Jonah 1 -- What Was Going On In The Background

God told Jonah to get up, go, and preach.  Jonah got up, but was running in the opposite direction – against God’s will, not with it.

Faced with the loss of their ship and their lives, the sailors on board the ship Jonah was taking to run away decided that every passenger needed to be praying to whatever God they worshiped.  When their circumstances failed to improve, they then cast lots.  God caused the lot to land on Jonah.

They weren’t God-worshipers – yet.  But when Jonah said, “I’m a Hebrew.  I fear the Lord,” they began to take notice.  He’d told them he was running away from God.  They asked, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”  Jonah answered, “Throw me in … it’s my fault.”  The men decided to change Jonah’s direction and tried to row him back to shore, but God wouldn’t be satisfied with simply delivering Jonah to Nineveh.  He had an attitude adjustment in mind for him instead.

“So the men cried to the Lord.”  Jonah’s running away was being used by God to draw others to Him!  They said to God, “You have caused all this to happen; You wanted it this way.”  They were beginning to understand God’s sovereignty.  In he went, and the sea immediately calmed down.  “Then they began to fear the Lord very much; they offered a sacrifice to Him and made promises to Him.”  Jonah had impacted others, without even knowing it; not by a sermon, but because of his sin. 

I’d always been so focused on Jonah.  Sure, I’d noticed the reactions of the men before, but today it really hit home how God can draw others to Himself not just through my actions, but also through my failures.  That’s how big my God is!

Father, I pray that my life will be so in Your will that You won’t have a need to use my failures when You desire to use my willingness.  Let my actions speak as loudly as my words.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford