God gets Jonah's attention

Mr. Whale wasn’t too thrilled with the new smells that Jonah was providing.

Jonah couldn’t believe the horrific odors that were penetrating the deepest part of his nose.

“Whew!,” What a foul smell,” Jonah mumbled to himself. “I sure wish I had obeyed the Sovereign Lord and preached to the people of Nineveh!”

Jonah was settling in to his first full day in the whale’s belly. He already knew there were several aspects of the adventure that he didn’t like very much.”

He didn’t like the darkness…and he didn‘t have a candle to light. He didn’t like the absence of fresh air. He was hungry and thirsty, and he saw nothing edible nor a drop of clean drinkable water He also was sorry he had no human companionship.

“I am so lonely,” he thought.

Most of all, he knew he was out of the will of God, and he realized a sense of hopelessness and despair.

“Oh, God!,” Jonah screamed. “Please get me out of here!”

Although Jonah’s ears were focused on hearing a response from Almighty God, all he heard from God’s throne was a deafening silence.

Once again, Jonah yelled, “Please, God of Heaven, get me out of here. Let me breathe some fresh air, give me some food to eat and some fresh, clean water to drink.”

Still, God did not verbally respond to the disobedient prophet. And still, Jonah was confined to the not-so-comfortable whale’s belly.

The second day was a carbon copy of the first, with Jonah crying out to the Lord and the Lord not responding to the prophet.

“How long will I be stuck in this place?,” Jonah asked himself. “I certainly hope I’m not going to be a meal for this magnificent beast.”

After three days, from the depth of his spirit, Jonah cried, “Lord, I’ll be obedient to your call and preach to the people of Nineveh. Please release me from this underwater prison.”

“Get ready, Mr. Whale,” said the Sovereign Lord. “Your job is over. It’s time to deposit your visitor on dry land.”

“Thank you, Sovereign Lord,” said Mr. Whale. “I was beginning to get a severe stomach ache.”

“I’m glad you finally decided to answer my prayer,” said Jonah. “Why did it take you so long?”

“I have a question for you,” said the Lord. “How did it feel when I didn’t respond the first time to your call for help?”

“When you told me to go preach to Nineveh, that wasn’t a request,” said Jonah. “It was a command. And, like most people, I don‘t like to be bossed around.”

“I’m glad you finally noticed that my words to you were a command and not a suggetion,” said the Lord. “I’m glad you finally noticed.”

To contact the writer of this column about speaking engagements and/or puppet ministry, please e-mail kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

• Leer otras obras de Greg Miller
• kidcool4jesusyahoo.com(Protegido contra basura (Spam) - Por favor tipea la dirección de correo electrónico a mano)