Skip to main content

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/
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Husband and wife

Unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. 1 Pet:3:4 Though this is told to the wives; it is a very good admonition for all of us. To have a gentle and quiet spirit, is an incomparable unfading inner beauty. The real beauty is not your outwardly appearance. Real beauty is your inner spirit - to be gentle and quiet. Not to be quarrelsome. Not to be picking fights. But to be a peacmaker. especially in your family. V:1. Wives, in the same way, be submissive to your husbands. In which same way? The example is of Jesus. 2:23. When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate, when He suffered He made no threats.  In this same way, wives be submissive to your husbands, no matter how well or bad they treat you. V:7. Husbands in the same way, be considerate, as you live with your wives.  In which same way? The example is again of Jesus. 3:7. Treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life. Like Jesus did to us. ...
1 comment
Read more

Everything we need

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 2 Pet:1:3 Everything we need for our life in this present world; all our material needs; all our basic needs. And also for godliness; that is to grow in the knowledge of God; to build up in a relationship with God. Everything that you can think of. Everything you can ask for. Everything that you need. Has been given. It is yours for the taking. He will provide. For His name is Jehovah Jireh. Only we have to take it. Only we have to believe it and receive it. Why has He given us this? Is it because of our goodness? Is it because God foresaw our good deeds and therefore He gave it? Not at all. Wretched, poor, blind, naked as we are. He just gave it to us. Essentially for His glory and because He is good. He is good so much so that He reveals Himself to us who do not deserve to know Him. Even when we squander every opportunity. Even ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why don't they react?

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Pet:3:9 This is the highlight of true Christianity. Those who have known Christ in person. They beat them, they torture them, ridicule them, put them in prison, for doing good, for starting schools and colleges and hospitals, for bringing them to peace with their Creator God, leading to joy. They persecute them for no valid reason. Yet, you do not see retaliation. You do not see revolt. You do not see any bloodshed or pay back. There is absolute silence while facing persecution. Why? Why do they not react? Why do they keep quiet? Why they do not even defend themselves? Because they have a big Brother who showed them how to do. When persecuted and tortured for no good reason of His, He exuberated that love and peace and joy from His Father, from a world that they look forward unto. They know they are loved. They know these are small in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

One Man, once for all

For Christ died for sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. 1 Pet:3:18 How is one man dying, beneficial for all? Because He is rich in life and righteousness. Unendingly righteous that all unrighteous would be pardoned. He who knew no sin, became sin for us. The Son of God became the wrath of God, so that the wrath of God would be made sons of God. This exchange, this imputation is too good to be true. It is valid for you only if you receive. It has already been done for you, but if you wouldn't receive it is not relevant for you. Dear one, if you are in that borderline, now is the day. Put your trust in Jesus and be saved. Image credit: https://winningwalk.org/read/articles/at-the-foot-of-the-cross
Post a Comment
Read more

Humble yourselves in God's hands - a prose

Humble yourselves therefore under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 1 Pet:5:6 What is there to be proud of What is there to boast When you face with much suffering What is there to retaliate Just keep quiet and humble yourself Under the mighty hands of God He shall lift you up in due time God is on your side, dear one. And if God is on your side, Who can be against you. Who can stand against the Mighty Holy One? If you face undue humiliation If you face undeserved ridicule If you suffer injustice Humble yourselves under the Mighty Hands Of God, and He shall lift you up in due time. For God is on your side. Reacting or retaliating Trying to gain things by might - no, not that Instead humble yourselves in God's hands For that is all you can do and  all you need to do. He shall raise you up in due time. Image courtesy: chatgpt
Post a Comment
Read more

Authority

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men. 1 Pet:2:13 Slaves submit yourselves to your masters with all respect not only to those who are good and considerate but also to those who are harsh. 1 Pet:2:18 Submitting to your good and considerate bosses is easy. It is a natural response. It doesn't require an advise or an admonition. However if he/she is a hard taskmaster, you are still asked to submit. Naturally you would submit, but with a grieving, complaining heart, dissatisfied. Yet here the apprisal is to do this submission for the Lord's sake. Thankfully, genuinely. With contentment.  Inorder to be contented, you should enlist the things that you are thankful for. Make a list to praise God for the very things that you are frustrated about. And you will see the Lord's hand written all over it. These sufferings are momentary. He will do all things for good. He will carry it on to completion. He is Sovereign. But our attit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sufferring

1Pet:4:19 So then those who suffer because it is God's will for them, should by their good actions trust themselves completely to their Creator, who always keeps His promise. Suffering is always a difficult pill to swallow. Whether it is by your own bad deeds or if you do not deserve it. But for a Christian, suffering comes along - for no reason or as a consequence of sins. There is a four fold reason for suffering in the life of a child of God. 1. We are in the enemy's territory. And the enemy who will fight tooth and nail against our head Jesus Christ, will fight against us as well, trying to render us powerless. But be of good cheer. He who overcame all these is with you till the end of days. 2. Suffering is to be considered as a consequence of man's sinfulness, rather than a particular sin. Our fallenness and our wretchedness. Yes, now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. But in this world you will have much troubles, the same Jesus pr...
Post a Comment
Read more