Theme: Jonah

Reading: Jonah 1:7-17

What Caused This Storm?

⁷ Then the men said to each other, “We should throw lots to find out why this is happening to us.”

So the men threw lots. The lots showed that the troubles came to them because of Jonah. ⁸ Then the men said to Jonah, “It is your fault that this terrible thing is happening to us. Tell us, what have you done? What is your job? Where do you come from? What is your country? Who are your people?”

⁹ Jonah said to them, “I am a Hebrew. I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the land and the sea.”

¹⁰ Jonah told the men he was running away from the Lord. The men became very afraid when they learned this. They asked Jonah, “What terrible thing did you do against your God?”

¹¹ The wind and the waves of the sea were becoming stronger and stronger. So the men said to Jonah, “What should we do to save ourselves? What should we do to you to make the sea calm?”

¹² Jonah said to the men, “I know I did wrong—that is why the storm came on the sea. So throw me into the sea, and the sea will become calm.”

¹³ Instead, the men tried to row the ship back to the shore, but they couldn’t do it. The wind and the waves of the sea were too strong—and they were becoming stronger and stronger.

Jonah’s Punishment

¹⁴ So the men cried to the Lord, “Lord, please don’t say we are guilty of killing an innocent man. Please don’t make us die for killing him. We know you are the Lord, and you will do whatever you want.”

¹⁵ So the men threw Jonah into the sea. The storm stopped, and the sea became calm. ¹⁶ When the men saw this, they began to fear and respect the Lord. They offered a sacrifice and made special promises to the Lord.

¹⁷ When Jonah fell into the sea, the Lord chose a very big fish to swallow Jonah. He was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights.

 

Prayer for the week:

Dear God,

Help me to own up, step up, stand up

When I have got it wrong

When I have been unkind

When I have told a lie

When I am just thinking of myself

When I refuse to share

When I act like I don’t even care

 

Thank you that when I speak the truth

You are right there with me

Thank you that when I say sorry

You offer me your forgiveness

Amen.

 

Song for the week: Sink or Swim