Text: Jonah 1:11-17
We say Jonah, you say Fish.
Jonah : Fish! Jonah : Fish!
There isn’t a Sunday School classroom in the world that hasn’t had the giant fish grace the wall of its bulletin board. Yet, there is so much in this passage we miss out on when we focus on that admittedly remarkable portion alone.
“Men have been looking so hard at the great fish that they have failed to see the great God.” ~G. Campbell Morgan
There slept Jonah, somehow, when suddenly someone woke him, confronted him: “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god!”
Lots were cast, Jonah’s true identity revealed, the question asked: “What have you done to bring this upon yourself, upon us?”
Jonah knew. He knew exactly what the issue was, why the storm was beating upon their ship.
And instead of cower, instead of perish and take the crew down with him, Jonah charges head-first into the storm. He may have run from God at the forefront of this book but all that changes.
He owns his sin and disobedient heart, and finds a faith so deep he believes if he hurls himself into the sea his traveling companions will be saved.
His death would be their salvation.
I don’t know about you but I view Jonah with a heavy dose of admiration. He ran once, but when he realized the weight of his mistake, the enormity of his sin, he gave everything to reconcile with God.
Moments like this are not easy: when the tension pulls at our hearts, when the Holy Spirit nudges or even gives us a good shove, saying, “Look behind you, look around you; you caused this storm with your choices.”
In those moments, we stand at a precipice. We can hurl ourselves into the storms we have created in an effort to set things right, or we can continue hiding and bring down the ship.
There is hard, deep pain in owning our storms, but there is freedom in the jump from ship to raging sea. From our pain and shame straight into the arms of the only Grace that can piece our lives back together.
And when we least expect it God sends a fish to swallow us up and provide mercy we never could have seen on deck, as we clung to our choices. It’s not comfortable in the belly of the beast; it’s smelly and it gives us ample time to reflect on just how it was we got there. Plenty of time to wonder if there will ever be life outside of our prison of merciful guts.
But we serve a God of second, seventh and forty-second chances. A God who provides mercy in the strangest and most miraculous of places. He will not leave us storm-tossed and fish-bellied forever. There is new life on the other side of our storms, including those we bring upon ourselves.
May your hearts rest in the truth that you are immeasurably loved by a God who stops at nothing to redeem your story, to bring you back to Himself so that you, too, may contribute a portion in His vast story of prodigal love.
Guest writer Leanne Penny is a mother, wife, writer and wavering hope ambassador. She lives with her pastor-husband and two preschool-age children in West Michigan and loves yarn, wine and watching British telly.
This is my first study with She Reads Truth and I just wanted to say how much I am loving it! Thank you! :)
I am a sailor. I worshipped other gods – I sought the answer elsewhere – I discovered the Truth – but decided to do things the old way (my way). Upon deaths door, I gave up and did what I was told, and only then, did I find the calm. Only when I stopped trying – only when I stopped doing – only when I stopped 'figuring it out' did I find the calm that I desired. I was the sailor.
In this verses, what spoke to me the most is not Jonah, but the sailors.
"But no. The men tried rowing back to shore. They made no headway. The storm only got worse and worse, wild and raging. Then they prayed to God…" [v.13 – MSG]
— Most of the time, this is our initial response in the storms of our lives… to "ROW" [try] harder, instead of surrendering to God…. the sailors then realized that their efforts are going in vain… because no matter how hard they try, God's plan and purpose shall prevail. :)
The Message versions says this in the last part of their prayer: "You are God. Do what you think is best.” [v.14]
They obeyed, "…and the storm stopped at once! The sailors were AWESTRUCK by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him." [v.15]
— I love that just like the sailors, we see God's Power when we surrender, obey and trust Him instead of trying harder! :)
I am reading this post a day late, but the words are exactly what I needed to hear…… As I was reading the last lines of this post, I was in tears…. I serve a Mighty God of second, thirteen, thirty two chances and He will stop at nothing to fight for my love!!!!! That is soooo powerful to me….. Who knew a fish story could be so powerful? But wait, it's not really all about a fish like we learned in this amazing post – it's about God using a fish and God getting all the glory!!!!!
Thank you for the wonderful word. So true that because of my disobedience I cause a lot of storms and situations, but thank you Lord that You are a God of 2nd, 40 and more chances.
I am in love with the story of Jonah as I feel that I can relate to it a lot more at my age than before.
"There is new life on the other side of our storms, including those we bring upon ourselves." So good to be reminded that when we run to God he makes all things new.
Amazing. May disobedience never be in us from this day forth, may we also desire to remain in Gods presence at all times doing His will without hesitation. Blessings one and all. This group has been a blessing and contributes to my daily growth in life. If any here are on facebook please feel free to like my page Word Up Ministry, it is centered around the Word of God and means Wisdom Obedience and Righteousness Decoded through Understanding and Purity. Thank you.