Jonah 1: 1 – 17
Sounds Fishy To Me
1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. 4 But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load.[a] But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” 7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” 9 So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. 11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous. 12 And 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 this great tempest is because of me.” 13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, “We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows. 17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
As we begin to study the book of Jonah, it would benefit us greatly to review a little background. In the book of 2 Kings chapter 14 we read this, “23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, became king in Samaria, and reigned forty-one years. 24 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. 25 He restored the territory of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which He had spoken through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet who was from Gath Hepher.”
From this Scripture we can deduce certain facts;
1. Jeroboam II became king around 793 BC
2. Jonah preceded the prophet Amos
3. Jonah’s dad was a prophet
4. He grew up in a town called Gath Hepher. We read in the book of Joshua chapter 19 that this place was part of the tribe of Zebulon. It was several miles NE of Nazareth, as you know from your bibles is where our Lord and Savior grew up.
When you look up Jonah’s name you will find most likely that his name means – ‘Dove’ For the life of me what could the name ‘dove’ have anything to do with this book. If you read however, the book of Hosea chapter 7 we find this information, “11 “ Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without sense— they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12 Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them; I will bring them down like birds of the air; I will chastise them according to what their congregation has heard. 13 “ Woe to them, for they have fled from Me! Destruction to them, because they have transgressed against Me! Though I redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against Me.”
Now read this over again. It sounds a little about Jonah;
1. A silly dove
2. Without sense
3. God will spread His net to capture them
4. He will bring them down
5. He will chastise
6. They fled from Him
7. Destruction to them
8. They transgressed against Him.
9. He redeemed them
10. They spoke lies against Him
I didn’t know a dove could be ‘silly’. Jonah’s action was silly. He was without common sense to think that he could flee from God. Our Precious Father Who Is Love will chasten His own in order to get us back in line with what He wants for our lives. When we transgress by failing to obey Him, He will take whatever measures He needs to take to trap us from our own silly ways. When we do not represent Him as we are suppose to in effect we are a walking lie. We talk the right talk but do not walk the right walk. After we have learned our lesson the hard way He loving redeems us back to Himself. Thank you Father.
It is amazing how now believers are so skeptical of the miracle of Jonah being swallowed by a fish. This is not the only miracle in this little book. Let me list them;
1. Our Holy Master not allowing Jonah to flee
2. The storm
3. The sailors determining it was due to God and not natural and that Jonah was responsible
4. The storm ceases immediately
5. The sailors all converting to worship the One and True God
6. The Great fish being in the exact location
7. Jonah being preserved
8. The great fish spewing Jonah on dry land
9. The entire city of people repenting of their sins
10. The plant springing up next to Jonah
11. The placement of a worm
12. The unique wind
Our Holy Master and King gives credence to the validity of this book as He uses it as a reference in His remarks as the Gospel of Matthew chapter 12 points out, “40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.” Yes, indeed the One beyond greater than Jonah was in their midst and they were blind to see Him.
I just also want to mention that the most important day of the Jewish calendar is the Day of Atonement. There are many books in which God could have the people review on this special day. Guess which book He chose? Yes, it is the book of Jonah. Why? It is interesting that this day is one for reflection on one’s life and how they stand in their relationship to Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High. In the book of Jonah the main message is the gracious willingness of God to respond to mankind’s repentance no matter from what race they may come from.
So, having given you all this preliminary information let us look at the book of Jonah,
1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”
In verses one and two we read about how our Great God Adoni Yahweh came and delivered His Word and Will to the prophet. Wouldn’t it be great if our Precious Lord would also give us similar directions? That way we wouldn’t keep making the wrong choices in life that we do. The best way to guide our lives is to keep close to our Lord in prayer and reading of His Word. When we do that then in many cases He will help us make the right decisions. I love this passage from the prophet Isaiah in chapter 42, “16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.”
The message to Jonah was designed by our Wonderful God to point out His Judgment against evil and wickedness. The leader of these crimes was the nation of Assyria. It’s principal city was Nineveh. Please note the words, ‘that great city.’ In the book of Genesis chapter 10 we read, “11 From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city).”
Nineveh was made up of four large cities and was seen as one. Nimrod was the leader responsible for building these cities.
