Slices
Prepare
Have there been times when you have cried out to God in desperation? What happened?
Bible passage
2 1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said:
‘In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
4 I said, “I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
towards your holy temple.”
5 The engulfing waters threatened me,
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in for ever.
But you, Lord my God,
brought my life up from the pit.
7 ‘When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
8 ‘Those who cling to worthless idols
turn away from God’s love for them.
9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, “Salvation comes from the Lord.”’
10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Explore
The image in verse 5 of Jonah with seaweed wrapped around his head makes me smile! However, his predicament is no laughing matter. Brought to his senses inside the belly of a big fish, Jonah cries out to God. After quoting from the book of Psalms – many of which he would know by heart – Jonah gratefully acknowledges God’s saving power and turns to him for help (v 6). And God? He doesn’t give up on Jonah. He rescues him from the consequences of his rebellion (v 10). In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, there are clear parallels between Jonah and the errant younger brother, who also comes to his senses eventually (Luke 15:17–20).
Interestingly, in Matthew 12:40, Jesus refers to Jonah and uses this event to illustrate his own forthcoming death and resurrection. As a result of Jesus’ sacrifice, God listens to our cry, brings us up from the depths, and saves us!
And, although we may not always realise it, God rescues us time and time again. Check out Psalm 25:20. How great is our God! He meets us where we are and we can experience his power at work in our lives, as Jonah does.
Respond
Where do you need to see God at work in your life? Is there anything from which you need to be rescued? Thank God for his saving power and call out to him – for yourself, or perhaps someone known to you.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Samuel 3–5; 1 Corinthians 3
Pray for Scripture Union
Give thanks to God for Faith Guide Huw (see page 10) and his church, and the deeper connections they have made with young people through the bike repair event.
