When God Gets Your Attention
“But the Lord threw a great wind onto the sea, and such a great storm arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break apart.” - Jonah 1:4
As we have discussed the last couple of days, when God called him, Jonah thought he could run. He boarded a ship bound for Tarshish, determined to distance himself from God's call. With Tarshish being over 2,000 miles away, he likely believed he was heading as far from God's directive as possible. However, as we know from the story, you can’t outrun God.
As Jonah tried to escape, God sent a storm so fierce that the ship was on the verge of breaking apart. While the terrified sailors cried out to their gods, Jonah retreated to the lowest part of the vessel, where he fell into a deep sleep. It’s astonishing how one can be so far removed from reality in times of turmoil. Jonah, despite being the source of the storm, was oblivious to the chaos around him.
When confronted by the sailors, Jonah confessed that he worshipped "the God" who made the sea and the dry land. They were filled with great fear, asking what they should do to calm the storm. Jonah's response was shocking: “Pick me up and throw me into the sea.” He recognized that his disobedience was the reason for the tempest they were facing.
The sailors reluctantly followed Jonah's advice, and the moment he was thrown overboard, the storm ceased. For a brief moment, Jonah may have thought he had escaped the wrath of God, but little did he know that the situation was about to intensify. God had a lesson for Jonah, and it involved a great fish that would swallow him whole.
Being in the belly of a whale for three days and nights was not just a consequence, it was a moment of reckoning for Jonah. It was a wake-up call, a time when God finally got Jonah’s attention.
Have you ever been in a place where you felt trapped, as if the walls were closing in? Perhaps you felt spiritually or emotionally drained, ready to give up. God often uses our deepest struggles to draw us back to Him.
For those of you who may be running away from God today, consider this question: What will it take for God to get your attention? Sometimes, it takes discomfort or turmoil for us to realize that we can’t run forever.
God loves you too much to let you wander without calling you back. Just as He did for Jonah, He may do whatever it takes to bring you back into His presence. Accept His call to return and trust in His loving guidance.
As we have discussed the last couple of days, when God called him, Jonah thought he could run. He boarded a ship bound for Tarshish, determined to distance himself from God's call. With Tarshish being over 2,000 miles away, he likely believed he was heading as far from God's directive as possible. However, as we know from the story, you can’t outrun God.
As Jonah tried to escape, God sent a storm so fierce that the ship was on the verge of breaking apart. While the terrified sailors cried out to their gods, Jonah retreated to the lowest part of the vessel, where he fell into a deep sleep. It’s astonishing how one can be so far removed from reality in times of turmoil. Jonah, despite being the source of the storm, was oblivious to the chaos around him.
When confronted by the sailors, Jonah confessed that he worshipped "the God" who made the sea and the dry land. They were filled with great fear, asking what they should do to calm the storm. Jonah's response was shocking: “Pick me up and throw me into the sea.” He recognized that his disobedience was the reason for the tempest they were facing.
The sailors reluctantly followed Jonah's advice, and the moment he was thrown overboard, the storm ceased. For a brief moment, Jonah may have thought he had escaped the wrath of God, but little did he know that the situation was about to intensify. God had a lesson for Jonah, and it involved a great fish that would swallow him whole.
Being in the belly of a whale for three days and nights was not just a consequence, it was a moment of reckoning for Jonah. It was a wake-up call, a time when God finally got Jonah’s attention.
Have you ever been in a place where you felt trapped, as if the walls were closing in? Perhaps you felt spiritually or emotionally drained, ready to give up. God often uses our deepest struggles to draw us back to Him.
For those of you who may be running away from God today, consider this question: What will it take for God to get your attention? Sometimes, it takes discomfort or turmoil for us to realize that we can’t run forever.
God loves you too much to let you wander without calling you back. Just as He did for Jonah, He may do whatever it takes to bring you back into His presence. Accept His call to return and trust in His loving guidance.
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