The book of Jonah in the bible is a book that I would encourage you to read. There is a question asked that just jumped out at me and this is it “who is responsible for this calamity?” Chapter 1:7. In many ways this is the question that a lot of people are asking “how did we get such a huge debt?”, “Why is there such a need for food banks?, why are there so many evils that seem to flourish?….

The context of this question is a storm, a violent storm. The sailors on the boat are each crying out to their own god. They had even thrown out the cargo (their livelihood) as they were so fearful. Jonah was below deck, in a place where there was no action, not seen, asleep. The captain went to him and said “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish.” (Chapter 1:5-6)

When the storm hits it is so easy to be in denial. To shut our eyes and hope it will go away. To not be responsible or engaged in helping keep things afloat. But ultimately people notice if Christians are not there. They are trying to do what they can do to help in the times we are in but it is all hands to the deck including Christians.

When the sailors cast lots to find out who is responsible for the calamity the lot fell on Jonah and this is what they asked him. “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” The sailors are wanting answers for the predicament they find themselves in. Why is it happening?

Jonah answers “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.” The sailors response is they are terrified because they already knew that he was running away from the Lord because he had already told them. They ask “what should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” and Jonah says “pick me up and throw me into the sea”, into where the turbulence and danger is and “it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” He acknowledges that it is his lack of obedience in doing what God had asked him to do that had brought on the storm. How many people have been asked by God to do something and they have run? They have slept? They have hidden themselves from the action?

The sailors threw Jonah overboard and the sea grew calm and because of this the sailors sacrificed to the Lord and made vows to him. God revealed himself to them in the storm, in the shakings, in the questions.

Jonah himself found himself in a place of incarceration in a fish for three days and three nights. This time not below decks. Inside that place of limitation Jonah prayed to God. He then is vomited onto dry land and has a second chance to do what God has asked him too. Jonah obeyed and Ninevah got right with God including the King and his nobles, those in authority. Jonah has to take himself into the dark place and speak the words God had given him.

Jonah has an interesting reaction. He gets angry when God forgives the people of Ninevah and he then has to learn that God cares for all the people in the city and is concerned for their welfare. God cares for the people of the UK and other nations in the world and is concerned for their welfare.

May be as you read this you are like the sailors. You worship other gods and yet you are asking why are these things happening? May be like Jonah you are comfortable and hidden and yet you know there is a storm going on. May be you feel disappointed that Christians have not engaged with what is happening around you or may have made things worse. May be you are a Christian and you have felt you should do something but you have been on the run…. Whatever you believe there is a message here of starting where you are, seeking truth, recognising the storms of life, taking responsibility, not being in denial and not running.