A Journey From Death To Life.

Hebrew 2:1 is English Bible 1:17

Here in this verse we see the foundation laid for chapter two. Here, we find that God has prepared for Jonah a great fish. At first glance this must have seemed like Devine retribution to the sailors, if they were able to witness this most incredible event.

However, what is often viewed as final judgement is in reality an act of compassion.

For it is in this fishes belly that Jonah’s life is saved, both physically and spiritually.

Furthermore, the Bible says that Jonah remained inside the fish for three days and three nights. In scripture this signifies a long journey.

Particularly, it is the travel time from death to life.

Genesis 22:4 ESV

On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.

In Gen. 22:4 it is a three day journey for Abraham and Issac to travel to Mount Moriah. Similarly, the Hebrews travelled three days in the wilderness before God gave water. Ex 15:22

Exodus 15:22 NASB95

Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.

Hosea 6:1–2 KJV 1900

Come, and let us return unto the Lord: For he hath torn, and he will heal us; He hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: In the third day he will raise us up, And we shall live in his sight.

In Hosea it is three days from death to life.

Furthermore, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day.

This may also highlight the significance of the miracle of Lazarus.

John 11:39 KJV 1900

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

After four days there was no doubt to the Jew that Lazarus was dead.

Here we see that Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.

I. What are you waiting on?

Jonah 2:1 NASB95

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish,

Here we finally have Jonah calling on God.

He did not speak to God when God called him.

He did not speak to God on the boat.

He did not call upon God in the storm.

He did not even call on God when drowning in the sea.

Jonah called out to God, but not until he reached the bottom. It took the loss of everything he had, before he called out to God.

Let me say this morning, “Do not wait until you reach the bottom to call out to God.”

I admire Peter, He immediately called out to Jesus when he began to sink.

Peter had more intelligence than most of us. He sought help before things got out of hand.

Maybe you are here today and you have been saying thing like, I will come to God if I need to, I will surrender to him when I get ready, or I can handle this theres no reason to worry God with my problem.

Don’t end up like Jonah.

II. There is nowhere we can go that Jesus’s love cannot reach.

Jonah 2:2 NASB95

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.

Jonah had left God yet, God had not left Jonah.

Psalm 139:8 NKJV

If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

III. Final Destination?

Jonah 2:3 NASB95

“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.

Jonah had arrived where he was going yet, it was not where God was taking him. He had began his descent down and now he has reached the bottom.

Furthermore, Jonah admits that God is the source of his demise.

This appeared too Jonah to be his end. However, God was not through with Jonah.

We can never out run the will and plan of God for our life. Jonah can testify that there is nowhere we can go that God can not reach us. Even if it means that he must bring us out of the grave.

God brought Jonah up from the depths of the grave.

He brought Lazarus up from the tomb.

He will bring you up from wherever you are and restore his purpose and plan to your life, if you will call on him.

IV. Half-hearted confession.

Jonah 2:4 NASB95

“So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’

It almost seams as if Jonah is blaming God for casting him out. Yet, it was Jonah who ran from God.

It is easy to forget that God is good and not evil.

Psalm 145:9 NASB95

The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.

Psalm 34:8 ESV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

1 John 4:8 NKJV

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Jeremiah 33:3 NASB95

‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

V. Fellowship.

Jonah 2:5–7 NASB95

“Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Weeds were wrapped around my head. “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. “While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple.

A. Broken Fellowship v. 5-6

B. Restored fellowship v. 7

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

VI. Arrogance of the religious.

Jonah 2:8–9 NASB95

“Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness, But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord.”

VII. The mercy of God.

Jonah 2:10 NASB95

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

Lamentations 3:22–23 KJV 1900

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.