When we last left Jonah he was on the run from God.  How silly does that sound?  Here is a big time prophet of God trying to get away from His presence.  No doubt that going to Assyria would bring along a set of dangers but this man seems to actually think God won't be able to find him.  Not many of us get to the physical point of being a divine fugitive.  Most of us just hope that God doesn't notice if we don't pay attention to Him.  This is one of those things that can happen to any of us.  We usually do not receive such a fearsome call as Jonah.  We just go about our business without keeping God's daily direction in mind.  Our call to follow may not be as dramatic as this prophet but it can be just as serious.

Jonah ends up in the middle of a huge storm while trying to escape.  It say that God "hurled" a violent storm upon the waters.  The language hints that it was thrown much like a hard fastball at the sea.  What we see is that not even expert sailors know how to handle the calamity.  One might suggest that perhaps God is unfair to put those men in danger when He is after Jonah.  But what we see at the end of the story is these same pagans encounter the living God in a vital way.  Our prophet may be stubborn but the sailors are shown as sensitive to God's activity.  Jonah shows no indication that he is ready to obey God.  He doesn't even seem to pray when the captain awakens him.  You have to wonder just how cold is this heart that will not respond to the obvious?  Yet we know that God's people display that awful tendency to remain in opposition to the divine direction even if it hurts.  Jonah would rather take his chances in the turbulence of the waters than admit to his failures.  This is surely no mild case of drift in the spiritual life.  His theology remains in good shape though his heart is far from God.

The sailors behave in ways beyond their knowledge.  Concern is shown for the prophet even when he gives them an easy solution.  You even read of these men praying then doing an act of worship when all is done.  Our writer is careful to tell us just how rebellious is this prophet.  My guess is none of us never wish to be in his condition but we may see some of the symptoms.  What we learn is the stilling of the sea was not the ultimate answer.  Just asking God to fix your problems may not be enough if you are the problem.  Jonah fails to realize that God is not letting him just go away.  He has to learn again that God is not easily fooled if at all.  We can be better than Jonah.  Our heart need not be in such turmoil.  Jesus would deal with a perfect storm of troubles.  His friends would betray, abandon and deny knowing Him.  He chooses obedience even if painful.  To follow Him may mean the same for us.  No one said it would be easy.  Just be sure that living this way is far more eternal than being stubborn.  Which do you wish to be?

Bro. Trey