What to Do When Swallowed by a Whale!

The prophet Jonah serves as an illustration to help us understand the importance of listening to God. We will look at Jonah’s experience of being swallowed by a whale and how he met God at the bottom of the ocean. This leads us to an important consideration.

The way we handle the difficult circumstances of life says a great deal about the kind of relationship we have with God

Difficult circumstances enter our lives in a variety of ways:

• Sometimes they are of our own making.
• Sometimes we are forced into them by others.
• Sometimes they are allowed into our lives by God Himself.

While trying to run from God, Jonah 1:17 says that “the Lord provided a great fish (or “huge fish,” MSG) to swallow Jonah.”  As a result, Jonah spent a miraculous “three days and three nights” (v. 17) inside the whale’s stomach. From Jonah’s words in chapter two, we learn the following things about how to handle difficult circumstances:

1. Jonah prayed.

The most important thing we can do when facing any difficult circumstance or situation is to pray.  It is important for us to notice that it was while Jonah was in the stomach of the whale that he prayed.

Why is this important?

• Prayer helps us to see things from God’s perspective.
• Prayer lifts us to see new possibilities.
• Prayer puts us in touch with a power that is greater than ourselves.

2. Jonah asked for help.

Jonah’s prayer was really very simple, for he said, “In my distress I called to the Lord…From the depths of the grave I called for help” (Jon. 2:2).

My grandson, Wesley, understands the importance of such prayers, for when he’s trying to do something difficult he simply says, “Help!”

Sometimes in the midst of our difficulties, we may feel like Jonah:

• He was trapped in the stomach of a whale. Jonah 2:3 says that he had gone down to “the very heart of the seas” (v. 3).
• He felt as if God had left him. Jonah 2:4 reveals his cry, “I have been banished from your sight” (v. 4).
• He wondered as if he was going to drown. Jonah 2:5 footnote says the “waters were at my throat.”
• He was tied up in circumstances that overwhelmed his thinking. Jonah 2:5 says that “seaweed was wrapped around my head.”

3. Jonah remembered the Lord.

A major change took place inside of Jonah when he said, “I remembered you, Lord” (Jon. 2:7).There is something about remembering the good and wonderful things the Lord has done that can bring us a sense of peace and well-being. The Scriptures encourage us to remember:

• 1 Chronicles 16:12 says, “Remember the wonders he has done…”
• Nehemiah 4:14 says, “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome…”
• Psalm 77:11 says, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.”
• Psalm 119:55 says, “In the night I remember your name, O Lord.”

4. Jonah gave thanks.

Jonah’s “remembering” caused “a song of thanksgiving” (or “praise,” NLT) to rise within his heart and mind (see Jonah 2:9). As bad as things were for Jonah, he was able to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:18).

Therefore, even in the midst of such a terrible situation, Jonah’s final confession was “Salvation comes from the Lord” (Jon. 2:9).

In conclusion, Jonah 2:10 says, “And the Lord commanded” Jonah’s circumstances to change, and the whale spit Jonah onto dry land.