Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly, 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. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.  Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.  The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. 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.  And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land. -Jonah 2, KJV

Things look dark for the UK at the moment. It is hard to maintain hope as we wrestle with the spirit of Leviathan, that seven-headed dragon, which has its coils so tightly around us. Brexit day was delayed; the major political parties resist the will of the people and are embroiled in unrighteousness. The British people are angry, and the local elections (and MEP ones, if held) will reflect that. It feels as if those loyal to the Brexit agenda are being denied their exodus by Pharaoh and his idols and magicians.

Jonah’s situation, like that of the Israelites by the Red Sea, was bleak. In such desperation we cry out to the Lord our God. And He answers. We must maintain our hope not only by listening to the prophets He has given to the New Testament Church, but to the Prophets and historians of the Tanakh.

The Tanakh is the story of God’s grace and patience with mankind, “Adam’s helpless race”. In the Garden, in the judgment theophany, our sins are condemned, but our Redeemer is promised. In the Book of Judges, the Israelites are oppressed, but the Lord sends warriors to deliver them. Elijah is forced to flee, but God brings him to heaven in a chariot of fire and ends the reign of Ahab and Jezebel with the coming of Jehu. Following the Babylonian Exile, God sends Ezra and Nehemiah, and raises up the Prophets Haggai, Malachi, and Zechariah.

Things will get darker in the not-too-distant future. The time of the Antichrist is an era of darkness and deception. But God has promised that those who remain faithful to Him will shine like stars in the midst of their enemies.

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. -Daniel 12:3, KJV

Lay us down, LORD God, in peace, and raise us up again, our King, to life.
Spread over us Your tabernacle of peace,
And guide us with Your good counsel.
Save us for Your name’s sake. –Hashkiveinu