These people were vicious toward other people. We read in the book of Nahum some of their atrocities;
Nahum 2, 1 Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery. Its victim never departs. 2 The noise of a whip and the noise of rattling wheels, of galloping horses, of clattering chariots! 3 Horsemen charge with bright sword and glittering spear. There is a multitude of slain, a great number of bodies, countless corpses— they stumble over the corpses— 4 Because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot, the mistress of sorceries, who sells nations through her harlotries, and families through her sorceries. 5 “ Behold, I am against you,” says the LORD of hosts; “ I will lift your skirts over your face, I will show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame. 6 I will cast abominable filth upon you, make you vile, and make you a spectacle. 7 It shall come to pass that all who look upon you will flee from you, and say, ‘ Nineveh is laid waste! Who will bemoan her?’ Where shall I seek comforters for you?” 8 Are you better than No Amon that was situated by the River, that had the waters around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the sea? 9 Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was boundless; Put and Lubim were your helpers. 10 Yet she was carried away, she went into captivity; Her young children also were dashed to pieces at the head of every street; they cast lots for her honorable men, and all her great men were bound in chains. 11 You also will be drunk; You will be hidden; you also will seek refuge from the enemy. 12 All your strongholds are fig trees with ripened figs: If they are shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater. 13 Surely, your people in your midst are women! The gates of your land are wide open for your enemies; Fire shall devour the bars of your gates. 14 Draw your water for the siege! Fortify your strongholds! Go into the clay and tread the mortar! Make strong the brick kiln! 15 There the fire will devour you, the sword will cut you off; It will eat you up like a locust. Make yourself many—like the locust! Make yourself many— like the swarming locusts! 16 You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of heaven. The locust plunders and flies away. 17 Your commanders are like swarming locusts, and your generals like great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges on a cold day; When the sun rises they flee away, and the place where they are is not known. 18 Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria; Your nobles rest in the dust. Your people are scattered on the mountains, and no one gathers them. 19 Your injury has no healing, your wound is severe. All who hear news of you will clap their hands over you, for upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?
So, having received the direct word from the Lord, His faithful servant went and did all that he was instructed, right?
3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
No, he went in the other direction.
Joppa is about 50 miles Southwest of Jonah’s hometown. Tar shish was probably near Spain which at this time was the ‘end of the earth.’
The question to ask is, ‘why did he do this?’ Not to keep us in suspense or in the dark our Lord gives us Jonah’s reason in chapter 4, “1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.”
Jonah wanted these people destroyed. Yet he knew how Great and Merciful our God Is. Jonah was afraid that his message from God would be believed by the people and they would be spared. So, he hopped on the first ship out of Dodge.
Before I leave this verse let me mention one more thing. The book of Jonah points out that the God of the Jews is our God also. He is willing to add many sheep to His fold if they will humbly want to be part of His flock. In the world there were two types of people Jews and Gentiles. Here the Lord was reaching out to Gentiles. In the New Testament we read of another action by our Holy God to reach the Gentiles and it dealt with Joppa. In the book of Acts chapter 10 we read, “ 1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” 7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. 17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. 18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. 20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” 21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” 23 Then he invited them in and lodged them.
On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?” 30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
Some so called scholars teach that this passage refers to us being allowed to eat ham. That is not was this Scripture is teaching. Look at verse 34 again. Here Peter has now learned the reason for his vision. It was talking not about eating all kinds of forbidden food. It was allowing the forbidden people [Gentiles] into God’s family.
So, how do we get away from God? The answer is – we can’t! He Is The All Knowing God. Just think about this fact, there is nothing that He doesn’t know. Look with me at Psalm 139, “1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. 5 You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. 19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.20 For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain.21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
4 But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.
One place I do not want to be is on a ship during a storm. People who make their livelihood on the seas are use to storms. But once in awhile they come across a storm so serious that even they will become fearful. This storm was so bad it looked as though the ship would smash to smithereens. Fearing that they were too laden down with cargo the sailors threw the merchandise overboard into the sea in order to lighten the ship to out run the storm. It didn’t work.
It appears that Jonah has made God angry but that is not the case. Our Holy Father will use even storms in order to further His Love in which we will see shortly. There are two incidents with storms that I want to highlight. The first is from the Gospel of Matthew chapter 14, “22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
Our Lord Jesus had just fed thousands of people. As a result they wanted to proclaim Him as their king because He provided them with food. Our rotten politicians have used the motto, ‘a chicken in every pot’ to entice people to vote for them and take care of them. Our Magnificent King knew that the disciples were better off in the storm that falling prey to envious self satisfaction crowds.
The other Scripture passage is from the book of Acts which I know you are familiar with. In Acts chapter 27,” 9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there . 13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. 15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrti] Sands , they struck sail and so were driven. 18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. 20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us , all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 However, we must run aground on a certain island.” 27 Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea , about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land. 28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off. 33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. 36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. 37 And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship. 38 So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea. 39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 40 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. 41 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.42 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.”
As in the life of Jonah the Lord’s deliverance had significant impact upon those who were there with Paul. The result of this difficulty resulted in the Salvation of many.
Before leaving these verses in Jonah, I want to point out one more thing. Look at what happens when you try to go it alone without the Lord. Look at these passages,
Jonah 1, “But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”
Jonah 2, “I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God.
Notice the downward spiral. His last, ‘went down’ was to the very gates of Sheol. Instead of going down in your life – go up. There is an old saying, ‘he is so Heavenly minded that he is no earthly good.” That is not correct. If you keep your eyes on heaven than you will be earthly good.
Please look at the reaction of the mariners. These were veteran seamen and had never experienced a storm like this one. So, what did they do? They cried out to the only gods they knew for deliverance. They say there are not atheists in foxholes. When you are facing death somehow you can get quite religious. Here we have experience sailors in panic and the only one who wasn’t a pro was doing what? He was down in the hold fast asleep. Rock a bye baby. This didn’t go over well with the captain. Look at his action.
6 So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” 7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
Note that the shipmaster ordered Jonah to also call on ‘his’ God. With everyone crying out perhaps they could implore the right god for deliverance.
When they did not see any relief from the storm then they became more desperate. They decided that the storm had to be the result of one of them angering a god. So, what is with this casting of lots? Is it good or bad?
People are always wanting to make the right decisions, do you agree? Our Lord took this into consideration when he placed on the High Priest the Urim and Thumim. No one knows exactly what they were but if a king came to the High Priest to ask God a yes or no question, the High Priest would reach into his robe and pull out one of these objects that signified a yes or no. Here is a example from the book of 2 Samuel chapter 5, “17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.” 20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away. 22 Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 24 And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 25 And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.”
The casting of lots later became a way similar to see if you made the right choice. After Judas hung himself the apostles did this to choose a replacement at the book of Acts informs us, “15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘ Let his dwelling place be desolate,and let no one live in it’; and, ‘ Let another take his office.’21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
I know, I know, I haven’t answered the question is it wrong to do this? My answer is, ‘it is not wrong.’ For I know this as a fact as taught is the book of Proverbs, chapter 16, “33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” Our Precious Holy Master controls everything so He will always control all outcomes. In the book of Romans chapter 8 we can depend on our Holy Spirits advice, in that, “28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
I would add this point though, and it is this. If you have a real problem with gambling then ‘all bets are off.’ Please excuse the pun. If you have a problem with this as an addiction and it has a control of you, stay away from any type of gambling.
One more point before I move on. Some people will say that Matthias was not the right apostle picked by God to make the twelfth. Really, take a look at the book of Acts chapter 2 which says;
37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Please note that Matthias was already picked as the twelfth apostle. Now in chapter 2 we read that all the apostles were doing these acts. Our Precious and Wonderful Holy Ghost does not say to us that the rightful 11 apostles and Matthias were doing theses things, but He acknowledges Matthias as legitimate.
8 Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” 9 So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. 11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous. 12 And 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 this great tempest is because of me.” 13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, “We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You.”
Now that they had found the culprit they wanted an answer as to what did he do to make all this terrible storm conditions happen? They wanted to know Who was the God that was causing this storm. That is why they asked him for details as to what was his occupation, nationality, and what country did he come from.
Jonah told them, ““I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”
Jonah had told them that he was fleeing from the Creator of the sea. Look at their reactions to hearing this, “.” 10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.”
Wrong God to anger Jonah, the Creator God of the seas.
