JONAH’S INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SAILORS

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. 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,” verses 11-12.

It was not enough for Jonah to confess his sin. Action must be taken to cease from the sin of running away from the Lord. We must cast ourselves into the hands of the Lord to rectify our wrong-doing!

1. Man knows nothing of how to deal with God’s anger. The sailors said: “What shall we do?” Here is the reason why the world is filled with various religions. All of them are but man’s notion of how to deal with a sin-hating God!

2. The cause of God’s anger must be put away. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon,” Isaiah 55:7. 

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chron 7:14.

3. Note man’s resistance to such a truth. Verse 13. They sought to row to the shore and land Jonah. The Lord resisted their efforts.

4. Note Jonah’s willingness to die for the sake of the sailors. This the Spirit of Christ which should be manifest in every believer. “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved,” 2 Cor 12:15.