December 11
________________________________________
WHEN WE RUN FROM GOD
A poem by ILMA
Jonah said to the crew of the ship, “I am a Hebrew
I fear the LORD God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land”
Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him
How could you do this?” For the men knew he was fleeing from God’s presence.
They asked Jonah “What should we do to you that the sea may calm down?
He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea
I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you
However, the men rowed desperately for the sea was becoming rougher.
Then they called on the LORD and said, “We earnestly pray, O LORD, do not let us perish
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 God
God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, where he was 3 night and 3 days.
Jonah prayed earnestly while he was inside the stomach of the fish
He cried out to God and realized that he cannot run from the Lord
He needed to walk in obedience and do as the Lord says.
He proceeded to Nineveh and delivered the message to repent.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you. – Jonah 1:12
Read: Jonah 1:9-17
This story is a famous one that all Christian children probably knows. But there is much depth behind this story. When we run from God, we reach rock bottom or become trapped in our own foolish actions. We eventually fall on our knees and remember the Lord. It is ironic that God used a fish in the middle of a storm to swallow Jonah. It seems like thrown in the storm and yet quiet inside the fish. In the storm, we can still find peace.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do you think the other passengers in the ship prayed to the Lord even though they have their own gods as well?