Jonah: Confronted by Grace - Gracious Storms!

This week we read about Jonah running from God on a boat to Tarshish. In the next paragraph, Jonah is asleep in the hull of the boat running from the “presence of the Lord.” At this point, God intervenes, graciously confronting his prophet’s distortion. The opening of verse three focuses on this divine intervention, “But the LORD.” This divine intervention is an act of God’s covenant faithfulness to Jonah (and Israel). Often the storms we experience are just that, moment’s of divine intervention that force us to confront what’s going on in our hearts.

It’s an interesting setting, the sailors are quite afraid and call out to their gods. Jonah, sound asleep, is awakened by the captain who urges Jonah to call out to his god. He says, “Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.” If we remember that the target audience is Israel the intent comes to light. Israel is steeped in idolatry, worshiping the gods of their neighbors. God is addressing their idolatry in essence saying, “Maybe the gods you are worshiping will save you.” 

The storm creates the crisis that challenges their distorted view of God and the gods in which they trust. God often sends storms to address our idolatry. Come Sunday, and let’s consider what this means for us.