The story of Jonah usually evokes crazy images of a poor young man somehow surviving in the belly of a whale. Our minds immediately race through questions like: what did he eat, what did it smell like, or how in the world could he last three days in that place? We get so caught up in these questions that we miss the message of the story.

This is certainly a “Fantastic Fish Tale,” but it is much more than that. It is the story of many of our lives. The whale wasn’t Jonah’s punishment for disobeying God. The whale was his salvation. God rescued Jonah, and then used him to rescue a nation!

Jonah’s Deliverance Came at a Price

Jonah fled from God even though he knew exactly what he was supposed to do. He received incredible grace from God, delivered in an unimaginable way. The Lord sent the fish to rescue Jonah as he was sinking into the depths of the ocean. The Lord rescued Jonah, but his “deliverance” came with is own difficulty. When we run from God, we sometimes have to go through a few stinky days before we can get back on the right path.

Nineveh Repented, God Relented

Jonah eventually obeyed God walking through the streets of Nineveh preaching God’s message. God’s message was represented, Nineveh repented, and God relented (Jonah 3:10). Jonah still refused to rejoice in God’s grace. He never did learn to give God the gratitude that He deserves. Too often, even when God moves in a mighty way, we miss Him because we are too focused on having our personal pity parties.

Jonah’s Story and My Life

By finding our story in Jonah’s life, we can learn from his mistakes and avoid living a life that smells like stinking guts of a fish – a life of disobedience, grouchy attitude, reluctant obedience, and ingratitude. May the Lord use Jonah to remind us of His love and grace? May we be challenged to walking in obedience from the beginning so we don’t end up overboard, sinking into the abyss, only to face difficult days because of our disobedience?

 Rescued to Rescue Others

Perhaps, God has rescued you so that he can use you to rescue someone else! Many of us are too busy having our personal pity parties because we didn’t get life our way. If God has saved you from eternal punishment, He desires to use you to rescue someone else. Quit looking in and start looking out for who the Lord wants us to rescue with His message of grace!

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. – Acts 1:8 CSB