I have had this picture in my collection for some time, but it wasn't until just a few moments ago that I realized what it meant to me. For a long time I have been just looking at the beautiful sky and the marvelous reflection in the water. Make no mistake; it is beautiful!!! But today, I focused my attention on the mist. Funny, but it reminded me of the "sweet spot" that Earth occupies in the universe. If our planet was closer, it would be too hot for life and if farther, then too cold. Just right! God makes things "just right"!!! This makes sense; as the creator of the universe, he does what he pleases. Believe it or not, this led to a chapter from the book of Jonah, which is listed below...
World English Bible: Jonah Chapter 1
[1] Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, [2] “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.”
[3] But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. [4] But Yahweh sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty storm on the sea, so that the ship was likely to break up. [5] Then the mariners were afraid, and every man cried to his god. They threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone down into the innermost parts of the ship, and he was laying down, and was fast asleep. [6] So the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God! Maybe your God will notice us, so that we won’t perish.”
[7] They all said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know who is responsible for this evil that is on us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. [8] Then they asked him, “Tell us, please, for whose cause this evil is on us. What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country? Of what people are you?”
[9] He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear Yahweh, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land.”
[10] Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “What is this that you have done?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of Yahweh, because he had told them. [11] Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may be calm to us?” For the sea grew more and more stormy. [12] He said to them, “Take me up, and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will be calm for you; for I know that because of me this great storm is on you.”
[13] Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not, for the sea grew more and more stormy against them. [14] Therefore they cried to Yahweh, and said, “We beg you, Yahweh, we beg you, don’t let us die for this man’s life, and don’t lay on us innocent blood; for you, Yahweh, have done as it pleased you.” [15] So they took up Jonah, and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased its raging. [16] Then the men feared Yahweh exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice to Yahweh, and made vows.
[17] Yahweh prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
God cares for us all, no matter what nationality we are!!! Nineveh was a city hated by the Jews and Jonah did not want to go there when told to. In fact, he went in the opposite direction!!! God directed the sea and it obeyed!! People listened and then when they learned that the creator of the universe was behind their troubles they were "exceedingly afraid"!! Who wouldn't be? We are small insignificant creatures as compared to Almighty God. Imagine the power to stir up the sea or put the whole Earth in just the perfect "sweet spot"? Hopefully it won't take a great fish to get us to listen...? Take one more look at the picture. Its not just beautiful, it has a message and that is God has placed us exactly where we are to accomplish what HE wants us to. And that is not just some "fish story" its real life; its YOUR LIFE!! Still don't get it... read Jonah chapter 2 and see what he did...