114 Jonah: The Perfect Storm
When Jonah heard God’s call to go the Nineveh, the capital of Israel’s enemy, Assyria, instead of obeying, the prophet ran in the opposite direction.
The biblical narrator paints the picture with words packed with meaning.
Jonah 1:3 - He went down to Joppa.
Jonah 1:5 – But Jonah had gone below deck where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
Running from the Lord, refusing to do what He asks begins a downward spiral. It was true for Jonah, and it is true for you.
Jonah went to Joppa, and “found a ship” that was headed to the opposite end of the Mediterranean Sea. Coincidence? Not when you are looking for it.
When you’re looking for a way out, there will always be a ship to take.
When you’re searching for a reason to NOT obey what you’re being called to do, you will never lack for “a ship” - an excuse, an “out,” a rationalization.
Jonah found a ship and then he “paid the fare.”
There will always be a fare to pay.
There will always be a price exacted when you say, “No” to what God is asking you to do. There always are hidden costs when you opt for your way rather than God’s.
There will always be a storm to face.
Who sent the storm? Verse 4 says God did. Why did He send the storm? To effect repentance in His servant. The storm was God’s disciplinary tool.
This idea of God disciplining His children isn’t talked about too much these days. But the Bible makes it clear that His is not only a tender love, but a tough love. Sometimes He must hurt us in order to heal us.
There will always be a surprise to behold.
As the storm raged, the crew of this vessel began praying to their various gods and throwing cargo overboard. They asked Jonah, “What's going on?”
Jonah answers, "There is one supreme God. He's the one that sent this storm. He reigns over heaven and earth. That’s who I’m running from. You should throw me overboard.”
Amazingly, the sailors don't do it. Ironically, these sailors have more compassion on someone from another race than this prophet had on the people of Nineveh.
They’re rowing like crazy, but the storm is too strong. They start praying again, but this time it’s not to their Elohim. It’s to YHWH.
Notwithstanding Jonah’s utter failure to be a compelling witness, God still moves and people still respond.
Text: Jonah 1:4-16
Originally recorded on April 10, 2011, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN.
