LORD sent a big fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17 Contemporary English Version)
Before the verse above, the word of the Lord had come to Jonah and told him to go to Nineveh and cry out against it because their wickedness had come before Him. But instead of answering God’s call, Jonah went down to Joppa, found a ship that was going to Tarshish to flee from the presence of the Lord. And as you read on in The Book of Jonah, you will see that after being tossed off the ship he boarded doing a storm, Jonah ended up being tossed in the sea. In the sea Jonah was swallowed up by a great fish. In the belly of the fish, in a dismal, dirty, and disagreeable place, Jonah called on the Lord in prayer. Sometimes the Lord will let us go through a great fish experience so we will change our minds that have us going, not in the right direction, but the wrong direction.
Eventually, Jonah ended up doing what God had told him to do. Afterwards, as you will see when you read more of Jonah’s story, you will find out that Jonah still had some learning to do, still had to get the right attitude, and still had to get his heart right. You will also see that God will still keep teaching when we need to do make some more changes in our lives to get right with Him.
This morning, child of God, perhaps the Lord is calling you to do something, perhaps not preach, maybe not teach, but something that will help you serve and step up a little higher as a witness for the Lord. And of course, there is a chance that this meditation has a specific message for you to convey to someone who has continually rejected the Lord’s call to salvation. Whether this meditation is speaking to you regarding your call or if it is speaking to you to do some personal evangelism, know that when one refuses to answer the call, God still has some more great fish. The great fish may not be literal in your situation or the circumstance of the one who you evangelize. The great fish may come in another form where you may be trapped in an economic place, swallowed up by anxiety and stress, or denied opportunity after opportunity.
So, because I love you, I advise you who are running away from God’s call, in any form, to recognize that God has some more great fish and one of them is heading your way. If I were you, I would not wait for the great fish! I would answer His call to serve or surrender to His will, today! Ponder on this thought, my friend. Be blessed!
“Next, God spoke to Jonah a second time: ‘Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They’re a bad way and I can’t ignore it any longer.’ This time Jonah started off straight for Nineveh, obeying God’s orders to the Letter.” (Jonah 3:1-3 The Message Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
God has some more great fish all around; I didn’t quite understand that at first. I see now that one may be waiting for me if I don’t surrender to His call, whatever it may be, I can be swallowed up. I’m listening for the call.
Avoid the “swallowed up” and keep answering His call! Thanks for your response. Be blessed (BTW, I wonder if He will send a big fish my way in February to continue meditations. Smile!
Although it may not seem like it at the time, thank God for His mercy that never runs out of great fish for us.
Bless you Dr. M!
His mercy keeps us as He patiently awaits us to answer His call to duty. Thanks for your response. Be blessed!