Weather has always been one of the great challenges for mankind. The stories in the Bible chronicle the struggles against the elements and how God at times used the weather to help develop the spiritual loyalty of his followers. For example, in the story of Jonah, God asserts his power over this troublesome young prophet by using weather.

The story starts with God wanting him to go to a place called Nineveh to preach for the peoples' repentance, as they had committed horrific acts of crime and violence against the people of Israel. The Ninevites did not believe in the Israelites' God, and the Lord wanted Jonah to advise that the only way to escape God's judgement is for them to repent their sins. But because of the way the Ninevites had treated the Israelites, Jonah was scared of going near these people - so in his fear he ran away.

In Jonah's attempt to escape from the Lord he joined a ship bound for Tarshish. It is on this ship that God conjures up a storm to demonstrate his anger at Jonah's disobedience. The storm was so fierce that it threatened to break up the ship and drown everyone on board. The sailors were so petrified of their pending doom that all of them prayed for mercy from their own gods.

Whilst the storm was raging, Jonah went below deck and fell asleep because he knew that the storm was only raised by God to get at him; and as he was ignoring God, he ignored the storm as well. When the sailors found Jonah sleeping below deck they were astounded that, unlike them, he was not praying for mercy from his god.

When Jonah remained calm and composed, the sailors questioned Jonah about what he had done to create this storm. He admitted that he was running away from God and advised the sailors that the only way to stop the storm and save their own lives was to throw him overboard. But the sailors could not bear to throw a man into the furious waves to die, and instead tried their best to row back to the shore.

However, God did not want Jonah to get away with his disobedience so easily, so he made it impossible for the sailors to row by arousing stronger winds, thunder and lightning and brought great waves to sweep over the ship. The weather conditions were so violent and unrelenting, and the boat was so battered and broken, that in the end they had no choice but to throw Jonah over the side of the boat into the raging sea.

Soon after, the storm stopped and the sea became calm. Whilst the un-repentant Jonah was sinking in the sea, God sent a big whale to swallow him up and save him from drowning. Jonah spent three days and three nights inside the whale's stomach contemplating his future. Finally God realised that Jonah was sorry for running away, and made the whale spit him up onto the shore.

Once back on dry land, Jonah fulfilled God's request and went to Nineveh to preach repentance. In this story we see how God uses the weather to assert his power. When the sailors were praying to their different gods, it illustrates that many people believed that these natural occurrences were of some higher significance; which displays the power of God. It also illustrates that God was the only god that could answer their prayers and abate the storm - perhaps to make the point that Jonah's god was the only god.

After Jonah was thrown into the sea, the heathen sailors so feared God that they offered sacrifices and made vows. The storm also demonstrates God's capacity for mercy. The Lord could have let Jonah drown in the tempestuous ocean as the result of his disobedience, but instead he spares his life.

The Bible, as well as other religious or spiritual writings, often teaches us lessons through God's manipulation of the weather. God's feelings towards earth and its people are often reflected in the state of the weather. The Lord especially uses bad weather to gain man's attention and make his authority known.

Related Links:

- Drought and Famine
- Moses
- Noah