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Storm



I have captained this ship for years. I have faced many a strom. But never has Captain Zadok been so helpless. What is happening? Why this outrage? The waves are higher than ten times what I have faced. There is ruckus all over this deck. The mast is broken. What is left of it is a ghost. The rudder has flewn off like a wheel. The anchor is lost. The stern is like a ploughed field. The shrouds are like harp strings, waving around and causing much damage. Shredding pieces of wood and flesh and blood everywhere it hits.There is vomit all around. The ocean water occasionally washes it into my own room and brings it back. The luggages are all floating. 
All of the crew is running havoc. Captain Zadok, what should we do? Captain Zadok shall we pull down the sail? Captain Zadok shall i call on my gods? You call on your gods, I used to tell, but I have got this. But have I? Is there somebody up there laughing at the gimmicks that i have been showing althrough my life? Asking me to solve it now? 
 I have always been an agnostic. I have made myself rich. No one has divinely helped me. It was my hardwork that made me what I am right now. Self made captain of the richest ship. Because i worked hard. Because i survived. Because i was wise. Because I was strong. Not because of luck or grace. Oh! I used to pity those who called on their gods. But now what should I do. I am literally helpless. Everyone around me is calling on divine intervention. My mind was prompting me to call out aloud for help. No. Not me. But Zadok, do you remember the words of your grandmother. What else can you do? Call out for help when you need it. 
That is the only thing you can do now. But whom to call? Will he/she hear? My voice will it be heard? I didnt know whom to address. So i just said, Whoever is the true God, please, if you can, help us. Help me. I couldnt call out aloud amongst the others. Because of my pride may be. So I decided to go to the hold and cry out aloud so that no one would hear me. 
As i entered, there I saw man, sound asleep. Wait a minute. Who is this? What is happening. Why is he here sleeping? Above its all ruckus. But he is fast asleep. Snorring and probably dreaming. How could he?
 Hey man. Wake up. Who are you? What on earth are you doing? Your very life is in danger. 
Ah! Not me. Tarsis. Not Nineveh. 
Forget about Tarsis. You are going deep down. 
Yes. Tarsis. I took a ticket to Tarsis. 
Why dont you understand? How can you sleep at a time like this? Get up and pray to your god. May be he will pay attention to us and spare our lives. 
Oh! What happened. He said once he lost his balance. 
Who are you. 
Jonah. 
I know you are going to Tarsis. But where are you from. 
I am a Hebrew. I worship the Lord, the God of heaven who made the sea and the land. 
 What kind of a God is this. Fearful as I was I asked. Is this an answer to my prayer? Just now I called upon a true God, if any. Now He comes straight to me. Unstable in the wobbling in the sea, my hairs were still on the end. There is an awe. There is an aura around even hearing His name. The maker of all Heaven and earth and Sea. So He should be the Lord of this Sea as well. 
What is happening? Why is the sea so outrageous. Have you enraged this God?
 Oh! is there a problem? I did not know. Actually I am running away from this God to Tarsis. 
What? What are you talking? You just said you are the Servant of the Most High, Maker of everything. And now you say you are running away from Him? What are you thinking? Are in your senses? How can you run away from a god whom you claim to be the creator of everything? How long will you run? Where will you run?
 Yes, you are right. I was the fool, who thought that I could run away from the Master of all. I have sinned. I have disappointed Him. 
 Why did you do it?
 I was asked to go to Nineveh, the great city, and proclaim repentance. And if they dont repent, judgement is coming. 
Oh! this is solid. A God which means business. But if he knows this God, why is he running away. Nineveh is horrible, I totally understand. 
But people will not listen. They will torture me. Especially because I am a Hebrew. 
Well is that an excuse? Now what should i do? 
Throw me into the sea. And the sea will be calm. 
Wait. Do you think by throwing you, the servant of the most high, I will risk me and my crew's life?
 Jaban, has been Zadok's right hand since he remembered. He too was shocked. Will Zadok do that? Zadok had a unsatisfactory smile on his face and ordered Jaban, to tell the sailors, to row harder. Jaban replied, Master we have done everything. There is nothing more to do.
