A Closer Look at Jonah...

You all know the story of Jonah, probably by heart...Jonah is called to go to Nineveh, a city full of wickedness. Jonah decides to jump on a ship headed for Tarshish in disobedience to God’s calling. The ship is tossed about in a wild turbulent storm, while Jonah lays sleeping in the bottom of the ship. The sailors on the ship awaken Jonah, who tells them that his disobedience to God is the cause of the great storm and they should throw him overboard. They eventually do, and the storm immediately ceases. Jonah is swallowed by a great fish where he spends three days and three nights reevaluating his spiritual relationship and repenting. The fish spits Jonah up on shore where he eventually does go to Nineveh to do what God commanded of him...That’s a brief summary of the four chapters that make up the Old Testament book of Jonah. This is probably the short version of the story you heard back in Sunday School, as a child. But a closer look at the book of Jonah reveals a few lessons about our own lives.
  
First, if you look at a map, by heading for Tarshish, Jonah is going the exact opposite direction that he was instructed to go. This map illustrates this:

Jonah did what we so often do in our lives. Knowing God’s will for our lives, we often do just the opposite. I spent years leading my own life, my own way. Many times I felt just like Jonah did, aboard a ship sailing into a violent storm of my own creation. Added to the problems of our self-created storms is, like Jonah, we can often put others in peril by our own disobedience to God. Now, don’t mistake me for saying that all problems come from disobeying God because that isn’t my point. I do know, however, that God will continue to pursue and discipline His wayward children.
  
Another lesson we can glean from Jonah is in the actions of the sailors. Jonah tells them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you." (Jonah 1:12) But look at their actions in the next verse: "Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before." (Jonah 1:13) Isn’t that just what we often do in the middle of life’s storms, try solving the problem ourselves. The men no doubt rowed even harder than they did before, all to no avail, as the Bible tells us the storm worsened. I can think of so many times in when, in the middle of life’s storm, I just kept rowing harder and harder, instead of turning the ship over to God. What storms are you facing in your life right now? Are you continuing to struggle as you row harder and harder, yet getting nowhere? Let God take the helm.
  
What was God’s solution in Jonah’s predicament? After he was tossed overboard, two things happened. Jonah 1: 15-16 tells us firstly the sailors "...took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him."(Jonah 1:15-16) The storms calmed and the sailors believed in the one true God after previously calling out to an assortment of false gods. Acting out of faith will calm the storms in your life and, like these sailors, your faith will grow. The second thing that happened after Jonah was tossed overboard was "...the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah..." (Jonah 1:17) Scientists have long debated the possibility of a man surviving inside the belly of a fish. But with a closer look at that statement, it’s easier to, well, swallow. The key word is provided. The LORD provided a great fish.

It was the perfect solution, provided just when Jonah needed it. And though your life might at times seem stormy and turbulent, He will always provide you with just what you need, just when you need it.