Articles
Out of the Depths
Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly. And he said: "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice.” (Jonah 2:1-2)
Jonah’s prayer seems to be one of thanksgiving for his deliverance from the belly of the fish. Jonah reminisces - "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me.”
Jonah had been commissioned by God to go preach against the city of Nineveh. Instead of accepting his mission, Jonah sought to flee from God’s presence. The prophet was so determined to avoid His call that even when the ship was threatened by a storm, he slept and made no effort to pray while the heathens called on their gods.
When Jonah’s sin was uncovered he was thrown into the sea and swallowed by a fish. After three days and nights in the fish’s belly, Jonah was vomited on to dry land.
From the belly of a fish, Jonah prayed. A strange place to be and a strange place to pray. There are no restrictions to the place of acceptable prayer. God’s children may pray in the comfort of a home, on the field of battle, in the busy market, or on a quite mountain side. We may pray in times of joy or distress. On this occasion Jonah prayed from the depth of the sea.
The deep water of affliction is a common human experience. There are times when one is totally submerged in sorrow. God allows us to be subject to pain to remind us of our frail temporary state. Jonah was a defector who had abandoned his post, and had deliberately “cast himself from the sight of God.” Now knowing the joy of God’s presence, he submissively cries to God for help.
Even in the depths of affliction Jonah had not totally lost his faith. "When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple” (Jonah 2:7). In his time of duress, Jonah is lead closer to God, and not away from God.
When prayer is offered submissively and in faith; when our petitions are poured forth unto the ears of the Father, He hears. God hears us even in the depth of pain. This is a valuable blessing for the people of God.
