Jonah – a Man With a Message Sample

A Stormy Boat Ride

God cared greatly for his people, the Israelites, but the God who created everyone in the whole world was concerned about the Ninevites too. When Jonah ran, God went after him!

He sent a big wind and a very violent storm on the sea to get Jonah’s attention. It tossed and turned the boat Jonah was on and all the sailors feared that they were going to die! They were not believers in God, so they began crying out to their false gods – while Jonah slept below.

Finally, the sailors found out that Jonah was the reason for the storm. They brought him on deck and he confessed, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.”

He told them he was running away from God and this terrified them. They were not believers in God, but now they were face to face with his mighty power in the storm. Jonah said, “Throw me off the ship and the storm will stop. It is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

The sailors didn’t want to throw Jonah overboard. They did everything they could to avoid it. But when they realized it was their only hope to survive the storm, they began calling out to God for forgiveness and then tossed Jonah over the side of the ship and into the wild sea.

Instantly, the sea became calm. At that, the sailors greatly feared God and realized that he truly was Lord over everything!