“But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.” (Jonah 1:4)
God had spoken to Jonah, but he did not listen. Now God ‘spoke’ in a different way, by hurling a storm upon the sea where Jonah’s ship was sailing away from the Lord’s presence. Sometimes it is necessary for God to intervene in the lives of his children if they don’t listen to His voice. That might hurt. But it is actually God’s grace at work! God could have let Jonah continue on his disastrous way, but He chose to bring him back. He did not bring this storm upon Jonah and the sailors – and probably upon other ships too, – because He enjoyed showing his wrath, but because He wanted Jonah to turn from his evil ways.
Similarly, God speaks about the royal line of David: “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him” (2 Samuel 7:14-15). God disciplines His rebellious children, because He wants them to walk the way of life.
Are you paying attention to God’s will? Or do you also need discipline to get you ‘back on track’?