"Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,"
"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me."
Jonah 2:1-3
"Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly,"
"And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard of me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice."
"For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me."
We should look at ourselves.
The word of God reflects our imperfections.
God has given us the assignment of going into all the world and preaching the gospel.
We, who know the Lord, should tell those who don't.
Who threw Jonah off the ship? It was not the sailors but, ultimately, God threw Jonah off the ship.
Jonah's intent was to go to Joppa and not Nineveh, as God wanted him to.
Jonah did not like the Ninehvites but God wanted him to preach to them.
God delights in nothing more than to bestow grace and mercy on people.
Like Jonah, God meant Joseph's trouble for good.
Genesis 45:5 "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life."
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."
Certainty is a hallmark of Christianity.
When something comes into your life, you should ask the Lord if he is doing it for a reason before you become angry at God.
Genesis 50:16-20
"And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,"
"So shall ye say unto Joseph, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him."
"And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants."
"And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for I am in the place of God?"
"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."
As Christians, we need to look beyond and live above the world's view.
Genesis 18:25 "...Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?"
When we can answer the question 'Who cast Jonah into the sea?' God will begin to give grace to a measure that we can behave like a Christian and walk with confidence knowing that God will bring us through it.