Underworld

"Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice," Jonah 2:2.

Sheol? What's that? Oh. that's Hades. The underworld. The grave. You know, the unseen world of the dead. And where was Jonah when he called out to God? Actually he was in the belly of a great fish, maybe of a whale (yeah, we know, not technically a fish), or maybe of a monster sea-creature. Anyway. Cast away from God into the waves he despaired of life, waters closing in over him, the abyss surrounding him, deep weeds wrapping his head. As he faded away, he remembered. He remembered Jehovah God. He remembered the God of reality - no pretentious idols. He remembered. He prayed into the very presence of Reality. And he, Jonah, gave thanks. He remembered the very real hope of the very real God's very real salvation. God heard him. And God redeemed his life.

We remind each other today, brother or sister, that the redeemer God listens attentively to every call for hope. That God has saved us for a land flowing with life. And, together, to our listening God we say, Thank You!