Jonah on the Boat
When we think of Jonah, we probably picture him sitting in the belly of a whale. But there are also important lessons for us during his journey on the boat.
When God called him to Ninevah, he found a ship headed in the opposite direction. So the Lord sent a great wind on the sea... All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And when the captain found Jonah asleep, he said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god!”
These men were all caught up in a tempest, and they feared for their lives. They cried out to all of the gods they knew of in desperation, hoping that just one who was capable of calming the storm would respond to their pleas.
In order to determine who the cause of the storm was, they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. When they asked him who he was, he answered, 'I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.'
A crucial shift happened here. “Then THEY cried to THE Lord.”
When Jonah declared that he served God, the very same one who caused the storm, they all raised their voices together to the only One who could still the storm.
At his suggestion, they then took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. Because of this, the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to God and made vows to Him.
So how does this boat ride teach us anything? First of all, don’t run from God’s calling. But even when Jonah ran, God still brought good from it. That good was a result of Jonah sharing his God while he was in the midst of a storm.
None of us want to journey through the various storms of life. All of the sailors and even the captain were terrified of the violent seas they found themselves in. It was not until Jonah spoke of his God in the midst of the wind and rain that the other men also cried out to the one true God. Then when they saw God's mighty hand following Jonah's obedience in being thrown overboard, they vowed themselves to the Lord.
This sometimes overlooked section of Jonah’s story reminds us that if we praise God in the middle of our stormy seas, many others may cry out to Him as a result. And just as Jonah was saved from the waves, we can trust that in His time, God will still our waters as well.
God is worthy of praise regardless of the currents we find ourselves in. While we would love for the waters around us to always be calm, He told us we would experience trials in this life. His promise to never leave us is reason enough for us to praise Him in the midst of raging seas, especially if our praise leads others to know Him. It very well could be our praise in the middle of a storm that leads others to still waters.
Sometimes God may not provide physical relief, but He does offer spiritual comfort. When I consider the Will Roberts family, and even my mom, I know that their outspoken faith in God–even in those heartbreaking situations–turned hearts to God. People who once felt desperation learned whom to direct their cries to because of witnessing those in the roaring waves who proclaimed “I serve the Lord, the God who made the sea and the land.” The knowledge that others choose to cry out to God brings believers the peace and strength to keep trusting God while the waves rage.
As believers, we have the comfort of knowing that any storm we find ourselves in in this life is temporary. So when we find ourselves being tossed about, may God give us the strength to look at those around us. Those who look to see what God we cry out to.
Those who might turn to Jesus when they see Him still our waters, save us from sinking, or carry us home to the shore.
