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JONAH, A WHALE OF A TALE
I want to tell you a whale of a tale'Bout Jonah, a prophet of God
Who jumped on a boat and then set sail
Away from the path he had trod.
It seems God had a task to be done
So he called on Jonah to do it
Of course we know with God on his side
There wouldn't have been nothin' to it,
But Jonah, a disobedient son,
Rebelled at this special calling
And foolishly turned from God on the run
The beginning of every man's falling.
His prejudice caused a blindness to come
To his heart which had grown quite cold
The hardness within didn't leave any room
For any but Jews in the fold.
Well, he jumped on a ship, but he quite forgot
That God always sees everything
And sooner or later, like it or not
He was going to serve his King.
The Lord of Hosts sent a violent storm
That set Jonah's boat to shaking
And while Jonah slept below in the warm
The crew on the deck was quaking.
It didn't take long for them to see
That Jonah was causing their trouble
So Jonah told them, "Cast me into the sea
And do it on the double."
Down into the deep old Jonah did sink
But God, in His love, had a plan
A fish swallowed Jonah while taking a drink
To preserve God's rebellious man.
He spent three days and nights in a jail
No man would think to fashion
He had plenty of time to weep and wail
O'er the foolishness of his passion.
Then he called out to God and repented
Of his bitterness, hatred, and pride
And the Ruler of Heaven relented
When He heard how old Jonah cried.
He caused that whale to spit Jonah out
Then put him back on his mission
But amazing enough, we hear Jonah pout
'Cause he secretly had been wishin’,
God would change His mind and destroy those men
After all, they wouldn't repent
But to Jonah's surprise they heard and obeyed
The word Jonah's God had sent.
Now Jonah was angry and told God so
He didn't want them to live
But God clearly let His prophet know
That he needed to learn to forgive.
All men are of infinite value to me
I love them and they need to know
If any will turn from iniquity
Then I will most surely bestow,
Abundant grace and pardon free
And receive them as my own
To live in love and joy with me
In worship 'round My throne.
C. R. Lord