Word for Word – Jonah 2:10-3:5

Our title today reflects the prominence of the Word of God in this section of our text, not to mention the entire account of Jonah. The Word of God comes to Jonah, mercifully, a second time – word for word – reiterating his missionary call. The Word of God is then featured in Jonah's ministry to the Ninevites declaring – word for word – the revelation he had received. Jonah’s opportunity to do so was secured by the Word of the Lord giving specific instructions to His creature – a giant fish – who had dutifully swallowed and vomited Jonah up on command from its creator. The Word of the Lord so affects the inhabitants of the pagan city where Jonah is sent that they immediately repent in sackcloth, fasting in response to the authority featured in the Word of the Lord spoken by His prophet. I Peter 1:24-25 reminds us should we ever doubt the power and centrality of God's Word these days: “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass, the grass withers, the flower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”