Down, Down, Down

 “But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea. . .” Jonah 1:4.

God gave His prophet a clear directive: Go to Nineveh and announce My judgment against them because of their wickedness. But instead, Jonah fled. Note the downward spiral of his decision (vs. 3–15): he went down to Joppa; he went down into the ship; the men cast him down into the raging sea; a great fish swallowed him (down). Jonah tried to flee God’s presence.

Down, down, down—Jonah kept going “down” because he thought he could run and hide from God. But he could not, just like we cannot. And his rebellious decision didn’t affect only him. The seamen on board the ship, who were not running from God, faced certain death right along with Jonah. His sin entangled and endangered the lives of innocent men.

As the ship quickly filled with water, it was needful to throw all cargo overboard; death was eminent. Jonah knew his actions angered God, and for the men’s safety, they must cast him into the sea. With much reluctance, the sailors put him overboard—the raging sea at once stopped. They were spared, but not without the excessive cost of a damaged ship and lost cargo. However, through this experience, the mariners came to know and worship the one true God.

 Jonah’s rebellion cost him three days and nights in the nasty belly of a fish God prepared. The dank, reminding odor of his sin would not disappear until he repented and was out of the fish. Once he confessed his wrongdoing and stood on dry ground, he went to Nineveh but performed his assignment half-heartedly. He didn’t want Israel’s enemy to escape God’s wrath, but the king and his people repented of their evil ways, and God did not destroy Nineveh. Jonah was displeased that God showed pity towards the Ninevites and would rather die than see God’s mercy extended to them (4:3).

Has God called you to a challenging task, and you ran? Are you in a God-sent-storm because of your running? Who or what in your life are you willing to take down with you in your rebellion: family or friends, finances, innocent bystanders? Are you angry with God when He extends mercy to wrongdoers? Whether inside a fish or not, the stench of sin is present, and only repentance dispels the odor. Though God can bring good from self-induced, harrowing experiences, is stubbornness for your way worth the grief and God’s disfavor towards you? Speaking from personal experience, it is not.