Once the ship set sail with Jonah on it, God caused a huge storm: Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.Things kept getting worse. Jonah knew God was after him, and his answer was to commit suicide...
The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So the crew asked Jonah, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”Jonah had gone insane.
“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.”
Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.
Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
He would rather die than do what God had asked him to do. His grudge against those people must have ran so deep that he could not fathom reaching out to them. Hate had top priority.
An interesting point in the story is that the people around Jonah were in terror and mourning due to his disobedience. This didn't only affect him. He brought pain on the people who were with him.
In a "spiritual" way, Jonah had died. Jesus used Jonah as an example when talking about his own upcoming death: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
God, I can't even begin to understand how my own grudges and lack of forgiveness have done damage. It's so hard to ask you this, but show me the effects of my failed relationships. I'm willing to face the regret - and I need your comfort as I do it.
Tuesdays | Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
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