This morning we could look at this passage and talk about:
Running from God
A merciful God (actual theme of the book)
The significance of Jonah’s profession of God (v 9)
God’s call on your life
I don’t want to talk to you about that this morning
Instead, I want to talk to you about the sailors on the ship
Often times we tend to focus on Jonah, but overlook the sailors
These sailors were in the middle of a violent storm that wasn’t their fault
It wasn’t just any storm
Being sailors, they were used to storms at sea
But this one was really bad, this one was different
Often times we endure the storms of life
Some of them we are accustomed to
Financial pressures
Physical ailments
But then there are those storms we can not endure
Those which we think will never end
My question to you this morning is, are you in the middle of a storm that isn’t your fault?
The sailors were throwing their “stuff” overboard
Last week we talked about your stuff
Those things which God has given you to accomplish His plans and purposes in your life
Here we see these sailors throwing over their precious cargo, their livelihood, in order to stay afloat
Personal Jonahs can keep you from using your stuff
They can drag you down, and to keep your head above the water, you throwing away those things that God has given you
Jonah was sleeping deep in the boat (v 5)
Most of the time, the source of storm really isn’t aware that they are the cause
The captain went to Jonah to wake him up
For all Jonah knew this was normal
The captain actually did what Christ said to do in Matthew 5:23-24
“So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” – NLT
Jonah said for the sailors to throw him over
If Jonah knew he was the problem why didn’t he throw himself off?
There are those who know they are a source of turmoil in your life, but they won’t do anything about it
But if they do come to you and ask for forgiveness, forgive them no matter how bad of a storm they may have put you through
“I am warning you! If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him.” – Luke 17:3-4 NLT
The sailors tried to row ashore with Jonah – but they couldn’t make it
If they didn’t throw him off, they’d all go under
You can’t make everybody happy
And if you try, you’re going to be miserable
God arranged for the fish to take care of Jonah
God will take care of your Jonah, but you have got to get him off the boat first
Take your personal Jonah off of your hook and give it to the Lord
There is no doubt in my mind that there is some healing that needs to take place here this morning
If you have a Jonah, slip out from where you are and cast him off your boat and let God take care of it
