1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

2:1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly,2:2 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 you heard my voice.2:3 For you had cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all your billows and your waves passed over me.2:4 Then I said, I am cast out of your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.2:5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.2:6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me forever: yet have you brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. (Jonah 1:17/2:1-6 KJV)

          Everyone knows Jonah’s story about being in the belly of the whale. There are some that say this is a fabricated story because no one can survive being swallowed by a whale. I don’t know what year this happened, but a man named James Barley had it happen to him. He survived but was blinded and his skin was bleached. He also had a long life after the incidence.

          Jonah was directed by God to go to Assyria, his country’s enemy. Instead of obeying God he boarded a ship and headed in the opposite direction, into the Mediterranean Ocean, headed for Italy. God churned up a storm while Jonah slept. The ship’s crew asked Jonah to pray for them. He refused and after much debate threw him into the sea whereby a whale swallowed him.

          Jonah finally prayed and asked for forgiveness for disobeying Him. The whale vomited Jonah onto dry land. Jonah went to Assyria and did what he was supposed to do. The people there, as well as the King, all atoned, dressed in sackcloth and ashes, and prayed to God for forgiveness.

          There is a little more to Jonah’s story but I’ll stop here because this is enough to show that belief in God our savior will get miracles. Obedience to God our Lord will circumvent His anger and punishment. Without Jonah praying to God, he would still be in the belly of the whale. Without the Assyrians and the King praying to God they would have been at war and conquered.

          God controls everything and everyone. His plans for what are to happen or not is His decision alone. The Lord will tell us of His plans when He is ready, and He will execute them when He is ready.