Man overboard

I am not a great swimmer, so whenever I am on a boat, I like to stay well away from the edge. The thought of falling, letting alone jumping into choppy waters fills me with fear.

I don't know if Jonah could swim, but in the middle of a wild storm, Jonah says throw me in!

The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the Lord. Now the Lord provide a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 1:11-17

No matter how good a swimmer Jonah was, his odds weren't great in the sea. The sailors clearly knew, he couldnt' survive. They didnt want to go through this his plan.

Yet, when his toes hit the water, the water goes calm.

When it seems he is sinking to the bottom, a great fish scoops him up.

Jonah was running from God - he may have been giving up. He may have thought, 'you win God - I give myself over to you. Take me in this sea'

But God isn't out to destroy him. That's not his business. God saves.

He saves Jonah. And he saves the sailors too.

Our God is a good who saves. He is loving, kind and gracious. So why run from him?