Call The One Who Can Help

So, they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging.  Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 

And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 1:15-17

Jonah ran away from God and took a boat to get out of Dodge.  When a storm blew up, the ship’s captain and crew cried out begging all the different gods they worshiped to save them.  Since it was still storming they thought that they had not asked the right god. 

Jonah was the only man on board who was not yelling, and the captain thought perhaps Jonah’s God was the right God, so the crew threw Jonah overboard and the storm stopped.

For a long time, I thought Jonah’s only mission was to go to Niveveh and preach.  Then I read this and realized that there was a second mission.  That mission was to show the power of the One True God to the sailors on the boat.  And, God used Jonah’s contrary nature to do that. 

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when someone is telling me about their problems, I just want to scream, “You know, I got problems, too.” 

But I don’t, instead I say, “I will pray for you.”  Then I do.  I have never had anyone reject an offer to pray. 

And, when we call the One who can help, He does.