A Stormy Confession

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love

God's Sustaining Love

Jonah 1:6-12 The Message

4-6 But God sent a huge storm at sea, the waves towering.
The ship was about to break into pieces. The sailors were terrified. They called out in desperation to their gods. They threw everything they were carrying overboard to lighten the ship. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship to take a nap. He was sound asleep. The captain came to him and said, “What’s this? Sleeping! Get up! Pray to your god! Maybe your god will see we’re in trouble and rescue us.”
7 Then the sailors said to one another, “Let’s get to the bottom of this. Let’s draw straws to identify the culprit on this ship who’s responsible for this disaster.”
So they drew straws. Jonah got the short straw.
8 Then they grilled him: “Confess. Why this disaster? What is your work? Where do you come from? What country? What family?”
9 He told them, “I’m a Hebrew. I worship God, the God of heaven who made sea and land.”
10 At that, the men were frightened, really frightened, and said, “What on earth have you done!” As Jonah talked, the sailors realized that he was running away from God.
11 They said to him, “What are we going to do with you—to get rid of this storm?” By this time the sea was wild, totally out of control.
12 Jonah said, “Throw me overboard, into the sea. Then the storm will stop. It’s all my fault. I’m the cause of the storm. Get rid of me and you’ll get rid of the storm.”

For Reflection

Yes, Jonah had a weak spot when it came to Nineveh.  But Jonah was willing to sacrifice himself to save the sailors.  Perhaps that is why God decided to call Jonah.  Jonah was a good man and worthy of God's call, worthy enough to be lead into a more complete understanding of his relationship to God.

God was not punishing Jonah, God was offering Jonah an opportunity to grow in grace, to have a more complete spiritual life.  God does that with us too.

Pray

Pray that you will heed the call of God.  Pray for the courage to tackle the most difficult job God hands to you.  Pray for confidence and trust God's judgment.