So last week we covered the first six verses in the book of Jonah and I had made mention that we at times are much like Jonah in that when God commands us to do something we often at times run from that which He asks.
So this brought about a question, what are you running from? What in scripture has God commanded of you that you like Jonah are running? Because I think we all do at times and we need to pinpoint what that is and stop running from it and do it. We need to repent......
So we start today by these seamen casting lots in order to find out who on the ship is bringing about Gods wrath.
We have seen in scripture before the casting of lots in order that God may provide an answer to a question. It seems to be a common thing. I'm not sure I would count on God responded in this manner today.
7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
It's Jonah the “sleeper” as he was called last week when he was found hiding below ship from the supernatural storm God has brought about.
When it comes time for God to expose who you are in your rebellion to him He will find a way to do this. Our running away solves nothing, if anything you will just make God even more mad and disappointed with you. Even more you may just put others around you in harms way as well.
I have heard some say that there are certain types of sin that don't effect others but just effects the self but I'm not sure that's the case. That storm or that lightning bolt or whatever God decides to use may just afflict harm on others and possibly others you love.
8 Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”
And Jonah responds “Hi I'm Jonah the sleeper and a runner from God” LOL NO
The others are asking questions in the hope that they can figure out what exactly Jonah could have possibly done to bring this upon them.
They may have thought Jonah may not have even known so they took it upon themselves to try and figure it out. But Jonah is well aware of what he has done.
9 And 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.”
Now honestly I find this answer from Jonah a little troublesome. See I don't believe that Jonah feared God at all. If he did he wouldn't have run to begin with.
10 Then the men were 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 the Lord, because he had told them.
It seems these others are more afraid of Jonah's God than Jonah is himself. There is no indication that the even know Jonah's God is but they know Jonah messed up and that his God is making a statement to Jonah to get his attention.
11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”
Basically Jonah is saying kill me, because he could not have expected to live from being thrown overboard. Notice what he didn't say, he didn't say turn the ship back so I can go to Nineveh. Jonah would rather be dead than to go where God told him to go. Jonah has no intention of repenting.
13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.
The grace of these men towards Jonah is shown here because they didn't just automatically throw Jonah over. They decided to fight the storm again and fight as hard as they could to get to shore.
In the face of being wronged by the sin of Jonah they showed grace. They showed grace to someone who they had not known for very long and to someone who had brought harm against them. This says a lot about these men, these were good men.
14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.”
They called out to God because they were conflicted. They didn't want to die for the sins of Jonah yet they didn't want to sin themselves by throwing Jonah overboard to die. But a decision needed to be made.
15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.
Salvation is making a vow to God himself that you will do what you are called upon to do. It is a covenant between an individual and God that you will hold up your end of the covenant and God will of course hold up his end.
How are we doing with that?
