The Storm and the Fish
Have you ever avoided something you knew the Lord was telling you to do? Knowing the right thing to do and going in the opposite direction. Sadly, I know I have. For clarity, there wasn’t an “audible” voice, but I knew the direction I was going was not where He would have me go.
For some of us there are great consequences that might change the trajectory of our lives. For others, it might not be that drastic. Regardless of the consequence, our Lord remains faithful. In raising our kids, we always said that the Lord is more concerned with our character than our comfort. In turning and repenting, grace and mercy are extended. Hebrews 12:11 states “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Fleeing from the Lord, Jonah set sail on a ship to Tarshish. A great storm created incredible fear for the Gentile sailors. To find the reason for this storm, they casted lots which fell on Jonah. This incredible storm was sent by the Lord. Was this consequence of his disobedience a punishment for Jonah? Or protection?
Fearful and knowing he was at fault for the storm, Jonah asked to be thrown over. After unsuccessfully praying to their own gods, the sailors tried to get back to land not willing to throw him over. Knowing that his life had value they didn’t want to murder him when throwing him over, so they asked for mercy from the Lord! The very One who could provide that mercy truly did which we will see later. Finally, they chose to throw him over and the sea calmed down. These Gentile sailors praised the Lord when they saw this. This was an amazing protection of their lives.
Do you see a pattern of not trusting the Lord, becoming fearful, taking matters into our own hands and finally turning to the Lord? This is a crisis of faith. God asks us to do something, and we turn to “my will be done” as opposed to “thy will be done.” God remains faithful. He commands, He sends, and He protects and provides. Not in a robotic like fashion, but in a deep-rooted love for His children. The “punishment” can also provide protection.
Lastly, did you ever think of the whale as a protection? I see the mercy of a great fish as protection and provision for Jonah. It is here Jonah stayed in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights. In His great character, the Lord commanded the whale to throw Jonah up onto dry land! What we view as a punishment might actually be his protection and stretching it further, even His provision.
Tammy De Armas
EFCC Member
It is Easy to Run
Sometimes I read a Bible story and instantly judge the person for their lack of wisdom and trust in God. That happened to me last week as the writing team read Jonah 1:1-3,
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
“Escape the presence of the Lord? What a fool Jonah was,” I was thinking. Then I remembered what I did just 4 days before. On that Saturday, 13 Junior High students, 3 of their parents, and 6 of my leaders and I went to East Tijuana, Mexico to partner with Mexico Caravan Ministries to build 2 houses for families there. It was hard work, but the group accomplished the task and we didn’t even have long to wait in the border line coming home that evening. After all the students were picked up from church I headed home but didn’t make it very far. Just as I gunned the gas to get through the green light on the corner of the church’s lot, my car died. It would start again, but the car wouldn’t respond to pushing on the gas pedal. It would just sit there revving up and slowing down. If I tried to put it into gear it would clunk out. Thankfully, this didn’t happen while driving in TJ, also thankfully, I have AAA auto service. The estimated arrival time of the tow truck was 1.5 hours away. I wondered, “Seriously Lord?”
So I waited and prayed and checked college basketball scores and sang to the Lord a little. Then it occurred to me. I had just concluded a three week series teaching the students how to share their faith, and one of the strategies was to get spiritual conversations going by asking people, “Do you have any spiritual belief?” As soon as I had that thought, my body experienced a wave of relief and excitement realizing that God had set up this divine appointment for me to practice what I had been encouraging the students to do, and more importantly, possibly share the gospel with the person coming to get my car and give me a ride home.
Then, on the way home, I chickened out. I did point out to the tow truck driver that I was on my way home from that church across the street. I mentioned that to see if he might ask more questions about that or show any spiritual interest. He did not, and I didn’t ask him the question, “Do you have any spiritual belief?” I guess it is easy to be like Jonah.
Pray with me that we will be faithful witnesses and not run from the opportunities and assignments God brings our way.
Pastor John Riley
Life on the Run
Series: JONAH
Text: Jonah 1:1-17
Speakers: Pastors Ryan Paulson and Esteban Tapia
March 23, 2025: On Sunday, Pastors Ryan Paulson and Esteban Tapia began a brief new sermon series on the book of Jonah. Come learn from the Scriptures as we study this short Old Testament book. The first message in this series is entitled "Life on the Run."