He yelled. Harder means HARDER. 
Jaban has never seen Zadok like this. Desperate. Confused. Fearful. Yet inquisitive. 
Jaban ran up to execute his masters command. 
See Zadok, Jonah replied. This storm will not calm unless you throw me down. Because i am the reason. And I have to face this God who is just. 
Justice? What sort of a God is this? I have heard only of gods who would want to punish. Justice is not a good term because none of them are perfect. 
No Zadok, this God is just. Because He is holy. Absolutely pure. And i believe that this God will  calm the storm. Both outside and inside you. 
Wait again. This God is full of surprises. How did this man know I was confused. That means this God is humongous. 
Lord if you are really true, the Lord of Jonah. Please forgive me for throwing your servant into the sea. Please don't punish us because of that. 
No Zadok. He will not punish you. If I die in this storm or not. He will not punish you. You pay your allegiance to Him. 
Regretfully half heartedly Zadok himself binds up Jonah and drags him up into the deck. Jaban is still shocked. Only he knew what all Jonah told. Zadok threw an eye to his trusted friend helplessly. His strong sailors hands picked up the puny prophet like an insect and threw him over into the sea. The shocking eyes still gazing. The shock turned into fear. As they saw tears rolling down the face of their captain. Because the moment the man touched down the water. Bhoom..... The storm stopped. 
The sailors have never seen Zadok on his knees. Even more now, they see him bowing down and praying. Never in their entire life have they witnessed this. Resounding whatever they have heard from the prophet. Each and every single sailor knelt down and worshipped the God of Jonah. 
The sun shining bright. Zadok called Jaban. He had something in mind. Jaban, as soon as few of these luggages that are left we take them to Tarsis, I am going to Nineveh. 
Why Nineveh Zadok. Our princess won't reach there. It's a land surrounded by hill countries. No trade would flourish there too. It's a land of vile people. 
Jaban, it's about that prophet. He was supposed to go to Nineveh to proclaim about this God. But he disobeyed. We threw him down into the raging sea. And we saw the power of the Mighty God he followed. Somebody should go there to tell about this God. Who will go apart from me who saw His mighty hand. 
You are right Zadok. I will go with you. Even if we have to die there. 
True. 
Months later. After days of travelling on foot, which is so unlikely for tough sailors like Zadok and Jaban, finally they reach Nineveh. There is singing and rejoicing all around. Oh! This is Nineveh. Partying and enjoying all day. Drinking and wasting of money. No wonder. 
Jaban happened to get one young boy on his collar and asked, what is the partying all about. 
The young one wanted to just run back to his friends. He shouted. God has forgiven. The prophecy has been lifted. 
Oh that means somebody has come here and they have know the Lord of Jonah. Who said this to you. 
You go and ask the prophet himself. He is up there.
There on that small hill, under the shade of a small and withered plant, sat a shrouded figure. 
Zadok and Jaban, inquisitive and perplexed ran up the hill with last bit of strength they had. Because they knew something was awaiting them there. 
Shocked to the core. They see the prophet himself. Jonah. Wait again. Didn't we throw you into the storm. How did you escape? What kind of a ploy is this? 
No ploy dear Zadok. I understood this God is not just awesome in power but He is merciful too. He is not concerned about my people alone. I was mistaken. He doesn't show favouritism. For Him Hebrew and Ninevites are the same. And a repentant sinner He is willing to forgive. He is rich in mercy. Full of compassion. He had kept me safe in the big fish's belly for three nights and brought me here to save these Ninevites. It was not about punishment. It is about His love. 
And what brings you here Zadok and Jaban. 
It was Jaban who replied.
Tears rolling down Jaban's eyes for the first time in his life. Atleast since he remembers. He replied with trembling and quavering voice. It was for me that this God allowed you to disobey and go to Tarsish. And Jonah's eyes were swelling more and more with tears of gratitude. 
Image credit:  https://in.pinterest.com/pin/340936634300695871/
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