Jonah's Prayers

JONAH'S PRAYER'S
God spoke to Jonah and instructed him, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me." (Jonah 1:2) But Jonah, in order to flee from the Lord, ran off and found a ship to Tarshish. Consequently the Lord caused a great tempest in the sea. Those on board the ship with him were frantic. They confronted Jonah and asked him why this was happening. Jonah replied, "And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land." (Jonah 1:9) The men on the ship then realized that the problem was Jonah so they threw him in the sea and the storm immediately subsided. The Lord at that time summoned a great fish, which swallowed him. Jonah prayed to the Lord God from the fish's belly.

Jonah's Prayer from Inside the Fish

"And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice." (Jonah 2:2) And again, Jonah cried out of the fish's belly. "They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD”. (Jonah 2:8-9)

The scriptures then describe how the Lord spoke to the fish and it vomited Jonah out on the dry land. Jonah was finally persuaded. He went into Nineveh and preached to the people. His preaching was so good and effective that the whole city repented. God accepted their repentance and did not destroy the city. But, instead of being pleased it appears Jonah felt like a fool because God didn't do what Jonah had told the people of Nineveh he was going to do, destroy the city. He was so offended that he wanted to die and he went off alone to pout.

Jonah's Prayer after Nineveh was spared

"And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live." (Jonah 4:2-3)

God's Answer to Jonah's prayer

“Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?" (Jonah 4:10-11)

Jonah’s experience teaches us that we cannot run or hide from God. Jonah didn’t want to do what God asked because he feared God would forgive the people and then Jonah would look like a fool. We need to be cautious that we don’t fall into that same frame of mind.

This story brings to mind a similar frame of mind concerning the brother of the prodigal son, spoken of by Jesus in the book Luke. Jesus, after speaking of the value of finding a lost soul, tells the story of a man and his two sons. One who stayed with his father and the other who left, falling into sin and losing everything he had. When the stray son came to his senses, he returned home and his father greeted him with open arms, put a robe on him, gave him a ring and shoes and threw a large party. The other son became angry, refusing to go to the celebration for his brother. He said to his father: “Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time they commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:” (Luke 15:30) The words spoken to him by his father sum it up beautifully. He said: “Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again: and was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:31-32)

Moses' Prayer

MOSES’ PRAYERS
Moses possessed faithfulness and meekness, two characteristics that please God. The Bible says in Numbers 12:3 of Moses, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Moses walked and communed with God like no other person recorded in the Old Testament scriptures. The words that God used to describe Moses could not be more highly esteemed. “And he said, Hear now my words; If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Numbers 12:6-8)

God, together with Moses, experienced continual complaints from the people. It started over the lack of water, as brought forth in the book of Exodus, and continued throughout the rest of Moses' life. In spite of constant struggles, Moses stayed the course and did not give up. Following the mass departure out of Egypt, Moses and the Hebrew people approached a watering place called Marah, but the water was undrinkable.“And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?” (Exodus15: 24)

Moses Prayed and God answered

“And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,” (Exodus 15:25)

There was no water when they encamped at Rephidim and the people were once more quick to panic. “Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink, And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou has brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?" (Exodus 17:2-3)

Moses' Prayer

“And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? They be almost ready to stone me.” (Exodus 17:4)

God’s answer to Moses

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” (Exodus 17:5-6)

In Numbers eleven God speaks of hearing the continual complaints of the people and becomes angry. A fire breaks out in the camp and the people once again cry out to Moses. Moses prayed and the fire was quenched, but, as indicated in verse ten, Moses heard the people still weeping and complaining. They didn't like the food; they wanted meat to eat. Once more, he and the Lord were displeased. Moses discouraged and so overwhelmed that he wanted to die, prayed to the Lord.

