Scripture Union Discovery 25th February 2025 Devotional Message for Tuesday
TOPIC: A Prodigal Prophet
Opening Prayer
Lord God, quiet my mind and heart so that I can hear what you would say to me through your Word today.
Read JONAH 2
2 1 [a]From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said:
“In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
4 I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’
5 The engulfing waters threatened me,[b]
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
brought my life up from the pit.
7 “When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
8 “Those who cling to worthless idols
turn away from God’s love for them.
9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”
10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Reflect
Have there been times when you have cried out to God in desperation? What happened?
The image in verse 5 of Jonah with seaweed wrapped around his head makes me smile! However, his predicament is no laughing matter. Brought to his senses inside the belly of a big fish, Jonah cries out to God.
After quoting from the book of Psalms—many of which he would know by heart—Jonah gratefully acknowledges God’s saving power and turns to him for help (v. 6). And God? He doesn’t give up on Jonah. He rescues him from the consequences of his rebellion (v 10). In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, there are clear parallels between Jonah and the errant younger brother, who also comes to his senses eventually (Luke 15:17–20).
Interestingly, in Matthew 12:40, Jesus refers to Jonah and uses this event to illustrate his own forthcoming death and resurrection. As a result of Jesus’ sacrifice, God listens to our cry, brings us up from the depths, and saves us! And, although we may not always realize it, God rescues us time and time again. Check out Psalm 25:20. How great is our God! He meets us where we are and we can experience his power at work in our lives, as Jonah does.
Apply
Where do you need to see God at work in your life? Is there anything from which you need to be rescued?
Closing prayer
Thank you, Father; whenever I call on you in distress, your power is at work in and for me to lift me up. You always are there to answer me.
Scripture Union Discovery 25th February 2025 Devotional © 2025 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved
