But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.
-Jonah 1:17

Of all the smelly, dank and dangerous places I can think of to spend three days and nights, the belly of a giant fish ranks up there with the worst. What a terrifying experience, to be sure. I can't tell you how many times I've read the above scripture in my life, and yet, this is the first time I ever noticed the word "provided". God provided a giant fish--interesting.

Jonah was tossed over the side of a ship, doomed to drown in the middle of the endless sea. And, even though there are a great many things more pleasant that being fish food, the fact remains...God saved Jonah. No, maybe it wasn't the way that Jonah would have preferred, but he was saved, all the same. He did suffer for a season, though. Three days in that environment would feel like an eternity. But, eventually, the fish vomited him up on the shore; tired and full of relief.

Sometimes, God allows us to suffer for a bit, in circumstances that we aren't very happy about. It's noteworthy, however, that many of those circumstances are the very source of new strengths and insights that we never would have discovered otherwise; new strengths that we would need later. God sees all that, ahead of time.

The word "provided" in the above bible verse is derived from the Hebrew word "mana". It is just one of many Hebrew words to describe the concept of provision. This particular word has a very specific connotation, though. It's flavor leans toward provision in the context of something that is assigned, appointed or numbered. So, we could say that God assigned or appointed the giant fish to swallow Jonah. In short, that big fish had a purpose designed by God; a very specific designation. Yes, it caused Jonah to suffer temporarily, but as we already discussed, it delivered him safely to shore and out of the clutches of the fatal deep.

During his fishy incarceration, Jonah had time to think and to spend with God. Once he reprioritized his life, and returned God to the number one spot, the fish let him go.

Just as God has woven his plan and purpose into each of our lives from the very beginning, he can use every last circumstance and situation to bring us closer to him, though we may not see it at the time.