Jonah had said that he was an active servant of the Lord, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven.’ His actions contradicted his testimony. Is this not also true of many of us, who say that they are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ yet live as if they did not know Him? Look at our Master’s words as spoken to us in the book of John Chapter 14,” 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
The sailors noticed that the storm was growing in its menacing fury so they asked him how they could pacify Jonah’s God. His answer was something that we would not assign to our Holy and Great God. Sure, pagan gods wanted human sacrifice but our Wonderful God Is a God of Mercy and Grace and does not want human sacrifice. I think this is why the sailors did everything possible to avoid doing this to Jonah. They had never experienced a storm like this. Jonah’s God was a Real God and they reverenced Him more than Jonah had claimed to. Doesn’t it just make you feel small if you have an unbeliever show more faith in our Great God then we do. Please forgive us Holy Father.
They became converts without Jonah having to give any message. Our God doesn’t need us to covert people. He allows us to be part of His Great work. If you think it is because of your great faithfulness, knowledge, or skill in evangelizing, think again.
When all attempts had failed the sailors cried out to Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High, to forgive them from what they were about to do – throw Jonah overboard.
15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows.
Do you see this miracle? It is before the great fish. The storm instantly ceased. 30 to 40 foot waves immediately calm to a ripple. You can just imagine the look on the sailors faces. Look at what they immediately do, ‘and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows.’ We do not know what kind of sacrifice they made or what type of vows they made but I am sure they were quite significant like dedicating their lives to the Lord.
We read in the New Testament how the Creator God, our Lord Yeshua had taught His disciples a similar bible lesson as we read in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 8, “23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Now to the controversial miracle. The Lord had prepared or ordered a great fish to swallow Jonah in order to save him. Please note that it does not say, ‘ a whale’. All the children bible stories are feeding our kids the wrong story when they give this information out. Maybe this is a cause as to why others fail to believe this incident as actually occurring.
Remember how our Heavenly Father, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Sea and Land, and all its inhabitants had made the ocean calm. I like to picture the sailors staring at Jonah treading in the water. One of the sailors cries out – ‘Shark!’ They all stare in shock at the large fin that heads in Jonah’s direction.
Now I want to share a real fish story. I was a Postmaster in Warminster, Pennsylvania when one of my employees told me an unbelievable fish story. I told them that I did not believe his story. So, a few days later the man brought in photos which verified his story.
My employee was a volunteer fireman in Warminster. A couple of his buddies when shark fishing off Wildwood, New Jersey. They had a 16 foot boat. They were goofy guys. They had taken with them a good supply of beer and food for their seafaring adventure. The four fisherman had managed to catch a 14 foot shark and had shot it. They managed to tie the great fish on the side of their boat. One had a camera and was taking a photo of their great catch. While they were patting themselves on the back, one of the guys in great fear shouted, ‘Let’s get out of here.’ The others looked in his direction. He pointed to the water where they could see a large fin and a huge shadow underneath it. They tried to cut he lines that held the dead shark to their boat, but it was too late. The great white shark had come up and was ripping the bloody dead shark. Our famous photographer was still snapping away. The great white threw the 4 off their feet but fortunately not into the water. They struggled to continue to cut the lines while the shark was feeding on the dead shark. They were bobbing up and down like a cork in the water. Finally, they cut the dead shark loose. One guy started the engine and gunned the boat toward shore. Now this was in the summer time so you can imagine all the bathers in the shallows of the beach. They didn’t care who they ran over, they just wanted to get to land.
The life guards spotted the approaching boat and got the bathers out of harms way. The local police were there to arrest our fishermen.
In jail our 4 firemen were quite hysterical. At first the local authorities just deemed them under the influence of alcohol. Their saving grace was when the one produced his camera.
The results of studying the photos, which I saw, were that it was about a twenty five foot great white shark that they had come into contact with. The oceanographers who studied the photos revealed that the 4 adventures were lucky that they had cut the dead shark loose because the great white could have easily pulled their boat with them on board to the bottom of the ocean.
Needless to say these four guys gave up on ever wanting to go fishing in the ocean again.
We will pick up in chapter 2 of Jonah’ experience with the great fish Was is also a great white? I do not know but we know that it was a fish big enough to swallow him whole.
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