Jonah and The Big Fish

I was just reading Jonah and made a realization in chapter 2 where Jonah praises God for sending a fish to swallow him and, therefore, saving his life. Jonah starts by describing his descent into the sea: "all your waves and breakers swept over me." I love how visual his description is: "Seaweed was wrapped around my head." (Where else do you find seaweed in the Bible?!) And that's when it hit me. Jonah didn't know his life would be defined by and remembered for these few days. He didn't know his name would always be followed by "and the Big Fish" (or "and the Whale" for those of us who were taught inaccurately back in the day). He was just Jonah the prophet. And he thought his life was over. And for good reason considering he had just blatantly disobeyed God. But no--God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah. Now, I'm thankful for all the things God provides for me, but I sure hope He never has to provide a fish (or any other creature for that matter) to swallow me.

Jonah didn't know how his story was going to end, and we never know either. I love to consider whatever circumstances I am in, no matter how good, bad, or (more often) mediocre, as having the potential to become something that will define me (or someone else) or that will be remembered by many for many years. Not that I'm looking to be thrown into a sea... but I guess sometimes that what it takes!