Jonah 1:17-2:10

Salvation is from the Lord

Introduction:

Growing up in Bohol, with beautiful rivers and white sandy beaches, I have grown to love swimming.

I love swimming in the river or the sea, I love Island hopping, I love eating sea foods by the sea....

Do you like swimming and then eat seafoods by the sea?

I love eating fish, but I don’t like to be eaten by a fish

I am sure Jonah felt the same ( laugh)

I don’t like to swim deep blue waters, kay basin naay shark…I don’t know about you....

but Jonah had no choice but to swim into the deep blue sea because he was thrown tin to the sea by the sailors… (v. 15)

and in verse 16 the sailors believed in Yawheh as they saw the sea grew calm as they throw Jonah into the sea.

Now, we are in verse 17....

I. God caught Jonah (1:17)

Jonah 1:17 NASB95

17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.

Truly, no one can escape from God.

God appointed a fish to bring about his purpose of saving Jonah

A random fish did not just happen to be there at the right time when Jonah was thrown into the sea - No!

God appointed that fish! God prepared that specific fish for this purpose! -A big fish with a belly enough to keep Jonah alive.

Chance - The occurrence of events at random, as undesigned happenings. While people may perceive events as random, in Scripture all events are subject to God’s sovereignty.

- Jonah stayed 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the fish.

Three days and three nights is a special phrase used in the ancient world with the meaning ‘long enough to be definitely dead’. It derives originally from the ancient pagan notion that the soul’s trip to the after-world took three days and nights.

Matthew 12:38–41

Matthew 12:38–41 NASB95

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 “The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Jesus’ use of the same phrase for the duration of his death before his resurrection. It carries a similar force: it is a way of saying that he would really die, not that he would be literally dead for exactly seventy-two hours.

II. Jonah’s Prayer and Thanksgiving to God (2:1-9)

Jonah had a renewed heart inside the belly of the fish - this is the benefit of having no other option but God. He had no escape, he is restrained.

He composed a song/psalm. A prayer of thanksgiving of his deliverance.

A. Jonah called to God and God heard him (2:2)

Jonah 2:2 NASB95

2 and he said, “I called out of my distress to the Lord, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice.

I called, God answered

I cried for help, God heard

B. Jonah recounts the cause of his distress (2:3-6)

Jonah 2:3–4 NASB95

3 “For You had cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Your breakers and billows passed over me. 4 “So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’

banishment from God’s sight is the severest of punishment

Psalm 37:28 NASB95

28 For the Lord loves justice And does not forsake His godly ones; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

Psalm 51:11 NASB95

11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Jonah 2:5–6 NASB95

5 “Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Weeds were wrapped around my head. 6 “I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever, But You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.

C. Jonah’s realization and response to the mercy of God (2:7-9)

Jonah 2:7–9 NASB95

7 “While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple. 8 “Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness, 9 But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord.”

Idols cannot save, only Jehovah can.

Conclusion and Declaration of Jonah - SALVATION is from the LORD

God is in the business of saving people.

He is mighty to save!

He is able to save!

He is willing to save!

Psalm 3:8 “8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people!

III. God released Jonah (2:10)

Jonah 2:10 NASB95

10 Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.

A second chance was given to Jonah to obey God.

Jonah was rescued from the prospect of death, Jesus from death itself

CONCLUSION:

Salvation or deliverance is from the Lord. God is powerful, able, and willing to save.

God can powerfully save us:

Salvation from sickness

Salvation from financial problems

Salvation from dangers or hardships

Salvation from death

Jesus came and performed miracles after miracles

This is what Jesus ultimately came to do:

Salvation for those who believe in Jesus!

Salvation from eternal damnation

John 10:10 NASB95

10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

John 3:36 NASB95

36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Proper Response:

Just as Jonah looked up to God for deliverance, look up to Jesus for your salvation!

Just as Jonah was thankful to God for the undeserved deliverance, be thankful to God for the undeserved salvation that you received.

Learn from Jonah, repent and call unto God for he listens!