A fish swallowing a man? What is the purpose of that God? It’s simply this; I need you in an environment to hear from me and think clearly, because there is more.
We live in such a busy world, such a noisy place. We have screens all over, there is always a TV on somewhere. It seems like we have to have some type of noise going on at all times; back ground noise, we even have Christian noise! I think that there is there a reason that God said “be still, (quiet) and know that I am God”? Something powerful happens in quiet, that is why I love being in nature. But lets talk about this Jonah guy, who is swallowed by a fish that God prepared for him. The book of Jonah tells the account of a prophet who received his marching orders from God. Jonah did like what he heard from God so he literally attempted to run away from God (Read Psalm 139, then this will seem funny). In running from God Jonah jumped on a ship going the opposite direction God was telling him to go. A storm comes up, the people on the boat realize Jonah is the issue and they throw him overboard. God brings a big fish to swallow Jonah whole. No the man running from his God is in the belly of a fish. What was taking place inside of that fish? The simple truth is that he was in an environment to be still and think things out. The Bible says that he was in the fish for three days and three nights. I am sure that the first 3-6 hours in the belly of that fish, he fought it. He fought to get out, he fought to change that environment. I am sure at first he questioned God, fought with God, justified with God; “I just want this to be over”. Been there? Sure you have. All of us have. Whether it is a dessert, a wilderness, a holding pattern, you are not sure what is going on and really you just want it to be over! But can I whisper this in your ear? Chill, you are here for a reason and God is in control.
God creates seasons and environments for us to shut up, shut off and ponder on life. In chapter 2 of Jonah, Jonah finally began to pray to God. Not just; “Get me out of here”; but deeper. Scripture that was in him began to rise up. Promises from God began to come back into his mind. He realized he was there by his choices and the hand of God, so he went to God. In Jonah’s case; this fish, dessert, waste land was a place for him to get things right with God before he could go forward.
The confinement in the fish hosted an alignment with God.
And when that time is over; the Scripture says that God had the fish vomit Jonah on the land.
I don’t want to be gross, but when you’re about to throw up; your body may contract, your mouth starts watering; and when you throw up, it’s violent, it’s suddenly! And that’s exactly what happened to Jonah. When Jonah got into the alignment where he needed to be with God, it was time! And suddenly; that fish vomited Jonah up on the land. The exact place where God had first called Jonah to.
Jonah's environment changed, it needed to change. When you throw up there is something in you that needs to change its environment. It no longer needs to be In you, it needs to be in a new environment. Jonah was at the place that his environment needed to change. What needed to happen in the fish had taken place, he was now ready for what God was calling him to.
There needed to be a changing of his environment to fulfill his assignment.
So if you’re in a place right now; in the desert, in the fire, in the belly of the fish. You are in that environment for a season and a reason. Rejoice in that! But ask God to show you everything He can while you’re in the belly of that fish. Because then; your environment will change.