Prophet Jonah disobeyed God and attempted to escape from his presence, but his calculation failed him. Jonah who traveled by sea to run away from God landed in the belly of a fish – and he felt the heat of hell! The stubborn Jonah repented inside the fish’s belly and asked for forgiveness. God forgave and restored him. The scripture reported,
“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. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and your waves passed over me” (Jonah 2:1-3).
Lesson:
It is better to obey God and receive his blessings than to disobey him and suffer terrible consequences. God has a different mode of corrections, and he may handle his children with iron hands until they cooperate with him. However, anyone who willingly obeys has a better chance to enjoy God’s benefits than a person who has to be coerced before he (or she) obeys. God rates his favorite children by the standard of obedience. He will establish his abiding presence with his favorite children; he will protect and rescue them during trouble, and he will provide for all their needs.
Prayer:
Dear God, please make me an obedient child. Let me listen and obey your instructions. Give me the ability to do whatever you ask me to do. Do not let me provoke your judgment with disobedience. Enable me to always be conscious that “you see all things and you will appropriately judge all things – either with blessings or disciplines.” For in the name of Jesus Christ I make my requests. Amen.
