Calm in the Storm

Cedrico Fernandez 

What happened to Jonah in the Bible story is well-known... told to go to the enemy city Ninevah, ran in the opposite direction, jumped in a boat, storm blew up, got thrown overboard, got swallowed by a huge fish, prayed, was vomited up on the shore, preached to Ninevah, they repented, he got cross, his shade tree wilted, story ends. All very curious.

But through this weird, wild story, there is so much to learn from Jonah. He is very human and just like us, although crazy supernatural things happen to him. His actions and reactions at each point are so understandable. But, I only just noticed something about Jonah's prayer from inside the fish, in chapter two.

In his prayer he describes how he was sinking down, into the depths and the darkness, the seaweed was wrapping around his head, he was dying, but then, God heard his cries and saved him. Now he is thanking God, offering him praise and promising sacrifices, and testifying that "Salvation comes from God." He is overwhelmed by God's grace, and says, "Those who chase after worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."

But, duh, he is still inside the fish. His situation has changed, he is no longer sucking in seawater and sinking to the bottom of the ocean, but he is now stuck inside a fish's stomach, being digested, slowly but surely.

When praying this joyful-sounding prayer, did he understand that the fish was God's way of saving him, and that the fish was going to carry him to dry land? I doubt it. I think rather that Jonah had just come to realise that God is sovereign, the giver of all things, the giver of boats and storms, companions, fish, tasks to be done, and above all, the giver of grace. And that this powerful God has done incredible things for him, and that this is so amazing, as he is just a disobedient failing human being. And that we can wonder at God and praise him for his goodness and grace, even from the heart of a storm, from deep under the sea, from the stinking slimy inside of a fish, from the slough of despond.

I would love to be at the point Jonah reached, of being able to rejoice in having a relationship with the God of grace, even when storms and winding seaweed abound. To have peace and calm and happiness, in the storm. 

I feel that by now, after living the Christian life for some forty years, I should be that joyful peaceful calm person, but...um... All I can say is, I hope I am getting there. The transition we are going through has felt like a storm, and now that the wind and waves are abating, I hope that having seen God giving us everything, leading us and keeping us safe and provided for, I am better equipped to meet a future one. I hope and pray.

William Turner 1842