Read: Jonah 1:1-16
For I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you. (v. 12)
It is obviously not wise to run toward a hurricane to avoid a thunderstorm, but that’s just what Jonah did in today’s Bible reading. God told the prophet Jonah to go tell the Ninevites to repent or they would be destroyed. Jonah hated the wicked Ninevites, so he got on a boat heading in the opposite direction. But he couldn’t escape God. God hurled a tempestuous storm, strong enough to sink the boat. Jonah told the sailors to throw him overboard, and as soon as they did, the storm calmed. The story goes on in the rest of the book—God rescued Jonah, who then went to Nineveh. The Ninevites repented and God did not destroy them.
Sometimes, what God asks of us we find too inconvenient, difficult, or even repulsive. Maybe it’s taking time to lend your expertise on a committee at church, or filling out that application for a mission trip. Perhaps it’s sharing God’s love and forgiveness with a neighbor who has gossiped about you. Often, when we try to ignore these things, God keeps reminding us, and may even let tempestuous events occur to get us to listen. We might think we are avoiding a situation we don’t want, but find we have run into a storm.
If you’re fleeing from what God wants you to do and experiencing stormy consequences, commit to do God’s will and see him work wonders through your obedience.
As you pray, ask God to make his will clear to you and give you an obedient heart.
About the Author
Donna M. Harold is retired from a career in accounting and consulting and lives in Tampa, Florida, with her husband and two cats. She serves as treasurer for her church, creates and facilitates Bible studies, and enjoys writing, mosaicking, and quilting.