Moses Prayed in Desperation

“And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? And wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Have I conceived all this people? Have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the suckling child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? For they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.” (Numbers 11:11-15)

God's answer to Moses

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that them may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there; and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?” (Numbers 11:16-20)

Moses again prayed

“And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou has said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Shall the flocks and the heards be slain for them, to suffice them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gatherered together for them, to suffice them?” (Numbers 11:21-22)

God's Answer

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’S hand waxed short? Thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.” (Numbers 11:23)

Moses carried out the Lord’s instructions to gather the seventy elders. The Lord appeared in a cloud and caused the spirit that was on Moses to be placed on the seventy elders in order to assist Moses in his work. The Lord also produced a strong wind, which brought quails from the sea that fell upon the camp. The populace consumed meat as God had promised.

Moses was a man who knew how to speak with God. He wasn’t afraid to say how he felt and what the problem was. From these prayers we discover that Moses talked to God like he was a friend.

Peter's Prayer

PETER'S PRAYER
Peter was summoned when a female disciple named Tabitha had died in Joppa. Peter went to her location. His prayer was short but powerful. Tabitha came back to life, and many converted when her story became known throughout the area. It is mentioned, possibly because of their unbelief, that Peter put everybody out of the room before he prayed. We may need to consider doing the same in certain situation.

Peter’s prayer for Tabitha

”But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.” (Acts 9:40-41)

Prayer of Jabez

PRAYER OF JABEZ
In the list of David's sons, found in the book of 1st Chronicles, there is one name that is elevated above all the others and spoken of most highly. It is Jabez. It says Jabez was more honourable than his brothers, and it speaks of his prayer to God. His short, simple prayer is similar to all of our desires and prayers. God heard and granted Jebez's request.

Jabez's Prayer

"And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested." (I Chronicles 4:9-10)

What was so special and different about Jabez? He was honorable. The Webster’s Dictionary describes honorable as: deserving, entitled to, attesting to creditable conduct, consistent with untarnished reputation. We learn from this that being honorable results in answered prayer.

Prayer of Joshua

PRAYER OF JOSHUA
Five kings had gathered together to make war against Joshua and his mighty men at a place called Gibeon and the Lord said unto Joshua, "Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee." (Joshua 10:8) As the battle was being won by Israel and as the enemy fled, God cast down great hailstones on them from heaven, which killed more than had been killed in the battle. Joshua then prayed for something that is inconceivable to the average person.

Joshua's Prayer

"Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon." (Joshua 10:12)

God's Answer to Joshua

"And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel." (Joshua 10:13-14)

The power of God is revealed here. It is awesome. God did this for his people.

Prayer's of Hezekiah

PRAYERS OF HEZEKIAH
King Hezekiah began to reign over Judah when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. He was a good king who trusted in the Lord. "Fore he clave to the LORD and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses." (II Kings 18: 6)

During the fourteenth year of the reign of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, attacked Judah, took all the fenced cities, and was about to take Jerusalem and destroy the land of Judah. Hezekiah turned to the Lord in prayer.

Hezekiah's Prayer

“And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them. Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only” (II Kings 19:15-19)

Answer to Hezekiah's Prayer

“Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
“And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia, And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.” (II Kings 19:32-37)

In following years, Hezekiah became ill and was near death when Isaiah the prophet said to him, "Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live." (II Kings 20:1) Hezekiah then prayed to the Lord. The Lord healed his illness and also performed an extraordinary phenomenon.

Hezekiah's Prayer for Healing

“Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.” (II Kings 20: 2-3)

God's Answer to Hezekiah's Prayer

"And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day? And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees. And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz." (II Kings 20:4-11)

God did this for one man. Not for a nation as with Joshua. What we learn from this is that God can do anything he chooses for whoever or whatever reason he chooses.

Prayers of Paul

PRAYERS OF PAUL
Paul, from the heart, prayed persistently for his fellow believers. Perhaps his words will guide us in our prayers for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul’s prays for the believers in II Corinthians

” Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, through we be reprobates.” (II Corinthians 13:7)

In Philippians

“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.” (Philippians 1:9)

In Colossians

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” (Colossians 1:9)

In I Thessalonians

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thessalonians 5:23)

In II Thessalonians

“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.” (II Thessalonians 1:11)

Paul continually prayed for God to strengthen the early Christians. He desired that the believers would not grow weary. His prayer to the Ephesians reveals an in depth prayer-blessing request for the early believers.

In Ephesians

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21)