One of the first Bible stories children learn is the one about Jonah and the whale or the big fish. The Hebrew language then was not as specific as is English now and the original term basically communicated that a large aquatic animal of some sort swallowed Jonah whole, stored him in its gut for three days to ponder God’s call, and then spit him out again on some Middle Eastern beach.
Whenever we think of this story, we usually spend most of our time on Jonah. What was it like for him to ferment in that whale stomach? How did he think he could ever run away from God? What was so repulsive about Ninevah that he preferred death to going there? And how wonderful that he eventually went to his assignment but why was he angry when revival swept through the city and even the king repented? So many questions for ole Jonah.
But what about the other sailors on his boat? We don’t know anything about them or their ship, only that they were headed to Tarshish, the location of which we also don’t know. Nevertheless, these individuals were enduring one the worst storms of their seafaring lives through no fault of their own. The real culprit was sleeping below deck while they were fighting for all they were worth to keep the ship afloat above.
Although the ship carried cargo that was eventually thrown overboard, Jonah carried the guilt of disobedience and desertion. It turns out his was the heavier load and almost sunk the ship with them on it.
Have you ever wound up on board with a Jonah? Their name may vary, but he or she is resisting God and trying to get as far away from Him and His will as possible. It may be someone in your family, an employee at work, or even a rebellious leader in church or government who absolutely refuses to repent, listen, and cooperate with God. As a result, the entire family, business, congregation, or nation pays the price unless and until that person eventually comes to their senses.
If Jonah had not come topside and confessed to his shipmates when confronted, the whole lot of them would have gone down. Even worse, if he had come up and kept his secret, the SS Tarshish would still be on the floor of the Mediterranean. Thankfully Jonah’s guilt convicted him and he feared God enough to come clean. He begged them to toss him to the sharks which they resisted until the last possible moment. When they finally did, the angry storm ceased, the tossing waves stilled, and the exhausted sailors were awed by the obvious intervention of an all-powerful God. Although they didn’t know Jonah’s God, these pagans sacrificed to Him.
Even worse than being an innocent victim along for the ride with a rebellious Jonah is to be a rebellious Jonah. There’s been times in all of our lives when each of us has been a Jonah as we’ve said, “No!” to God and sought to escape the consequences of such a foolish decision. Sadly, such actions on our part don’t just affect us. They puts everyone else around us in peril and can shipwreck a lot of others who really bear no responsibility for the impending disaster.
If you’ve been resisting God or fighting against something you know He wants you to do, surrender and submit to Him before you endanger yourself and take others down with you. No one is an island and all of our decisions affect and impact many in our circles of influence. Whenever we’re tempted to believe it’s just between us and God, may His Holy Spirit remind us that this is a lie from the Devil and may we, like Jonah, confess and repent. Let’s not become shark bait nor cause others to be so either. Blessings, George