A great wind hurled on the sea

The Lord is not one who can be deceived by human schemes. To discipline Jonah for his rebellion, the Lord hurled a great wind onto the sea. The storm was fierce, and the ship was on the verge of breaking up. Even the experienced sailors realized that this storm was not ordinary (it was supernatural) and were greatly afraid. When God’s judgment comes upon them, human beings show various reactions. Here, three kinds of reactions are seen.

Three kinds of reactions

(1) The sailors instinctively sensed that this great wind had arisen from a supernatural cause, and they were greatly afraid. They were a group of sailors gathered from various countries, and each one called out for help to the patron god of his own land. Also, in an effort to avoid shipwreck, they threw the cargo overboard and did everything they could.

(2) While all this commotion was going on, Jonah alone went down into the hold of the ship, lay down, and fell asleep. This was not so much to avoid danger as it was an escape from reality. When people feel the reproach of conscience, they try to solve problems by escaping reality. But that never leads to a solution. Rather, it results in moving farther away from God. It also causes trouble for others. Here, because of Jonah’s sin, everyone on the ship is suffering.

(3) The captain went down into the hold, woke Jonah, and rebuked him. Then he urged him to do the same, since everyone else was crying out in prayer to his own god. The captain says that if Jonah cries out in prayer, perhaps that god will help them.

Which type are you among the three above? Like Jonah, are you going down into the hold to sleep in order to escape from the reproach of conscience? Wake up. Confess your sin and receive forgiveness from the Lord. You must not cause your own ship (life), or the ships (lives) of those around you, to be wrecked.