The title of this article is the first three words to the second chapter of the book of Jonah. In many ways, it is one of the saddest statements in the entire book.
You see, Jonah had had plenty of opportunities to talk with GOD before he was swallowed by the great fish, BUT chose not to. It is also apparent that Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of this great fish BEFORE he finally humbled himself enough to pray. Can you imagine how different this story would have turned out if Jonah had conversed with GOD at the beginning instead of the from the belly of the great fish?
There are a couple applications to our lives I would like to remind us of as we consider this amazing book. First, let’s make sure we remember to pray as Paul challenged us in Ephesians 6:18, “With all prayer and petition, pray at ALL TIMES in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” We need to be a people of prayer, constantly talking with our Loving Father and asking for help and guidance along the way. This account of Jonah reminds us that we should not run from the will of GOD, but rather should embrace it and do our best to let HIS Will become our will.
A second lesson for us to glean from this text is found in Jonah’s prayer.
After he is cast into the sea and no doubt thinks his life is nearing its end, a great fish swallows him and spares his life. Inside the belly of that great fish Jonah exclaims in his prayer, “I have been expelled from your sight, NEVERTHELESS, I will look again towards your holy temple.” Regardless of where we are in our prayer-life with God, it is NEVER too late to renew it and fully embrace God’s love and sovereignty.
Let us NOT wait until we are in the belly of a great fish to open the lines of communication with our Almighty Creator.