Jonah 1:10-14 (timely)

Jonah 1:10-14

1:10 - Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, "How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.

Often times, we are witnesses against ourselves and when the check comes due, the world stands in amazement at how uncaring we have acted. If only Jonah had repented earlier or not even run from God, then the sailors would never had been in danger and dumped all that cargo.

1:11 - So they said to him, “What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy.

Even when the cause of the situation is revealed, there is still the matter of what to do about resolving it.

1:12 - He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.”

Even when we acknowledge our sin, we often are reluctant to do anything about it! Jonah could have fallen on his knees, repented of running away, and sought God's forgiveness; God probably would have calmed the seas and allowed the ship to return to Joppa.

But Jonah was not willing to do so, therefore, he had the sailors throw him overboard to an almost certain death rather than be obedient to God's will. We too, bring more of God's discipline upon ourselves when we refuse to turn from our own will to His.

1:13 - However, the men rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them.

Man will never win in a fight against God's will. God's will reigns supreme; we can either go along with it or be crushed by it.

1:14 -  Then they called on the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased.”

Isn't it ironic that the pagans align themselves with God's will before the prophet of God does. How many times are we like Jonah in the stubbornness of our hearts.

Paragraph summary

We often put quite a bit of effort in our running from God's will. Sometimes the people around us will help us in our running by providing justifications or reasons not to do god's will. By attempting to row themselves out of the storm, the sailors were only reinforcing Jonah's poor decision to run. But, as in all things, God's will eventually wins out.