“Those who regard worthless idols
Forsake their own Mercy.
But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the LORD.” – Jonah 2:8-9

“Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own Mercy,”Jonah realizes that resisting God, running from Him, was like being an idolater. An idolater who more specifically is forsaking their own mercy. When we run from God and ignore His call on our life, we are only damaging our ability to taste the sweet mercy of the Lord.

Jonah repented from running away from God, and he turned to God with sacrifice and thanksgiving. He promised to pay his vows to God, and do what ever God told him to do. At one time or another, Jonah had probably said what we all have said: “Lord, I’ll do what ever You want me to do.” Now Jonah realized fully that he must stop resisting God and he should pay his vows to God.

Salvation is of the Lord. I am sure that Jonah, while running, thought he could find salvation elsewhere. Maybe the temptations of his flesh would be that salvation. Maybe he would find status elsewhere as a prophet. Maybe his salvation was not in fact from God. Jonah comes out of the fish knowing with one hundred percent certainty that salvation is only of the Lord.

Your salvation is also of the Lord. Running away is nothing more than worshiping pagan idols. Running away is nothing more than forgoing your opportunity to taste God’s mercy. Running away will never find you a place of salvation. Your salvation will never be work. It will never be your family. It will never be your politics. It will never be anywhere except one place; your salvation is in the Lord.

Amen