Jonah 2:2
The scripture for today is Jonah 2:2
Jonah 2:2 And said, I cried by reason of my affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of sheol cried I, and you heard my voice.
Jonah was a prophet, but he had flaws. He was self-willed and, rather than follow the clear instructions of God, he determined to follow his own mind. God told him to go to Nineveh, but Jonah booked passage on a ship going in the opposite direction.
Most of us can relate to Jonah for most of us have at some point in our lives done what we wanted to do rather than what God directed us to do. The consequences of such decisions are never good. No one can violate the clear instructions of God without suffering the consequences of those decisions. Sin pays wages; and the wages of sin is death. After being swallowed by the fish, Jonah felt that he was in the belly of the dead, a place of darkness with no hope of seeing the light again. But in this condition, Jonah, yes rebellious Jonah, turned to God. In the midst of his suffering, which he had brought upon himself, he cried out to God and God did not reject Him. God did not give him a speech about how wrong he had been and how disappointed He was with his disobedience. No, God listened to Jonah, had compassion on him, forgave him, and delivered him from his affliction.
“God can hear and answer prayer in the most desperate circumstances. The preservation of Jonah's life in the midst of deadly perils was infinitely easy to almighty power, and should encourage us to hope and pray for a full deliverance from our trials upon repentance and confession, even though they may have been brought upon us by our sins.” Family Bible Notes
The devil will always tell you, in the midst of your suffering and trials, that you are getting what you deserve. But when we cry out to God in the midst of our self-inflicted pain, God does not give us what we deserve; He gives us what His love and mercy require. Just as God delivered Jonah, God will deliver us too.
God bless you as you continue in His service
Tim