“A false view of God leads to sin and corruption and many times cruelty and great human tragedy. On the other hand, a proper understanding of God leads to a life of blessing for oneself and many generations to follow.” —Dr. Bill Bright

1) God pursues through love and mercy

Jonah 2:1-2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying,
“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice…

Jonah 2:4 [Jonah] Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’

2) God’s fish of mercy

Jonah 2:3-7 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.
4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’
5 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped about my head 6 at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever;
yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.
7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.

Jonah 2:8-10 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. 9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”