Daily Thoughts from Jonah: Arise, Sleeper! (Jonah 1:4-16)

But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

   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. 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 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.” 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.

   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. 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.” 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. 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.” So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.  (Jonah 1:4-16 ESV)

Yahweh is not going to let Jonah simply disobey without consequence.  The terrifying storm He sends finds Jonah fast asleep in the ship, but the sailors are not and they rouse him so he can help them by calling on his god, as they are calling on their gods, to rescue them.

When they finally cast lots to see who is at fault for this storm Yahweh causes the lot to fall to Jonah and he is pressed to explain himself.  Even though he is disobeying Yahweh he says he fears Yahweh, the one who made the sea and land.  This is an excellent testimony to who God is.  He is not a local deity.  He is the maker of all heaven and earth.  But it is a pitiful testimony to Jonah’s belief in this truth.

The sailors know Jonah is fleeing Yahweh but even after Jonah tells them to throw him in the sea they still try to keep from having to do it.  Finally there is no alternative, so these heathen pray to Yahweh for forgiveness and toss Jonah overboard.  When the sea instantly calms they begin to worship Yahweh.  They seem more godly than Jonah.

Even in his disobedience Jonah cannot help but give testimony to Yahweh.  It is like the drunk preaching a sermon against the evils of alcohol, the guy who has lost his family telling about how God warns against the immorality of adultery.  It is helpful to be able to link the consequences of our sin to God’s discipline, but that is only a first step.  The next step is repentance.  That is coming for Jonah…sort of.