Oct 18, 2021
On June 11, 2021, veteran lobster diver Michael Packard found himself completely inside a humpback whale. Here's a few excerpts from the Cape Cod Times story:
"In something truly biblical, Packard was swallowed whole by a humpback whale.
“All of a sudden, I felt this huge shove and the next thing
I knew it was completely black,” Packard recalled Friday afternoon
following his release from Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis.
Initially, Packard thought he was inside a great white shark, but
he couldn’t feel any teeth and he hadn’t suffered any obvious
wounds. It quickly dawned on him that he had been swallowed by
a whale.
“I was completely inside; it was completely black,”
Packard said. “I thought to myself, ‘there’s no way I’m getting out
of here. I’m done, I’m dead.’ All I could think of was my boys
— they’re 12 and 15 years old.”
What an amazing story! The one line we all can relate to was
the last quote from Michael Packard, "All I could think of was
my boys."
Here's an important takeaway for all of us when it comes to the
struggles of life: In our darkest, most difficult moments, our
focus quickly shifts to what is most valuable in
life.
For
Jonah to awaken to what was most valuable in life, God sent a
giant fish to swallow him! For many this would be labeled a
tragedy, or vengeance, or punishment. In Jonah's case, this
great fish is an act of mercy. God could have let Jonah sink
to the bottom of the sea and perish. However, God, who is
rich in mercy, commands a fish to consume Jonah. How is that
mercy? Here's a definition of mercy: compassion or
forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to
punish or harm.
God showed compassion by sending a fish. Sometimes, our
darkest valleys, or most difficult struggles is God's way of
showing mercy. Do you want to learn more? Give a listen
to part three of Jonah ~ The Story of You.