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| Sperm whale (Physeter microcephalus) illustration by Uko Gorter |
These sailors had never
experienced a storm like this one that possessed a rage that would sap the
courage from the bravest of hearts because this was not the result of a natural
phenomenon but of Yahweh – But the LORD sent (v4), all tips and thanks going to Jonah, of course. These
weather conditions were rare like a rogue wave; this was an episodic storm with
an amazing level of intensity that appeared out of nowhere and would disappear
just as quickly.
These seasoned sailors were
gripped by a terrifying feeling that they may not survive this one; we know
they were right in their assessment. Unknown to them, this was a violent storm
divinely tailored just for Jonah, and it was a doozy. Guess who was caught in
the middle of all this sailor’s delight? As conditions were deteriorating
rapidly, Yahweh, the troublemaker’s God, was sustaining and controlling the chaos on the sea, as
well as, preventing the ship from breaking apart as the mystery of the culprit
unravels onboard the ship with the mariners and His prophet.
It is consolatory to know as a
believer, our world can be falling apart, but the sovereignty of God is in full
control of the situation. He will never allow anything to enter our lives apart
from His will because of who He is and what He is about. As uncomfortable as it
is when things are out of our control, we need to resist holding on to our
fears and placing them into His hands. I am not saying that is an easy thing for us to
do in the midst of a stormy situation that’s grabbing our full attention, but
that is what we have to do by faith. It is all in the focus; faith looks up;
fear looks every other way but up.
All that was left to do was to ride
the fury of the storm out, hoping the ship will outlast the storm. I do not
think it was coincidental when Jonah came to the captain’s mind. Cap found him
fast asleep in the lowest parts of the ship (v5); can you believe it? Little did the captain know
that Jonah was going to be the key to making it through this unusual and
dangerous tempest. There were eight
questions asked of Jonah in the “I don’t think we are going to make it” moment.
I will list them in the order of appearance and address them as we come to them.
By the line of questioning, it
is almost as if they are in the mode of desperately trying to make some kind
of sense of – “Why is this happening to me?” I do not think it is out of the
realm of possibility because of the kind of questions directed at Jonah, and on
a personal level, have we not asked some of these questions in a time of crisis
that is ready to overtake us? These men were definitely in an overwhelming
situation! Also, keep in mind at a time like this, “Who’s got time for twenty
questions!?” Here are the interrogatives posed to Jonah.
Q1
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What do you mean,
sleeper?
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v6
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Jonah remained silent
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Q2
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Please tell us! For
whose cause is this trouble upon us?
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v8
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Jonah answered, v12
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Q3
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What is your occupation?
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v8
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Jonah remained silent
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Q4
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And where do you come
from?
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v8
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Jonah remained silent
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Q5
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What is your country?
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v8
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Jonah remained silent
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Q6
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And of what people are
you?
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v8
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Jonah answered, v9
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Q7
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Why have you done this?
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v10
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Jonah remained silent
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Q8
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What shall we do to you
that the sea may be calm for us?
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v11
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Jonah answered, v12
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As you can see from the chart
above, Jonah addressed only three of the questions (Q2, Q6, Q8), and ignored
the other five. The pace of the inquiry was up-tempo. Practically, Q2 and Q8 were germane.
Theologically, Q6 was relevant. In a polytheistic culture, like the Phoenicians,
they recognized and venerated many gods,
every man cried out to his god (v5). Their
god (or deities) personified an idea(s) or some element(s) of the world and in the
heavens affecting their lives.
The chief god of the Phoenicians
was Melqart, the god of the cycle of vegetation and the netherworld. Around every
corner in a polytheistic or idolatrous society, there was a god for any and
everything. What terrified the captain and crew the most was Jonah’s God “made
the sea and the dry land!” They
made their living on the waters! It turned out to be a game-changer.
Personally, Q7 was applicable;
if I was part of the crew, I would want to know why he did this before we
scuffed him up a bit, propitiating the fleshly nature, sort of speak!
Nonetheless, in a situation like this, it would be difficult to fight back the
impulses of the flesh of someone hazarding your life for being stupidly foolish.
There are times I must confess that though I acknowledged God’s
sovereignty over my life and all that has been given to me, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I
am always thrilled over a situation, as someone told me recently, “I don’t have
to like it.” Jonah obviously didn’t like having to go to Nineveh, but his kind
of not liking led to disobedience; this kind of not liking is not what
I am referring to nor my friend.
As part of the crew, wouldn’t
you want to know why Jonah put your life in jeopardy? It was self-centered and
immoral to get on the ship to Tarshish in the first place! We will be “surprised”
at the crew’s reaction to Jonah’s arrogance thinking he knows better than God
on how to run the world. If you are like me, I have read this account many
times concerning the response of the crew after the interrogation, and I am still
truly amazed by their actions!
I would love to see them in
glory, but I do not know what they did with what they saw concerning Jonah’s
God. If they actually witnessed the whale scooping Jonah in its mouth after
throwing him overboard, they may have concluded, “Whew, you don’t want to make
Jonah’s God angry!” Maybe that was as far as they went with what they witnessed
out there on the sea that day? Who knows if there was any seeking to know more
of this God of Jonah’s, the God of heaven,
who made the sea and the land after Jon 1:16?
Here were pagans more honorable
than a prophet of God; that was certainly a great testimony for the glory of
God on Jonah’s part, right?? Unfortunately, it was on par with desiring all of
the Assyrians in Nineveh biting the dust. When God is not running the show in
our lives, there is a tendency for any of us to become spiritually callous to
the point of insensitivity. God help us! You tracking?
(Jon 1:6) So the captain came to him, and said to him, What do
you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us,
so that we may not perish.
Can you imagine the Captain
thinking the moment he saw that his passenger was sleeping through all of this,
“I’ve seen it all now; can you believe this guy?” This really looked bad on
Jonah’s part. The Captain was right,
How can you sleep at a time like
this? he shouted (Jon 1:6, NLT).
We are all to be like God; do
you think these mariners saw these virtues in Jonah: gracious, merciful, slow
to anger, abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving? Do you think others see these
characteristics in us?
This has to be a gentler
paraphrase, for I am sure that the Captain of the ship didn’t softly tap Jonah
on the shoulder and say to him,
“Sir, I am so, so terribly sorry
to disturb you while you sleep, but I thought it was a captain’s duty to inform
you that the crew is praying to their gods right now; the cargo has already
been thrown overboard, and the ship sounds as if it is going to break apart at
any moment! If it is not too much trouble to ask, rather than catching up on
your sleep, could you possibly consider taking time out to call upon your god
and make him aware of our situation and perhaps, spare our lives? It would be
much appreciated. Let me be the first to thank you in advance.” Oh, yeah, I’m convinced that was the way it went down... <><
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| To Part 2 |
