Jonah

 

I am reading through the Bible, and recently finished the book of Jonah. I caught something in the first chapter that spoke to me. Jonah sought to flee from GOD’s presence by boarding a ship bound for Tarshish. Yet he could not run; the LORD sent a tempestuous storm. When the people aboard the ship obtained no relief from their deities, they cast lots to determine the cause, and it fell upon Jonah. “Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil [is] upon us; What [is] thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what [is] thy country? and of what people [art] thou? And he said unto them, I [am] an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the GOD of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry [land.]” (Jon 1:8-9). Then they were afraid when he told them how he was running from the LORD, and asked what might be done to make the sea calm. “And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest [is] upon you.” (v.12).

It seems that the men were not too sure about this, for “Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring [it] to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.” (v.13). Even so, they ended up doing it, and praising GOD when they saw the results: “Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.” (Jon 1:15-16).

Even though GOD used this situation for good, by demonstrating His power to the heathen, it occurred to me that Jonah’s wrong choice affected not only him badly, but those around him-the storm affected everyone. How careful we should be to realize that whatever we do has ripple effects, and choose on the LORD’s side, for everyone’s good!

Blessings,
Adelaide