Jonah is fleeing from God and attempting to take a boat to Tarshish. Although Jonah has given up on God, God has not given up on Jonah. Through a series of events orchestrated by God, He begins to get Jonah’s attention. It’s encouraging to know that God is always faithful, even to those who run away. The sailors on Jonah’s boat are caught up in the mess too as the storm rages all around. But even in this God is good and uses it to draw them to himself too. This passage is a great example of Romans 8:28 that God really does use all things for the good of those who love Him!
