Rescued

“And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”  Jonah 2:10

We serve a God of second chances…and third, fourth, fifth and sixth chances.  I do not mean to imply that God is a pushover.  He is, however, slow to anger and quick to forgive, redeem and restore.

As the prophet Jeremiah wrote:

“Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23

Jonah 2:10 is a perfect example of God’s unfailing compassion.  Jonah cried out to the Lord from the belly of the great fish.  It was God’s unfailing love that sent that fish to rescue Jonah from drowning due to his disobedience.  And then God, in His grace, gave Jonah a second chance to obey Him.  And how does He do this?  God commands the fish to spit Jonah out so he can go to Nineveh.

We serve a sovereign God.  He reigns over all of creation.  And yet He is compassionate in our weakness.  He is Lord over the wind and the waves.  He is Lord over the fish of the sea.  He is Lord over Jonah and Nineveh.  And He is Lord over you.  This holy, mighty, compassionate God has great love for you…and His mercies are new every single morning.

Are you, like Jonah, running from God?  Are you in the boat heading in the opposite direction from His plan?  Are you in the crashing waves of His discipline, gasping for air?  Are you in the belly of the fish, crying out for a second chance?  Or are you on dry land with a fresh start that you don’t deserve, but want desperately to take?  Take heart!  Our God is the King of second chances.  And today His compassions towards you are brand new.

Dear Lord, I need you to rescue me from my sin. I acknowledge that there's nothing and no one else that can save me the way you can. Help me to look to you and only you when I need help. In Jesus' name, amen.