I'm Thankful for Sailors and Fish

¹¹ Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous. ¹² And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.” ¹³ Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. ¹⁴ Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, “We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You.” ¹⁵ So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. ¹⁶ Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows. ¹⁷ Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. - Jonah 1:11-17

     I'm still studying the horrible beginning to Jonah's tale. Not the most impressive way to begin a book that bears your name. Today I am challenged by the Word, but also humbled as I am reminded of God's great mercy. Once again, as I look at Jonah I am confused and a little shocked. His attitude is still so strange, hypocritical and apathetic. He confesses in verse twelve that he is the cause of the storm and that he must be thrown overboard. As one of my students asked this morning, "Why didn't Jonah just jump off the ship?" A truly great question. Jonah obviously knows what must be done in this situation, yet he personally refuses to do it. He wants to leave his fate in the hands of someone else. Even as these poor men row for their lives and the storm grows stronger, Jonah is content to sit on the ship and wait. Why not jump overboard and save them all this trouble? I get angry with Jonah for his selfishness and cowardice, but then I realize how often I act just like him. I know what God wants me to do. I know God's plan to fix the mess I'm in and I refuse to act upon it. The sad part is that my situation has never been as intense as Jonah's. I fault him for not jumping overboard to what surely seemed like suicide to him. I call him out for putting these sailors through so much hassle when the alternative appeared to be his own demise. The choice has never been that difficult for me, yet I still refuse to act. I become selfish, hypocritical, and apathetic. I refuse to respond to God's call and then I refuse to get my heart right afterwards. I sit on my ship and watch those around me struggle. I, like Jonah, become consumed with "me."

     My similarities to Jonah are challenging and convicting, however I also have great joy when reading this passage. In spite of Jonah's horrible attitude, God still has a merciful plan. The sailors finally agree to throw Jonah overboard and God has a fish waiting to swallow Jonah. God should have just let Jonah drown, but instead, He offered mercy. Many times I have been selfish like Jonah and gone my own way. God has always been faithful and merciful. He always has someone willing to throw me overboard and wake me back up. He always has a trial waiting, like a giant fish, to humble me and turn my focus back on Him. Initially, I often complain and whine and fail to see this as a blessing. I'm sure Jonah also failed to see the benefit of being thrown overboard and swallowed. But I would venture to guess that after a day or two inside that smelly fish, his eyes began to open and his heart began to change. I'm thankful for the sailors and the fish that God puts into my life during times of great spiritual need. I may not like God's plan for me, but it is always perfect and it is always just what I need.