Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet-8

Introduction: At the end of the last lesson, we were left to understand that Jonah by His own admission and God’s revealing was implicated in the cause of this great Tempest. It is in this lesson that we will find the advisement of Jonah, as well as the casting forth of Jonah into the sea.

Text: Jonah 1:11-17

C. The Cause Of This Evil v8-12

The Accusations v8

The Answers v9

The Alarm v10,11

4. The Advice v12

Remember in verse 11 the Mariners were trying to figure out what to do.

Their question, signaling their alarm was, “What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us?”

Jonah replies here in verse 12 with his advice.

v12 “And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.”

Much has been said concerning this statement from Jonah.

One expositor stated that surely Jonah must have been told by God for him to be cast in the sea.

Another stated, that Jonah determined to take his own life and therefore asked to be cast in the sea.

Though we may not know all that was going through Jonah’s mind at this moment, we can see the beginning of Jonah’s path to submitting to God.

In the advice from Jonah, we can see the turning of Jonah to accept punishment for his disobedience.

[Jonah] “... is a specimen of true repentance, which leads the penitent to “accept the punishment of his iniquity” (Le 26:41, 43), and to be more indignant at his sin than at his suffering.”

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 684). Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The word that Jonah uses in this passage to “cast him forth” is the same word used in verse 4 where the Bible says the Lord “sent out a great wind into the sea...”

And so, from this we can see the earnestness in the action that Jonah was advising the sailors to take.

Repentance is characterized not only by asking forgiveness, but by a willingness to accept judgement.

Certainly, Jonah being cast into the sea would result in his death.

Illustration:

I am reminded of the few times that I have heard about an individual going over the side of the bridge tunnel here locally or over the Chesapeake bay bridge and unfortunately it does not often turn out well.

According to a Virginian Pilot article, of the sixteen tractor-trailer occurences on the CBBT only two have survived.

This is due to the conditions of the water and the availability of rescue.

https://www.pilotonline.com/ask/article_07581a34-5d4b-11e9-b86d-83ef6551ec89.html

In Jonah’s case, there is no rescue scenario intended and we further understand according to the text that the waters were turbulent.

Not only do we see Jonah’s repentance in his willingness to accept judgement.

But secondly notice also, in this advice we see a type foreshadowing the Lord’s sacrifice for us.

Jonah is willing to sacrifice himself for the lives of those in the ship.

Notice again what Jonah states, “v12 “And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.”

It reminds us of the prophecy of Caiaphas the High Priest who said in John 11:50 that one should die for the sake of the people, the nation of Israel

The Bible says in John 11:49-51, “And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;”

We understand that the Lord Jesus Christ gave His life for us.

In Matthew 20:28 the Bible says, “28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

And so, even in this text we see a pointing forward to our Lord Jesus and another connection from Jonah to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thirdly, I want us to see the admission of guilt given here by Jonah.

Notice the last part of verse 12, “… for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.”

If we are guilty of bringing others into trouble by our lack of faithfulness to God, don’t let us add sin to sin by denying it.

Smith, J., & Lee, R. (1971). Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII (five-volume edition, Vol. 10, p. 43). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

The right response that you I should give in the midst of our guilt is first to agree with God concerning our sin.

I John 1:8,9 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Additionally, our right response should be honesty and truthfulness with those we have brought into calamity with us.

You see

Contriteness and brokenness brings us to a place where God can help us, whereas pridefulness and denial separate us from our Lord.

Psalm 34:18 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contriteand humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

Illustration: A few years ago the great steamship Austria, crowded with emigrants, was burned far out at sea, and only a few of the passengers were saved. Of these some afterwards published reports of the terrible event. One thrilling narrative was from the pen of a young man who had sunk very low in debauchery, frivolity, and scorn of all higher things. And this is what he said of himself: “I do not understand the ways of the Eternal; but I do know this, that it needed a terrible catastrophe to awaken me from my deathlike sleep. Nothing less than such awful event would have driven me from the path of ruin; and in the midst of all the frightful agony of the scene, an inward voice seemed to say to me, ‘This is all for your sake, that your soul may be dragged from destruction.’ ”

Exell, J. S. (n.d.). The Biblical Illustrator: The Minor Prophets (Vol. 5, p. 27). Fleming H. Revell Company.

Now we have seen in C. The Cause of this Evil, the Accusations, The Answers, The Alarm and the Advice but notice the fourth letter D, closing this chapter.

D. The Casting Forth v13-17

When we come to this section, we will be taking notice of the five conjunctive words that connect us from one statement to another: Nevertheless, Wherefore, So, Then, and Now.

1. Nevertheless v13

Notice verse 13 and this turning statement. Remember that Jonah has given his advice, but we find a difference in the Mariners actions.

The Bible says,

v13 “Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.”

“The effort the mariners put forth to save Jonah's life was a strong rebuke to Jonah about his attitude towards Nineveh. Jonah was to these sailors what Nineveh was to Israel—a big problem for them and a threat to their very existence. Yet, the mariners tried to save Jonah; but Jonah had not put forth that effort to save Nineveh. What a shame when the world demonstrates more care for people than do the people of God.” - John Butler

Why would these Mariners not listen to Jonah?

There is a bit of irony in this text. Jonah, who would that the Assyrians be destroyed, is willing to be thrown overboard for the Mariners sake. The Mariners, who value Jonah’s life refuse at first to throw him overboard.

Matthew Henry had this to say concerning this portion of text, “The mariners rowed against wind and tide, the wind of God’s displeasure, the tide of his counsel; but it is in vain to think of saving ourselves any other way than by destroying our sins. Even natural conscience cannot but dread blood-guiltiness. And when we are led by Providence God does what he pleases, and we ought to be satisfied, though it may not please us. Throwing Jonah into the sea put an end to the storm. God will not afflict for ever, He will only contend till we submit and turn from our sins. Surely these heathen mariners will rise up in judgment against many called Christians, who neither offer prayers when in distress, nor thanksgiving for signal deliverances.”

Henry, M., & Scott, T. (1997). Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Jon 1:13). Logos Research Systems.

And so these man are found to be fighting against God.

I am reminded of the text found in the book of Acts concerning this very subject, Gamaliel’s testimony concerning what to do with Peter and the other Apostles that refused to quite testifying of the Lord Jesus Christ. He states in Acts chapter 5:39,40 , “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

We find that though the Mariners were acting against God, they were certainly sincere. They acted on what they believed to be the right coarse.

“Without sails, because of the very strong storm, the mariners resorted to oars and struggled with great effort to try and get the ship to land in spite of the storm.” - John Butler

“We certainly applaud sincerity but not apart from the will of God. The sailors were most sincere; their efforts proved that beyond a doubt. But they were going contrary to the will of God; and no sincerity, no matter how great it is, will ever compensate for doing other than God's will. Rowing may look good and noble, but it is not according to the way of God.” - John Butler

Many today are sincere in their beliefs and their actions, but are sincerely wrong.

2. Wherefore v14

“14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. 15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.”

As we continue next week, we will look at the end of chapter 1 and see the him being cast into the sea.

3. So v15

4. Then v16

5. Now v17