The Book of Jonah tells the story of a prophet who did not want to deliver a message. God told Jonah to go to Ninevah but Jonah disliked those people and didn’t want to go. He boarded a ship and took off in another direction, hoping he could avoid God and his purpose.
God sent a violent storm to toss the ship and when the sailors realized that Jonah was responsible for their calamity, they tossed him. Then God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, where he remained for days, praying and humbling himself. The fish spit him out on dry land and then Jonah obeyed the call of his Lord and went to Ninevah.
Some get hung up on the whole “swallowed by a whale” thing, but I don’t. The Bible says “But the LORD provided a great fish…” God created the universe, He created His prophet Jonah, and He created a way for Jonah to be saved and redirected, so that He could use him to save others. The depth of God’s compassion is boundless in this tiny book. He held Jonah, the people of Ninevah and the sailors in His great love. He cared deeply for all of them.
Why would I run from God when I know He is good? Why do I set out on a fruitless, sinful way when God shows me His perfect one? Why must I be swallowed up by troubles before I relent and let God’s love bring me to rest on solid ground?
I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly. Psalm 85:8
Meeting God at the Park 