Upon boarding I made my way down into the hold of the ship to sleep away the voyage. Though no matter how badly I wished it, the Lord would not allow my disobedience.
As I slept, a storm began, tossing the ship about as driftwood upon the sea and the growing tempest had the hull of the ship screaming in protest. On deck, the mariners were in a panic. Scrambling and crying out to their gods, they even began heaving cargo overboard to lighten the load. Soon the captain raced down to wake me, “What are you doing?!” He yelled, “Get up and call to your God. Perhaps HE will help us!”
Barely awake, I could hear the crew saying, “Let us cast lots so we know whose fault it is that this is happening!” So they cast lots, and to no great surprise, it fell on me. They clamored around me, frantic. “Tell us why this is happening! Where did you come from? What is your country? Of what people are you?”
“I am Hebrew,” I admitted. “And I fear the LORD, the God of Heaven, who made the sea and the land.” They all recoiled in fear. “Why have you done this?” They knew I was running from God. I had already told them. “What can we do to calm the sea?” they shouted. The waters became more wrathful by the minute, roaring and showing the Lord’s power in devastating force. It was the most frightening display I had ever seen! I swallowed hard and knew what had to be done. Was this my release?
“Throw me into the sea,” I told them. “Then the sea will calm. I know this storm is because of me.” They were reluctant at first, not wishing my death and working hard to return to land, but the sea just grew more tempestuous. There was no escape with me aboard. They all cried, “Please, LORD, do not let us perish for this man’s sake. Do not charge us with innocent blood, for you have done as it pleases you!” With all options exhausted, they grabbed me and cast me into the sea, and it calmed for them. Seeing the Lord’s display, the sailors all offered a sacrifice to God and took vows.
As for me, I sank into the depths. But God’s plan was not about to end with my drowning. A giant fish suddenly appeared from the deep and swallowed me at once For three days and nights I sat in it’s dark, disgusting, and putrid belly…*
Join us tomorrow as we talk about Jonah’s heart in this time. And prepare your soul by reading the account in Scripture (Jonah 1.4-17).
*This is a creative rendering of the book of Jonah by Ashley Berry. Download the full version here: word | pdf.
that speaks to being in community and growing deeper in the knowledge of Jesus now, as teens, so that we may reap the benefits down the road.
