God Does As He Pleases

Too long, please open your Bible Jonah 1h

God is sovereign over creationy

When we read through Jonah, one thing that we must not miss is the continuous reference to God’s rule over the elements of creation:

“The LORD hurled a great wind…there was a great storm…” Jonah 1:4
“The LORD of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land” Jonah 1:9
“The LORD appointed a great fish…” Jonah 1:17
“The LORD commanded the fish…” Jonah 2:10
“The LORD appointed a plant…” Jonah 4:6
“The LORD appointed a worm…” Jonah 4:7

Jonah and Jesus’ storm narratives

Jesus sleeping in the storm

Too long, please open your Bible Mark 4: 35-41

Both are in a boat during a storm
Both are asleep during the storm
Both are awakened by fearful sailors/disciples
Both storms cease after divine intervention

As part of Mark’s strategy to present the divinity of Jesus, we have this commentary on the disciples’ reaction after calming the storm.

They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Mark 4:41

Jesus walking on the storm

Too long, please open your Bible Matthew 14: 22-23

Parallels

Both involve a sea journey where God demonstrates power over water.
Both feature frightened sailors (disciples in Jesus’ case).
Both events reveal God’s sovereignty over nature.
Both involve someone sinking but eventually saved by God/Jesus

God is sovereign over idols

…O Lord, have done as You have pleased.”
Jonah 1:14

This statement can be found in two Psalms, and it is interesting that in both psalms, the psalmist distinguishes between Yahweh and idols. It seems like an intentional effort to help us see the current scenario; pagan (idol-worshipping) sailors recognizing God’s sovereignty over their gods who failed them when they prayed.

Too long, please open your Bible Psalm 115

Too long, please open your Bible Psalm 135

We also have Jonah’s statement in chapter 2.

Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. Jonah 2:8

God is sovereign over Jonah’s disobedience

We see that the prophet’s disobedience was God’s means for the conversion of the pagan sailors. All through scripture, we see God working out His purpose (even with evil) without doing any injustice to man’s free will.

Too long, please open your Bible Genesis 45: 4-8; 50: 16-21

Too long, please open your Bible Jeremiah 29: 1,4

Bible Gateway Psalm 104 (CSB)