Thursday, May 19, 2016

We’ve been looking at Jonah, chapter 1. What a fascinating story. Jonah was a reluctant, and then, a rebellious prophet. While trying to run from God he’s with some terrified pagan sailors on a ship in a stormy sea. Casting lots to find out who is responsible for their dire state the lot fell on Jonah. Questioned by them he stammers out a few words about the God of Israel and acknowledges that he worships Him. That little bit of information caused these sailors to recognize there was something different about the God Jonah was running from over against the gods they were crying out to, to save them. At first, they tried responding to the crisis in their own strength, but finally they realized this was a hopeless situation, so they asked Jonah, “What should we do?” He replied, “Just throw me overboard and everything will be solved. I’m the guilty one.” Finally the sailors cry out to the God of Israel whom they’ve never known before in a personal way. “O Lord, please do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O Lord, have done as you pleased.” What an overstatement. Jonah was not an innocent man. But they didn’t want to do something wrong. In their minds, throwing a man overboard was wrong. They cried out to God for mercy and offered a sacrifice to Him. As you read the closing verses of this chapter, God indeed heard their cry and graciously saved them.