Jonah: The Raging Storm and the Big Fish

Today's episode focuses on Jonah's call to preach salvation to people who were undeserving in his eyes. This devotional teaches us that God does not look at people the way we see them. No matter how evil or undeserving they may be, the Lord loves everyone and wants all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). What can you learn from this story?

Gospel in the Air is a podcast ministry of Cornerstone Christian Church. We are located in Maui, Hawaii, USA. Our number is (808) 463-8859. You can also visit our website at www.cornerstonemaui.org or you can send your email to danibanggo@gmail.com.

Transcript

Episode 34

Jonah: The Raging Storm and the Big Fish

Scripture: Jon. 1:1- 4, 15, 17; 2:4, 10; 3:5, 10  

From the beautiful island of Maui, I want to greet you with a warm aloha! I hope you are doing well today. I invite you once again to join me in this brief devotional reflection on our spiritual journey. May you be inspired, challenged, and transformed as you listen and continue to seek God's will in your life. May you be blessed and find fulfillment in His words. Before we begin our devotion, let’s say a word of prayer.  

Heavenly Father, I ask that You continue to reach hearts through this podcast as listeners hear the message of Your salvation. May the Holy Spirit move powerfully, stirring those who have not yet given their lives to Jesus Christ to make Him their Lord and Savior. I also pray that today’s message will be delivered not only in words, but with actual power, the Holy Spirit’s presence, and deep conviction, just as it says in 1 Thessalonians 1:5. In Jesus’ name, amen! 

Today's scripture reading is from the Book of Jonah, chapters 1 through 4. The focus is on Jonah's story, including the raging storm and the big fish. 

As the narrative unfolds, we see that God’s compassion extends even to those considered the worst sinners. Yet, Jonah chose to flee instead of following God’s instructions. He boarded a ship bound for Tarshish, hoping to distance himself from God’s call by heading in the opposite direction from Nineveh. Jonah’s disobedience stemmed from his deep resentment toward the people of Nineveh; he wanted them to be punished, not spared, due to the suffering they inflicted on Israel. To Jonah, God’s mercy toward such a violent people seemed unjust—they deserved retribution, not forgiveness. Because of this, he refused to call them to repentance and decided to escape by sea. However, the story reveals how God orchestrated events—including sending a violent storm and a giant fish—to redirect Jonah back to his divine assignment, offering the people of Nineveh a chance to avoid destruction through repentance. Despite Jonah’s efforts to evade God, he ultimately could not escape His presence or purpose.

1.    Background

According to 2 Kings 14:25, Jonah was a prophet from the region of Galilee. God assigned him a straightforward task: to travel to Nineveh—the powerful capital of the fierce Assyrian Empire, situated in present-day Iraq—and deliver a warning due to the city's overwhelming wickedness. Nineveh had earned the infamous nicknames “Lair of Lions” and “City of Bloodshed,” which strongly highlight the perilous and violent reputation of its people, as described in Nahum 2:11 and 3:1.

It might be simple to criticize Jonah for his outright defiance, but when we consider the situation more closely, most of us would likely understand his perspective. Historically, the Assyrians were infamous for proudly displaying their cruel treatment of prisoners.

The “Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia” provide some of the clearest accounts of their cruelty, which can be summarized as follows:

-       Captives were skinned, and their hides covered the city gates as wallpaper.

-       Limbs were being severed.

-       Captives were burned alive.

-       Hands were severed, including their fingers, noses, and ears. Their eyes were also gouged out.

-       Captives' bodies served as pillars; their heads were tied to posts throughout the city.

-       Captive children were burned, and 

-       Others were left in the desert dying of thirst.

Given the extreme brutality and sadistic cruelty of the Assyrians, it’s understandable why Jonah would choose to flee from God’s command and head toward Tarshish, located on Spain’s Atlantic coast. In the context of the Old Testament, the Hebrews strictly adhered to the Law of Retribution — “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:24-25; Leviticus 24:20). For Jonah, God’s instruction was shocking and unprecedented. He couldn’t imagine going to Nineveh to proclaim a message about God’s compassion and forgiveness. The Assyrians were Israel’s most notorious enemies, and Jonah believed they deserved punishment, not mercy.

2.    The Raging Storm 

Yet during his journey, Jonah believed he could escape God's reach. He felt utterly safe, hidden away on a small ship, where he retreated to the deck and fell asleep. Importantly, Jonah wasn't trying to avoid the law or hide from any wrongdoing in the eyes of society. Instead, his flight stemmed from a profound conviction. What he failed to realize, however, was that this choice amounted to rebellion against God (see Nehemiah 9:26). Such defiance brings God's judgment (Ephesians 5:6), unless one chooses to repent and admit their wrongdoing (Psalms 38:18). As the Bible warns, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

Jonah was discovered while he slept, believing he was safe and hidden. He failed to understand that God is present everywhere—there’s nowhere to escape His presence (see Psalms 138:7-8). Scripture warns, “Your sin will surely find you.” God’s judgment may not come immediately, but if you refuse to repent, it’s inevitable. The Bible also teaches that unconfessed sin will eventually bring you distress (Psalms 38:18). When God’s anger caught up with Jonah, it manifested not just as a storm, but as a fierce and violent one. This serves as a warning for all of us: nothing remains concealed from God, especially our sins. Proverbs 15:3 reminds us, “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, watching both the wicked and the good.” If you persist in sin and try to keep it hidden within, refusing to admit and confess it to God—like Jonah, who wanted to flee—you’ll ultimately be exposed. Such a path leads not to success, but to a life of running and hiding, much like a fugitive evading justice. In this state, true peace will elude you and, instead of prosperity, you’ll be chased by trouble and hardship (Proverbs 13:21; 28:13).

