PrintTwo Men Asleep In A Boat (2)
The second aspect that requires my attention as I compare the lives of Jonah and Jesus is the storm. This is possibly the one common factor in the lives of these prophets. But even here there are marked differences.
The storm in which Jonah found himself was the direct result of God's intervention (1/4). It was meant to expose Jonah's disobedience and bring him to an extremity – man's extremity being God's opportunity. I wonder how often in my life God has needed to bring me to some crisis point in order the get my attention, expose my willfulness and draw me back to the point where I departed from His Will?
Jesus also encountered a life-threatening storm (Mark 4/35-41) but I believe that the storm in which Jesus found Himself was the direct result of Satan's direct intervention. I can't prove that claim by quoting chapter and verse but I note that Jesus rebuked the storm in the same way and with the same language that he cast out demons. I think this storm was yet another attempt on the life of Jesus – not unlike that which Herod instigated soon after the Lord's birth (Matthew 2/16).
Not all storms or crises in life are God-initiated. Likewise, not all crises are demonic or devilish in origin. Sometimes it may be God that is behind it. At other times it may be the work of Satan. Most often it is just a storm!!
On such occasions I need to discern if this particular storm has a divine origin, a demonic origin or it is simply the result of weather patterns colliding. But what of the reaction of Jonah and Jesus to their respective storms? I want to reflect on this in my next log entry.
