MEMORISE: And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. Jonah 2:2
Also Read: Open Heaven 29 June 2025 – Covenant Partnership With God
BIBLE READING: Jonah 2:1-10
1 Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,
2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.
7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.
10 And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
MESSAGE:
One of the stories that children love to see illustrated is that of Prophet Jonah in the belly of the whale. In Jonah chapter 1, God sent Jonah on an assignment to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. Rather than go on the mission, he decided to board a ship to Tarshish. Then, God sent a great fish (whale) to swallow him up.
I believe that Jonah must have had a dramatic experience in the whale’s belly. Whenever the whale swam fast, he must have been thrown off balance, When the whale ate its prey, it would have poured its food on him. Jonah had no food for three days, and he must have prayed fervently for God’s mercy in the belly of that whale. After Jonah cried out in prayer, acknowledging his foolishness and seeking for forgiveness, God told the fish to spit him out at the shore.
My dear child, have you been disobedient to God or your parents over any matter? Just like Jonah cried to God for mercy, cry to God today; He will show you mercy and restore you.
Quiz: Why didn’t the great fish eat up Jonah?
KEY POINT:
You too can receive mercy; you only need to ask.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 15:1-16:20, Acts 19:13-41