of the fish that Jonah offered his prayer.

As a result of his rebellion and disobedience, Jonah found himself in a difficult situation. Clearly, if Jonah had simply obeyed God, no storm and no great fish would have been required to bring about Jonah’s hardship and feelings of despair. Yet as sinful people, we all sometimes find ourselves under the loving chastisement of our sovereign God. Often our sin is outright rebellion against God’s will. At other times our sin is just apathy about God’s purposes. Whatever the case may be, God loves us too much to let us squander our lives in apathy or disobedience. Such was the case with the prophet Jonah. 

In times like these it’s vital to remember that God loves us and that ultimately, “All things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). We mustn’t lose sight of God’s ultimate purpose for us to become more holy and Christlike. A healthy prayer life keeps us tethered to the Lord in the midst of storms that help teach, correct, grow, and conform us to the image and likeness of Jesus. Jesus taught us: 

"Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him" (Matthew 7:7-11).

Do you lack wisdom? We all do. God wants you to seek Him for answers and promises: 

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him" (James 1:5).

When you ask for wisdom, God will abundantly help you without finding fault. How amazing our God is!