Blogathon2012: #3 - Let God Speak to Your Fish!

Jonah 2:10

The Message (MSG)

 ¹⁰ Then God spoke to the fish, and it vomited up Jonah on the seashore.

photo credit

Today my reading was the Book of Jonah from The Message. Eugene Peterson gives insightful introductions to each Book. He addresses the inept ("lacking in fitness or aptitude : lacking sense or reason") hero, Jonah, who tries to avoid God and His commands, a man we can all identify with if we are honest. Most of us try our best to keep God at a 'comfortable' distance.

Well, apparently, God still uses people like that to accomplish His purposes. He doesn't wait for us to 'get it together' before working through us. He sent a storm, frightened sailors with an awe for God, and a big fish, to render submission to His command.

And God used Jonah to bring about repentance and salvation to the people of Nineveh.

Strangely enough, I did love the lesson that God still uses 'unfit' people to accomplish His purposes, but the verse that spoke to me was the one quoted above: "Then God spoke to the fish and it vomited Jonah on the seashore."

It struck me that God spoke to Jonah's captor, a fish, his crucible (a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development) which God had provided to transform his heart to obedience, and it spewed Jonah out on to a safe place.

Our present crucible is most likely not a fish. It could be financial distress, broken heart, diseased body. You know what your crucible is. God is able to speak to it. God is able to deliver you.

Have you come to the point yet where like Jonah you have proclaimed, 

"When my soul fainted upon me [crushing me], I earnestly and seriously remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to You, into Your holy temple.

    ⁸Those who pay regard to false, useless, and worthless idols forsake their own [Source of] mercy and loving-kindness.

    ⁹But as for me, I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation and deliverance belong to the Lord!

Then it is time. Ask God to speak to your captor, as I have asked God to speak to mine.

With you, I can look forward to being spewed out on to a safe place, ready to do His will.

And the song that God brought to my lips is an oldie: Praise to the Lord. I just checked the history behind the writing of this hymn and was blown away by the similarity between Jonah's story and that of the author, Joachim Neander. Read it here. 

God, You simply are amazing.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
By: Joachim Neander

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him,
for he is your health and salvation!
Let all who hear
Now to his temple draw near,
Joining in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord, who over all
Things is wondrously reigning
And, as on wings of an eagle,
uplifting, sustaining.
Have you not seen
All that is needful has been
Sent by his gracious ordaining?

Praise to the Lord, who will
Prosper your work and defend you;
Surely his goodness and mercy
Shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew
What the almighty can do
As with his love he befriends you.

Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all
That is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath,
Come now with praises before him!
Let the amen
Sound from his people again.
Gladly forever adore him!

(Hymn # 444
Lutheran Worship
Author: Ernewertes Gesangbuch
Tune: Lobe Den Herren
1^st Published in: 1665)