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Humpback Whale Peak Season! This is something to get excited about if you plan to visit Hawaii between February – March. Whales, however, can be sighted in Hawaiian waters as early as October or November after traveling 3,500+ miles from Alaska. However, rarely can you count on seeing them until February-March. These humpback whales are one of the few marine mammals that divers and snorkelers are likely to see while in Hawaii. They tend to stay near shore in relatively shallow water, thus increasing the chances of seeing them.
So of course, I packed my binoculars for a trip back in 2013 with the high hopes of getting a glimpse of one of these massive animals – females can reach up to 60 feet in length! Yes, my ultimate would be to witness one of these beautiful creatures propel fully up and out of the water- breaching. I had seen some spouting from afar and some tails from a distance, but I desired to see the full body emerge from the ocean…. you know, a WOW moment! I would have to stay on watch and pay attention.
What was interesting to me was that while on this particular stay I had enjoyed a conversation with a server at one of the restaurants we dined in during our stay in Maui. My husband and I enjoy the water and snorkeling is one of our favorite things to do, especially when the water is warmer. We asked this kind lady where she thought the best spots might be to snorkel. We appreciated her sharing some of her favorite places with us. She had experienced opportunity to see spectacular things beneath the ocean’s surface – yes, even the green sea turtles! But the one fascinating comment that stuck in my mind was that she mentioned that we should listen for the sounds of the whales while we snorkeled.
Now, I wouldn’t have even thought about listening for whales underwater. Usually all I hear once I submerge my face into the water is my breath and maybe my husband’s obstructed grunts to get my attention to notice something he sees under the surface that my attention has not been diverted to. So I was intrigued because the idea that the ocean is so vast and large and we might be able to hear whales from way off the shore was enough to keep these ears open for the possibility. Would I even know what their noises sounded like to notice them or would they be muffled? I wished that I would have had that information from the beginning of the trip and had been listening from the start, for I did not get to hear those sounds that she told us about during the few days I had left back in the winter of 2013– those whale songs.
This so captured me heart as I thought about how God created these incredible, large creatures as well. They have their own ways of communicating with one another...yes sound! I had to check out recordings of their sounds underwater on the internet on the Pacific Whale Foundation site so that I could listen to them! Oh, what our ears can hear when they want to! I’m so grateful that I have ears to hear and know that I will need to continually trust Jesus to help me become a better listener as I walk with Him. Much is said about how important it is in our relationships with others to not only hear them, but to just really listen to what they are saying before we speak. The more I processed thoughts on listening my attention was drawn to remember God’s words in Luke 9:35 – "This is my son, my chosen one, listen to him." How privileged we are that we can listen to, hear from, and speak to almighty God. Anybody else out there just flat out thankful for this?!
But again, these whales also brought to mind the Bible story of Jonah because I was captivated by their size and perhaps the idea of seeing one up close drew me to that place. So of course I read the account in the book of Jonah 1 to delight myself in the story to bring it fresh! It doesn’t matter how many times we read it does it?! The word speaks every time we read. You see, Jonah wasn’t looking to see a whale like I was – God would use a whale to swallow him live to get his attention though (or actually it says a large fish, which makes it easier for us to visualize if we think about the size of a potential 60 ft. whale)! Jonah 1:1 says that word of God came to Jonah. It doesn’t say how the word necessarily came to Jonah, but we understand that Jonah heard Him and understood the Lord’s instructions to go to Nineveh and preach against it. However, Jonah ran away from God – yep, the opposite way. He ended up on a ship sailing toward Tarshish with some sailors and the sea grew rough. These sailors grew afraid and called out to their gods. The captain finds Jonah below deck and asks him how he could sleep. He demanded he call on his God. They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah so they asked him to tell them who was responsible for their trouble, for fear rose as the waves grew fierce. Jonah tells them that he is Hebrew and that he worships the Lord, the God of heaven who made the sea and the land. This frightened them more, and of course they asked him what he had done.
As the storm worsened, they ask Jonah what they should do to make the sea calm down. Take note of this... Jonah takes responsibility for the calamity and confesses to these men that he is the one at fault for the storm (that word of the Lord must have come to mind). Jonah then instructs them to throw him overboard. Can you imagine the sailor’s response? These men worshipped their own gods, but didn’t want to commit murder so what do they do? They cried out to the Lord begging Him to not let them die for taking the man’s life. The second part of their cry was – oh Lord, have done what you please. Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard and the sea grew calm. I would say they had a WOW moment- yes, one that would give you goosebumps and more! God had their attention and because of what they witnessed these men greatly feared the Lord and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to Him.
Wait though…Jonah experienced the frightful event of being tossed into the raging sea. The Lord was not finished with Jonah, for it says that the Lord provided a large whale to swallow Jonah instead of allowing him to die in the ravaging sea. Here again, the Lord used a dramatic way to get Jonah’s attention – His goal is to always make Himself known to all. Jonah remained in the belly of this whale for 3 days and 3 nights. I can hardly imagine what that was like, but I believe it and don’t look to science to try to explain it. When I read the prayer that is recorded in Jonah 2, I feel we get a peek into Jonah’s heart. This prayer spoke to my heart as I’m working on a much deeper prayer life with the Lord currently. What about you? Notice the gratitude expressed here that is absolutely beautiful…his prayer being a song of thanksgiving to the Lord. Jonah’s stubborn attitude changed. And yes, he would hear from the Lord again – the story continues on in the book of Jonah! I leave you with the prayer that Jonah prayed. Perhaps it will stir you to write one yourself?
Jonah 2: 1-9 “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.” I said, “I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple. The engulfing waters threatened me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God. When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.” Jonah 2: 10 – And the Lord commanded the fish (whale), and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Marvel at that! Is the Lord speaking with you today? What is He asking of you? Will you listen for Him today? Will He have your attention to watch for His work in your life this day?
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