The Titanic and the search for Jonah
It is 100 years since RMSTitanic, a passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, UK to New York City, US. The ship disappeared beneath the waves, causing the death of 1,514 people in one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history. The “unsinkable” RMS Titanic was said to be the largest and safest ship afloat at the time of her maiden voyage – designed to be the ultimate in comfort and luxury, with an on-board gymnasium, swimming pool, libraries, high-class restaurants and the most opulent cabins.
In my reflections on the Titanic … I am drawn to another less known maritime incident with a happier ending. The story of Jonah, God’s man who initially refused to go to a wicked people of Nineveh and preach a curt and unfriendly message they were more likely to mock at …
Jonah 3[4] And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
Many would equally flee to Tarshish if called to deliver such “hate speech” to Ninevites. Jonah probably was not just disinterested in their salvation but also failed to appreciate how the Ninevites would ever respond positively to such a dour crusader … no jokes, no promises to prosper, no chorale, no dance troupe kicking their heels and no happy-ending tale. The trip of vanity to Tarshish was certainly a more practical pursuit …
Who dares preach undiluted truths and messages to the fearfully decadent culture of today? Who has been sent to declare, to advanced civilisations and cultures confident and arrogant in worldliness and debauchery, the words anointed to melt hard errant hearts … causing heads to be covered with sackcloth … and many fast. God, who says “I changeth not” had great mercy on Nineveh even as they believed Him and repented on hearing this “hateful” admonition – much to the surprise and chagrin of Jonah.
The vessel carrying Jonah faced a maritime peril that would have led to loss of potentially over 120,000 lives eventually … but for the admission of Jonah and his volunteering to be punished by being tossed into the sea. But he was God’s servant who God had determined to rescue for the sake of the Ninevites in need of salvation from an imminent judgment. Like Jesus who bore all our sins and had to be in the belly of the earth – the grave for three days .. so that many will be saved.
It is 100 years now and we are still searching for the Jonahs of today. Would a Jonah on the Titanic have made a difference? A discouraged servant of God headed on a luxury trip of vanity no more interested in taking God’s truths to a wicked society that do not look like they would accept it anyway. Would the mercy of God have made a difference … a mercy that interrupted Jonah’s disobedience and preserved him for three days in the belly of a fish only to be vomited on the coast of his assignment? How many thousands suffer today simply because prophets intimidated by the wickedness and culture have retired safely into ease or simply preach a different gospel that does not save – accompanied with hymn singing.
If Jonah had not been compelled to admit his disobedience and be thrown into the sea …eventually to return to Nineveh – an entire city may have perished …plus the souls on the ship … drowned together with a quiet, timid and hardened Jonah .
How many modern day “unsinkable” scenarios await the cry of “in 40 days and it will be destroyed unless you repent” ? Who will proclaim it? Who has been called and helped to be obedient to declare it? Who is still praying for God’s mercy for civilisations?
As new technologies reveal intimate images of the famous Titanic shipwreck … a new revival … a new merciful penetration of the soul is causing the word of God to echo once again …to help us see not just the geographical or historical dimensions but come to worship, fear and honour the God who says “He kills and makes alive” and to be helped to learn from His judgments.
Isaiah 57[13] When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain.”
God help us. There are no unsinkable vessels, ideas, nations, powers, men, women, civilisations, economies, politicians, ministries, corporations etc … as tomorrow’s headlines continually will remind us … “ but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them”
…safety is only of the Lord
