Today is Friday, October 25th, 2013; Karen's Korner #2680

Bible Quiz for the week:
 
1) Where did Jonah go to try to run away and hide from God?
 
2) What was the secret of Samson's great strength?
 
3) Which apostle was blinded by light on the road to Damascus?
 
 
Our Sunday School class at church is taking a look, last week and this one, at the book of Jonah. It's a short book of four chapters, 47 verses total!
 
God had given Jonah a job to do; he didn't want to do it so he ran. Remember the story? He ran to the sea where he boarded a ship on which he rode until a large storm began. Eventually the sailors tossed Jonah overboard, where a large fish swallowed him. Inside the fish, Jonah prayed. God heard him and answered his prayer; then Jonah did the task for which God had asked:
 
Chapter 2 is his prayer:
 
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said,

“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble,
    and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of the dead,
    and Lord, you heard me!
You threw me into the ocean depths,
    and I sank down to the heart of the sea.
The mighty waters engulfed me;
    I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.
Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.
    Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’

“I sank beneath the waves,
    and the waters closed over me.
    Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.
    I was imprisoned in the earth,
    whose gates lock shut forever.
But you, O Lord my God,
    snatched me from the jaws of death!
As my life was slipping away,
    I remembered the Lord.
And my earnest prayer went out to you
    in your holy Temple.
Those who worship false gods
    turn their backs on all God’s mercies.
But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise,
    and I will fulfill all my vows.
    For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”

Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach."

*

Bible Commentary:  "Jonah starts off this chapter with a prayer of thanksgiving for being saved from drowning. He was delivered in a most spectacular way and was overwhelmed that he had escaped certain death. His prayer was heard and answered; we too can pray anywhere and at any time. God hears. Our sin is never too great, our predicament never too difficult for God."
 
***
Answers:
 
1) On a ship to sea; 2) Not cutting his hair; 3) Paul (aka Saul)

Back