3.    The Big Fish

When Jonah became aware of his wrongdoing and understood the seriousness of his rebellion against God—especially after witnessing the chaos of the violent storm that put innocent lives at risk because of his choices—he didn’t hesitate to take responsibility. He immediately acted by telling the others to throw him overboard. Consider the impact: people who had nothing to do with Jonah’s actions, ordinary workers just trying to support their families, suddenly found themselves in danger, all because of a person's mistake. This serves as a reminder to be careful about the company you keep. Think about the Israelites’ embarrassing defeat by the small nation of Ai in the Old Testament.

When you reflect on it, it seems unthinkable that such a powerful nation could ever be defeated, especially by a small, seemingly insignificant group. Didn’t Israel have God’s supernatural power on their side, with the Holy Spirit fighting on their behalf? Wasn’t Joshua, the divinely chosen leader who succeeded Moses, guiding them? And didn’t they possess the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God’s continual presence among them? So how could they possibly lose? How did this minor tribe manage to overcome them so completely, when Israel had previously triumphed over far larger and stronger enemies? Joshua chapter 7 recounts Israel’s only loss in all their battles for the Promised Land. In his distress, Joshua tore his clothes and humbled himself before God, pleading for understanding and guidance. God responded, revealing that the defeat was the result of the sin of just one man—Achan. Because of Achan’s greed, the entire nation was brought down. Ultimately, the consequences of a single person’s wrongdoing affected everyone in Israel.

Have you ever gone through something similar? Sometimes, even when you’re devoted to God, life can seem unfair, and you may find yourself questioning Him when faced with difficult situations on your faith journey. It can feel as if you’re being swept away by a fierce storm, just as Jonah’s rebellion brought about a tempest and Achan’s greed led to Israel’s defeat. In the same way, God may allow you to encounter storms or setbacks as a way to deliver an important message. He could warn you that you’re surrounded by the wrong people, urging you to leave before things go too far and you regret it. First Corinthians 15:33-34 says, “Don’t be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’ Come to your senses and stop sinning; some are unaware of God—to your shame, I say this.” The language is forceful, but Paul’s warning to the Christians in Corinth is relevant to us today. The instruction is straightforward: “Wake up and stop sinning.” Paul is encouraging you to change your ways now, before it’s too late and disaster strikes. Soon, the opportunity to repent may pass you by. 

Joshua’s experience and the defeat of Israel’s army highlight a crucial lesson: leadership, whether as a parent or a leader, carries serious responsibility and must never be treated lightly. Remaining faithful to God means guiding others—especially your children—on a path of moral integrity and spiritual upbringing. Sin should never be ignored or excused; it requires immediate correction. If you overlook or permit wrongdoing in your children, you risk facing the same fate as Israel did when it lost to the small nation of Ai. Failure and misfortune will follow you, preventing you from achieving success and prosperity. Just as Jonah, upon recognizing his sin, took ownership and accepted the consequences, and just as Joshua humbled himself before God and sought His help after Israel’s defeat due to Achan’s disobedience, these stories serve as reminders that you cannot be complacent in your relationship with God. Ultimately, God values faithfulness over worldly achievements—that is what truly matters.

After Jonah showed true repentance and insisted on being cast into the sea, God responded to his sincerity by sending a large fish to save him. This fish became God’s way of delivering Jonah and restoring his relationship with the Lord. Through this experience of God’s justice, Jonah learned humility, turned back to God, and confessed his wrongdoing. While inside the fish, Jonah prayed, “I have been driven away from your presence, but I will look once more toward your holy temple” (2:4). Not only was Jonah’s life spared, but so were the lives of everyone aboard the ship with him. God’s faithfulness remains steadfast to those who heed His voice. As Proverbs 1:13 assures, “But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

We can gain practical life lessons from this story:

First, that is, God uses anything for His purpose, despite your indifference. 

Proverbs 16:9 teaches that while people may make plans in their hearts, it is ultimately the Lord who guides their steps. One of humanity’s greatest blessings is the ability to make choices, and with this freedom comes personal accountability. God does not impose His grace on anyone who isn’t open to receiving it through Jesus Christ; it remains a personal decision that shapes our lives. Still, God patiently waits for each person to turn away from sin, desiring that no one should be lost (2 Peter 3:9). He uses every possible method to make people aware of their wrongdoing. In the story of Jonah, God chooses to send His prophet to Nineveh, urging its people to abandon their evil ways. From the start, Jonah is called to be God’s servant, and now he is tasked with delivering God’s message to Israel’s greatest adversaries, the Assyrians.

