When God Says “Not Yet” to Our Self-Destruction from Jonah 1:17-2:10

Let me paint a scene that’s easy to skim over in the book of Jonah.

In Jonah 1:12, Jonah tells the crew of the ship, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea so that it will calm down for you, for I know that I’m to blame for this great storm that is against you.” On the surface, it might seem like Jonah is being noble, sacrificing himself to save the others. But let’s take a deeper look.

Jonah isn’t being brave. He’s giving up.

He’s done. He can’t run from God anymore, and instead of turning back, he decides the best option is to die. The storm, the chaos, the guilt, it’s all too much. So he throws up his hands and says, “Just throw me overboard.”

But God won’t let him go that easily.

The Fish Wasn’t Punishment, it was Mercy

Most of us think of the fish as punishment. Jonah disobeyed, so he gets three days of solitary confinement in the stomach of a sea monster. But what if the fish wasn’t judgment at all? What if the fish was salvation?

Jonah wanted to die, and God said no. “The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah” (Jonah 1:17, CSB). Not to destroy him, but to preserve him. That’s mercy.

And it’s not just Jonah’s story. Many of us have stared at the ceiling in dark nights of the soul, whispering versions of the same despair: “There’s nothing left for me.” But even in those places, God still says, “Not yet.” He’s still appointing mercies, even if they come in strange packages.

God Reconciles Us From Death

From the belly of the fish, Jonah prays: “I called to the Lord in my distress, and he answered me. I cried out for help from deep inside Sheol; you heard my voice” (Jonah 2:2, CSB). Sheol was the ancient Hebrew concept of the realm of the dead. Whether Jonah physically died or was merely spiritually dead, one thing is clear: Jonah was as low as he could go.

And God heard him.

This is where we’re tempted to insert the popular illustration: a person drowning in the ocean, God throwing a life raft, and us deciding whether to grab it. But Scripture paints a different picture. Ephesians 2 says we weren’t drowning, we were dead. And a dead person can’t grab a float.

We were lifeless, unable to save ourselves. And yet, “God, who is rich in mercy… made us alive with Christ even though we were dead” (Ephesians 2:4–5, CSB). Jonah didn’t crawl his way out of the fish. He didn’t pray the perfect prayer. God reached down and pulled him up. That’s reconciliation from death.

God Reconciles Us From Our Bad Choices

But it’s not just death God rescues us from. It’s the consequences of our own rebellion.

Jonah 2:3–6 is brutally honest: “You threw me into the depths... the current overcame me… seaweed was wrapped around my head… the earth’s gates shut behind me forever!” Jonah knew exactly why he was there. His own choices had brought him to this place of despair. But even then, God didn’t give up on him.

Jonah remembers the Lord. He turns back toward God’s presence. He confesses his idols. And he says, “I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the Lord” (v. 9).

And God responds. “Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (v. 10). Jonah’s life is spared. His calling is restored. Not because he earned it—but because God is full of grace.

Practical Steps Toward Reconciliation

This story isn’t just about Jonah. It’s about you and me.

If you’re weighed down by past mistakes, spiritual apathy, or rebellion, Jonah’s story gives us a path back:

1. Be honest in prayer. Jonah didn’t sugarcoat it. Neither should we. Take ten minutes this week and name your regrets before God.

2. Identify your idols. Jonah realized he had “cherished worthless idols” (v. 8). What’s pulling your heart away from God? Write it down. Ask Him to help you let go.

3. Fulfill your vows. What have you promised God—maybe long ago—and walked away from? Recommit. Whether that’s serving, forgiving, giving, or simply obeying, take a small step back toward faithfulness.

God didn’t abandon Jonah. He won’t abandon you. He reconciles. He revives. He restores. Even when you’re sinking, even when it’s your own fault.

You may not be in the belly of a fish but if you’re feeling lost, take heart: God still hears from Sheol. And He still saves.

This blog post is based on a sermon preached by Wes McGarry to Gospel Community Church.