Sitt’n Inside of a Fish

Twenty-something years ago when our children were small, we would make up songs, and sing them around the house or driving down the road.  These are some of my fondest memories of their childhood.
Some of them were good Bible story songs, others were not that biblical in nature, but were just fun little made up songs.
I can only remember two or part of two songs from those days.  We never named them, but I’ll call one of them “You don’t have any Luck.” It would have sounded a little mean to an outsider but reflects our very personal way of picking or playing with each other that has carried over to our Grandkids.  And they all know they are Loved very much.
The other was a song about Jonah that I call “Sitt’n Inside of a Fish.”

The Chorus Goes:

I’m sitt’n inside of a fish
I’m sitt’n inside of a fish
I stink real bad
I need a bath
Cause I’m a sitt’n inside of a fish

Pretty deep, huh! You’d probably think so if you were in a fish’s belly!

We didn’t have any “for sure” verses back then, but a few years ago I wrote some down but somehow lost those.  Here is what I came up with from memory with a few modifications.  I’m fully aware that this is not a Nashville/Southern Gospel ready song. It is a beautiful memory of mine from my kid’s childhood, so don’t judge!

Verse 1

The Lord sent me out to preach
Cause Ninevah he wanted to reach
I decided I would turn him down
as it wound up I nearly drowned
Sooooo…chorus

Verse 2

In a storm, the ship was tossed
til the crew thought all was lost
but when the blame lot fell on me
the sailors cast me in the sea
Sooo….chorus

Verse 3

When I’d had enough, I did repent
“Lord I’ll go where I’ve been sent”
In Ninevah, I will preach
if the fish’ll spit me on the beach
Cause…..Chorus

 

I’ve had this silly song on my heart for a few days now, but didn’t understand why until now.

The Bible says  Psalms 119:89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

Gods plans are forever. Jesus spoke to Paul on the road to Damascus and said ” Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  …..it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”

God wanted Saul to get with the plan instead of trying to stand against it.  Good advice for us today.
God has a plan, life is so much simpler when we are in his plan, obedient to His Plan.
Jonah had a problem with the Ninevites and Didn’t want them to repent and come into God’s favor.  He wanted them destroyed, but God’s plan for them was an opportunity to be spared with Jonah as his chosen messenger.  Our wants may not always agree with God’s will, but His ways are always better and based on all knowledge and not on our emotions, so trust Him

John 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The word “Word” here comes from the Greek word Logos which is defined as reason or plan.
My interpretation of John 1:1 is this –  In the beginning, there was a Plan, and God had the Plan, and God was the Plan.

John 1:14 (KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us….
Jesus was always the Plan!

God has a Plan for your life as well. He will pursue you, try to persuade you gently, sometimes not so gently to get your attention.  God’s plan for you may be as a Doorkeeper at the House of the Lord or Preaching a doomed Ninevah to repentance or somewhere in between.
Whatever it is will be far better than anything this world has to offer.

When God calls answer “here am I” and let Him have control, surrender your will and your life to Him.

Or you might find yourself in the Belly of as much trouble as Jonah.

God Bless You Richly,
Greg