There are moments in life when you must make a firm decision—one that could mean the difference between life and death and may affect your reputation and future. Sometimes, this decision can also have a significant impact on those around you. Facing such choices often brings complex dilemmas, but regardless of the challenges, a decision must be made. This is the moment when your courage and resolve are truly put to the test. While you may seek input from others, such as friends, trusted advisors, or mentors, the ultimate decision rests with you alone. No matter how much outside influence or advice you receive, only you can make the final choice. Therefore, regardless of the outcome—good or bad—you alone are responsible, and no one else should receive the credit or bear the blame.

When faced with making important decisions, it’s essential to approach them with maturity and strong values. Many times, setbacks happen even when you mean well, simply because you didn’t include God in your decision-making from the start. God was left out of your planning process. That’s why it’s crucial to put God at the heart of every decision you make. This applies to selecting a career, planning for marriage, building a family, choosing a spouse, deciding which church to attend or serve, and selecting a school or training program. Invite God to be actively involved in your goals and ambitions, primarily when it concerns serving Him through ministry. 

God understands your deepest desires even better than you do. While you may chase after your goals and put in the effort, if those ambitions aren’t part of His plan for you, God will set you on a different path and guide every step you take. That’s why it’s important to keep trusting the Lord and seeking His guidance in your life, allowing Him to use you to fulfill His purpose. Don’t let others pressure you or be discouraged by those who criticize your decisions, especially when you’ve chosen to follow the Lord. Don’t fear anyone because of your commitment to God. Matthew 10:28 reminds us, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Your life is a personal journey between you and the Lord. Remember, my friend, time is running out.

Second, God loves everyone, including the worst sinners, such as the Ninevites. 

Truthfully, loving those whom it seems impossible to love is no easy task. It's challenging to reach out to individuals who show no concern for you. In fact, throughout the Psalms, King David often prayed for God’s justice and retribution against his adversaries—prayers that called for vengeance and deliverance. These were his ways of seeking change. So, it's understandable why Jonah chose to flee from God’s command; it hardly seemed logical for him to go to the Assyrians and urge them to repent.

Jonah felt deeply upset and even appalled by the mission God gave him. Rather than wanting the people of Nineveh to repent, he preferred to see them face destruction for their extreme wickedness. His reluctance was so strong that he blatantly ignored God’s command, hoping that by not warning them, they would be punished as he believed they deserved. Jonah couldn’t bear the thought of them receiving mercy and being saved, and he feared that if he delivered God’s message, they might turn from their evil ways and God would forgive them. Jonah understood God’s character well—he knew, as he later admitted in 4:2, that God is gracious, compassionate, patient, overflowing with love, and often spares people from disaster. Because of this, Jonah would rather face death than carry out the task of preaching to the Ninevites.

But what right does Jonah have to challenge God or offer Him advice? As it says in Isaiah 55:8-9, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord, “and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Ultimately, no one—not even Jonah—can fully comprehend God.

Despite Jonah’s belief that the Assyrians did not deserve salvation, God’s love for them remained steadfast. Jonah needed to learn about God’s supreme authority and boundless compassion. To teach him this, God used extraordinary circumstances—a raging storm and a massive fish—to guide Jonah toward Nineveh. Through these experiences, God demonstrated to Jonah that He shows no favoritism and cares deeply for every person in the world, regardless of their identity.

So, what became of the Assyrians? According to the Bible, the people of Nineveh trusted in God, and when He saw their actions and their genuine repentance, He showed mercy and chose not to unleash the destruction He had warned them about (Jonah 3:5, 10).

This is a message of hope for you, my friend! You may feel as though God has overlooked you, but that’s not true. Even the most sinful person on earth, like the Assyrians, can be saved if they truly repent. The Bible affirms this in plain and unmistakable language.

Jesus Christ surpasses Jonah in every way. Unlike Jonah and the Old Testament’s emphasis on strict legalism, Jesus introduced a revolutionary message centered on grace and love (see Luke 11:30, 32; Matthew 5:38–39, 44). It can be difficult to comprehend how a loving and gracious God would permit such suffering to fall upon humanity. In truth, we deserve the consequences of our sins, but Jesus took that punishment upon Himself by dying on the cross for you and me—offering us salvation.

Friend, as long as you have this moment, why not seize the opportunity to invite Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of your life? You truly need Him—He is your one true hope. Accept His gracious gift, and you can be assured that heaven awaits you.

Let us pray.

Gracious God, I am grateful for the chance to share your message of hope today. I pray for your blessing on everyone who has listened, that they may truly grasp your gift of salvation offered through Jesus Christ. Touch their hearts, Lord, leading them to seek you, turn away from their sins, and accept Jesus by faith as their Lord and Savior. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

I hope today’s message has been a blessing to you. Please continue to listen and share this message with your loved ones. May you find strength and encouragement as you walk in faith. Thank you for giving me the privilege of your time. This is your host, brother Dani Marantan Banggo, encouraging you to keep fighting the good fight of faith. Mahalo!