Jonah 1:1:15-17
Jonah the son of a prophet received the word of the Lord to arise and go to Nineveh, and cry against it “for their wickedness has come before the me.” Jonah, knowing the Lord would grant mercy, if Nineveh repented and turn from their wickedness to Him, went away from the presence of the Lord and fled to Tarshish instead of Nineveh as instructed. The Lord the maker of heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, the one who gathers the wind in His fist, sent out a great wind on the sea and there was mighty tempest on the sea that threaten the lives of every one on the ship.
The sailors cried to their gods in fear, and threw their cargo into the sea to lighten to the load on board, but Jonah oblivious to what was happening around him was fast asleep in the lower part of the deck. The captain of the ship told him to arise and call on his God so they may not perish. Jonah said not a word. The sailors at their wits end, cast lots, to know the root cause of the storm and the lot was cast upon Jonah. The sailor did not know who Jonah was; therefore, they interrogated him to get credential on his occupation, country of origin, his people and the cause of the storm. “It the glory of God to conceal a matter, it the glory of kings to search out a matter.”
Jonah identified himself as a Hebrew, who fears the Lord of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land but he fled from His presence. So the sailor asked Jonah what they should do to calm the storm? Jonah told the sailor to pick him up and throw him into the sea. He knew the Lord would calm the sea, because he measures the sea in the hallow of his hands, for He preserve all things in the sea, and the Lord would incline his ears to him when he call upon Him in time of trouble, the Lord will hear and deliver him. “Those who know your name put their trust in you, for you O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you”
But, the sailors did not want to leave a man behind, so they rowed vigorously to return to the land, but the sea grew more furious against them. In prayer, the sailors sought the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near, and asked Him to not let them perish because of Jonah nor should they be charge for his innocent blood and the Lord should do as he please. After prayers, the sailor picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, exactly what Jonah told them to do, and there was great calm: the Lord who rules the raging of sea and when it waves rises, still them, confirmed the words of His servant. The sailor feared the Lord and offered sacrifice to the Lord and took vows as oppose to Jonah who introduced himself as one who fears the Lord but ran away from His presence. With influence from the law, Jonah loved his neighbor, and hated his enemy, but was yet to comprehend God’s salvation plan for humanity. “And scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham before saying, in you all the nations shall be blessed.”
And you shall seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart
Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you and you shall glorify me.
Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door shall be open to you.
Some went out on the sea in ships; They were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the seawere hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his goodness and his wonderful works to the children of men.
Now the Lord prepared a great fish to swallowed Jonah, a kind of fish that does not digest humans, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, foreshadowing the resurrection of Christ. Jesus said : As Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be three days and three night in the heart of the earth. As oppose to Jonah who was placed in the great fish because of disobedience, Jesus was placed in the heart of the earth, raised from the dead, because of His obedience and this obedience makes many righteous and through His righteous acts many are justified to to have peace with God, saved from the wrath of God and have eternal life. Jesus said :I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sen me”
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand , and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood , we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
Therefore, as through one man's offense judgement came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one man righteous act the free gift came to all, resulting in justification of life.
Jonah 2:1-4
From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. Said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.”
Jonah, even in distressed, was persuaded his spirit couldn’t be separated from the Lord, neither the belly of a fish ,nor the deep of shoel, nor the heart of the seas, could separate him from the love of God. In faith, he sought the Lord and turn toward His Holy temple, a place where His name dwells, and cried for help and the Lord heard his voice. Jonah, who left the presence of the Lord, felt banished from His presence and as he passed through the waters with hope, drew near once more to the Lord in prayer, and the Lord who was and is ready to save, heard him.
Whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple: then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men), that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.
For all the Father gives me will come to Me and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out
Jesus said:My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
Jonah 2:5-10
The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idol turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord. And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
As Jonah, passed through the threats of waters, surrounded by the deep, with seaweed wrapped around his head, he descended to the root of the mountain beneath the earth into the vastness of the sea. As he saw his life ebbed away, surrounded by the pangs of death, knowing shoel cannot thank the Lord, nor death praise Him, and those who go down to the grave cannot hope for truth, Jonah remembered the love of God and turn to Him in prayer, toward His Holy temple, where His name dwells. Relative to the disciple who cried to the Lord ,when straining to row in a storm on the sea, while the Lord walked on the sea and would have passed them by, but Jesus said to them ” It is I; do not be afraid.” so, the disciples willing received Him into the boat and the immediately the boat was at land.
Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you are mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with you, and through the rivers , they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy one of Israel, your savior.
Jesus said: Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life.
And it shall come to pass, what whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved
God rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved Jonah, even though he was dead in his trespasses made him alive, raised him up from the pit. With shouts of praise, from the fruits of his lips, Jonah offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord our savior, who holds the keys to hades and death, the judge of the living and the dead for graciously preserving his life among the living.
Jonah proclaimed salvation is God’ s initiative, it is of the Lord, in His love and never ending mercies, He seek to save whoever He chooses or those He chooses before the foundation of the world to have eternal life: for God desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth.” It is by grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works least anyone should boast.”
God who has the power to save everyone who believes . He save the pagan sailors from a shipwreck when they call upon Him in time of trouble and He also save Jonah life from the deep, to make know His truth to all men, God desires all men to be saved. Both the sailors and Jonah call upon the name of the Lord and they were saved-for it is only the living, the living man shall praise the Lord. Jesus said: This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that all He has given Me I should not lose nothing, but raised him up at the last day. “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Pause& think
- Why was Jonah reluctant to go to Nineveh?
- How did Jonah disobedience led both the sailors and Jonah to experience to God’s grace?
- Does God hear non believer’s prayers ?
- Why did the sailor throw Jonah into the sea after prayers?
- How did God demonstrate His sovereignty to Jonah and the sailors?