Jonah – the hesitant prophet. – Kennewick First Presbyterian Church

Jonah – the hesitant prophet.

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God.
He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.
You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’
The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.

“When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. – Jonah 2

At first, Jonah rejected the call of God to preach in Nineveh and ended up in the belly of the great fish. Jonah had good reason for his dislike of the Ninevites. The Assyrians destroyed Israel. Jonah had lost family and friends at the hands of these brutal warriors.

God heard his cry from the belly of the whale and rescued Jonah from the deep. It took a lot for God to get Jonah’s attention and obedience. God never gave up on him. God continued to call. God was with Jonah even in his frustration and disappointment. God’s work was done, regardless of Jonah’s hesitation because God didn’t give up on the people of Assyria, either. God desires we will come to faithful relationship with Him. God gives limitless opportunities for us to turn away from the temptations of the world and turn toward God.

Even when troubles surround us, God is faithful. Do you feel like you are drowning in trouble? God hears your cry.

We call out to you, Lord, because we know you hear and answer. We pray for people who feel like they are drowning in trouble. Turn and look, and let everyone see you are close by. We pray for people who feel like they have been swallowed up by oceans of sickness, sadness, or fear. Reach down and lift us up. Forgive us for running from your call to love you with our whole heart, soul and mind. Forgive us for not loving our neighbor as ourselves.

We thank you for listening to our prayers, and we know you are ready to answer. We praise you and promise to follow you forever, in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.