BY Kaitlin Wernet
Text: Jonah 1:11-17, Matthew 12:38-41
This is part of a 7-day series on Jonah in the Lent 2016 reading plan.
Every summer of my childhood, our family minivan would drive to the Florida Panhandle, where my grandfather could be found reeling in his excitement about our annual deep sea fishing trip. Papa was a seasoned fisherman who always came home with a net full of snapper and stories, but they never included seasickness. I, on the other hand, could become nauseated at the mere mention of our packed pimiento cheese sandwiches or the squid bait blood splatters. You heard me.
I’d spend most of my time on a half-bench in the fetal position, dreaming of still land and real bathrooms. So when I read Jonah’s story and about a storm hurled by God that was only getting worse and worse, I begin to reach for my saltines.
The boat’s floorboards must’ve groaned in protest with each violent rock and sway of the water. The helm would’ve been rendered useless, the compass indifferent, “as the ship threatened to break up” (Jonah 1:4). As the ocean continued to rise, the sailors’ knowledge and skill would’ve run dry in the face of the tempest. And whether or not the men were made physically ill by the storm’s churning, each was squirming in the waters of his own sin (Jonah 1:5).
“What should we do to you to calm this sea that’s against us?” they asked Jonah (Jonah 1:11).
I remember asking the first mate of the fishing boat a similar question. Surely there was a pill, lotion, elixir, balm, trick, cure—something, anything to soothe the sickness. His answer couldn’t have been more frustrating. “Look to the horizon,” he said. “Don’t look anywhere else until it’s over.”
Jonah’s response to the crew’s question was just as confusing.
“Pick me up and throw me into the sea so it may quiet down for you, for I know that I’m to blame for this violent storm that is against you” (Jonah 1:12).
Imagine the mariners’ confusion. Certainly there had to be a better way, right? One that didn’t involve anyone getting hurt? So they began rowing, but the sea refused to let them go. Even the most well-prepared ship struggles to cross an unruly ocean.
How many ways do I try to life-jacket my own soul, but end up drowning it instead?
The sailors realized they couldn’t correct the sin that had started the storm; they had to throw it overboard. The same goes for us and our sin—except it would take more than throwing it overboard. Our sin would have to be crucified.
The men tossed Jonah into the sea, and they were saved from the water’s rage.
Another group of men nailed Christ to a cross, and we are saved from sin’s wrath.
For three days, Jonah was inside a fish. Death did not claim him.
For three days, Jesus was inside a tomb. Death did not defeat him.
And by His victory, we are swallowed by grace and forever fixed to eternity. We don’t belong to death, either.
When I row away from my rough edges, I’m also running from my rescue. We can stop running. We can rest in the One who came to quiet the storm (Mark 4:39). Even as the sickness of sin rumbles and stirs around us, may we glue our eyes to the horizon to see our coming Rescuer. Amen.
“And they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’”
-Mark 4:38-41
60 thoughts on "God’s Rescue"
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I am encouraged by the Sailors who, had Jonah listened to God’s call to Nineveh immediately, would not have had this particular experience of meeting and fearing the one True God. Jonah was used by God to bring salvation to others, even when he was running away from that exact call. I find such hope in that when looking back at the times I tried to run and God called me back to his purpose!! He truly works out ALL things for good and his ways are always higher than mine. ❤️
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I agree, Rachel! Sometimes our storms help lead people to Christ just as much as it does is!
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*us
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I was thinking about this, too, and about how beautiful our journey out of sin/out of the fish can be. without our journeys, if God would take our sins and snap his fingers and make us new again, there would be SO MUCH beauty missed. and God would be good to us only when he snaps his fingers. but since he uses our journeys, we know that he is good even when you’re literally inside a fish for three days, or worse,
DEAD for three days. praise God for his beautiful nature and the way he can makes all things new.
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This could not have come at a more perfect time! So grateful for this community, these words, and God who loves us oh so much.
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Three days and three nights don’t seem very long in hindsight. However, I recently spent a sleepless night watching the minutes and hours ticking by longing to see the morning. I just wanted that night to end. Three days and three nights is long enough for one to think that is their fate forever. Thankfully God has other plans, but three days and three nights of sitting thinking on one’s sin. Sobering thought.
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Amen!! I love the metaphor of the ocean and God’s love. Even then, the ocean eventually meets land and ends, but thank you Lord, your love does NOT. Even as the storms of sin and struggle toil around us, we look to the horizon, to the cross, to the one who makes all things new. Thank you for not giving up on me Lord. Thank you for pursuing me. Help me soak in the truths of who I am in you.
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Yes thank you Jesus for not giving up on us and for pursuing us every single day!! Amen!!
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God’s such a multi-tasker! All the while he pursued the boat carrying his wayward, rebellious Jonah he was also in hot-pursuit after the boat crew to rescue their lives also.
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Yes! Love what you posted
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I wrote something similar in my journal, …”my chastisement may lead others to salvation…” Amazing grace.
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Powerful words!
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Something that stuck out to me was the men in the boat, who at the start were praying to many gods came to fear the one true God through Jonah’s trial. Lately the Lord has been showing me the life changing power of trials and how He can draw many closer to Him even through the consequences of another’s sin. Anything can be used for God’s glory!
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Amen!
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That stuck out to me too, Chelsea! How great is our God!!
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Amen. Thank you so much for your words…He is our life-perserver.
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Very thankful to our Lord for His awesome Grace, and Mercy, and Wisdom! Also, this Community of sharing, and support!
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