Jonah calls to God from the belly of the fish: Jonah’s Prayer Part 1 of 6

Jonah 2:1-2

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Jonah’s prayer is an excellent example of the “scarlet cord” in the Old Testament pointing to Jesus as the Christ, Son of God, and Savior of the world. Jonah’s prayer is also an example of our Salvation from the distress of this world when we call on God through Jesus Christ.

“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.” Jonah 2:1-2

Even in the belly of the fish, Jonah called to God in this time of affliction, God heard him and brought Jonah out of the belly of Sheol [or the grave]. Our Lord Jesus Christ knew He would be crucified, die, and the be resurrected after three days and three nights in the grave. Jesus quoted Jonah to describe this, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40

Jesus again-and-again expressed His faith in God the Father to raise Him from the belly of the grave after being dead for three days and nights, “But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” John 12:23-24

When we call to God within the belly of great affliction in this world, we are born-again by faith in Jesus Christ and our mind, heart, and soul are freed from being molded to a turbulent world. We experience the resurrection of life within ourselves and have a place reserved in the eternal New Jerusalem, “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:54-55

“I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry
And from the waters lifted me, now safe am I”
[Church Song]

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1