What’s the difference between a cow and a bison? This may seem like a silly question or the start to a joke, but the answer is fascinating. In the Northwest, ranchers deal with massive snowstorms that roll in each winter. These storms highlight a major difference between cows and bison. You see, when a snowstorm comes, cows will try to “outrun” the storm. In trying to run away from the storm, they often spend more time in the storm, and many of them die if the ranchers do not intervene. However, the bison reacts to these storms in a completely different way. Instead of running away from the storm, they face it head-on. In doing so, the storms blow right by them, and they spend a fraction of the time suffering compared to the cow.
What is the point? Like the bison, when we are faced with something difficult, we need to face it head-on. If we try to run away like the cow, we only prolong suffering or make something harder than it should have been. This was a lesson the prophet Jonah had to learn the hard way. God instructed Jonah to do something difficult. In Jonah 1:1- 2, God sends Jonah to preach to the people of Ninevah. The city of Nineveh was wicked, making this task extremely difficult. What did Jonah do? He tried to outrun the storm, and he tried to outrun God’s will. He acted like the cow in our illustration. Therefore, God sent a storm upon the boat Jonah was on, and after being thrown overboard, the prophet spent three days and three nights in the belly of a great fish (Jonah 1:17). In Jonah 3, God asks Jonah again to preach to the people of Nineveh. This time, Jonah faces this difficult task, and the city repents. If Jonah had faced this task head-on the first time, he would have never had to spend three days in the slimy, smelly belly of a fish.
Brothers and sisters, the life of a Christian comes with its storms. Do not try to run; face these challenges head-on. If you have sin in your life, deal with it now (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 1 John 1:5- 10). If you are being persecuted for your faith, face it with joy and steadfastness (James 1:2-4). If you have opportunity to share the gospel with someone, no matter how difficult you believe the task will be, teach (Matthew 28:18-20). Where are you running? Away from the storms in fear, or towards them in faith? May we always run towards the storm because, like the bison, we will find rest and peace on the other side (Revelation 21:1-7).
-Bryce Mayfield