THE SERMON IN THE STORM
“So he Said to them, ‘I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord,
the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land’”
(Jonah 1:9).
TO avoid his mission, Jonah fled from the Lord’s presence (see Jonah 1:3), and went in the opposite direction, to Tarshish. ‘We are not sure of the location of Tarshish, but everything points to it being as far from Nineveh as possible in Jonah’s world” (Andrews Study Bible, p. 1104). Although Jonah ran away from God, God did not reject him nor abandon him. And, there on the ship that Jonah had boarded fleeing the Lord, the Lord was present.
Since they were superstitious, the sailors on Jonah’s ship believed that the storm that came over them on the high seas was evidence that the gods were angry. They decided to draw lots to find out who the guilty one was. God intervened to show Jonah that he could not flee from His presence. And the storm wasn’t because “the gods were angry,” but because of the loving, redeeming love of Jonah’s God.
The sailors questioned Jonah to make sure he was the guilty one. “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come Tom! What is your country? From what people are you?” (see Jonah 1:8. 9). Jonah was silent, ignoring their questions, replying only about his cultural background. “I am Hebrew,” and adding “I fear God.” This was a Hebrew response that implied the idea of worshipping and serving the one God.
Jonah had refused to preach to the gentiles in Nineveh, but he was forced to preach to the ship’s crew. The men were impressed by the power of Jonah’s God, not as much by his preaching as by the power manifested in nature. Don’t wait for circumstances to make you feel forced to confess what God you follow, what God you worship and serve.
Jonah presented God as the Creator of heaven and earth, a confession that filled the sailors with terror as they faced death at sea. Be ready at all times to share about the great Creator God who has control over natural laws when you are asked about the natural disasters that this planet experiences.
Jonah’s spiritual fall was exemplified by his physical motion: he “went down to Joppa” (Jonah 1:3); then he went down to the ship, and from there he went down into the lowest part of the ship (see Jonah 1:5); later he went down to the depths of the sea (see Jonah 1:l2); and finally, he went down into the mouth of a great fish. There is no place so low where God cannot rescue you.
Although running away from God is never a good idea, He is an expert at second chances. Call to Him, and He will find you.
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Taken from: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2023
“DAUGHTER OF MINE” Do Not Be Afraid
From: Arsenia Fernandez-Uckele
Collaborators: Angelica Cuate & Esteban Cortes