Jonah 1:12-17 (NIVUK)
12 ‘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.’
13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 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.’ 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.
17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
This is a story that demands to be told with enthusiasm around a camp fire – it’s got everything hasn’t it! There’s Jonah’s realisation of what’s going on, the courage and generosity of the men on the ship, and of course the big fish, but more about that another day. This tale is echoed in a New Testament story too – you may be familiar with the story of Jesus calming the waves in Mark 4. When Jesus does this, Mark tells us that the disciples, ‘were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”’ (Mark 4:41) Sound familiar? Only God has power has such power over the wind and waves.
Father, we watch the weather forecast because we can do nothing about it ourselves, but you have the power with a word to still the storm or send the rain. None can match your power or even come close…
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