12.18.2015 Old Testament: Jon 1.17

To read the Bible in a year, read The Book of Jonah on December 19, In the year of our Lord 2015

By Don Ruhl

When the sailors learned that Jonah was the source of trouble, the reason the Lord had sent a great storm against them, they asked the prophet what they should do? Rather than say take him back to the port from which they had left that he might go do as the Lord had commanded (because he still did not want to do what the Lord said to do), he told them to throw him overboard, but they did not want to do it. When they finally realized they had no choice, they did it.

First, that already shows the stubborn head of Jonah. He would much rather drown in the sea than do what the Lord commanded. Then the Lord does something to save the prophet from drowning,

Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights (Jonah 1.17). 

At what point would you have prayed, begging desperately for God’s help? During the storm? While in the middle of the ocean? When the great fish swims toward you, opening its mouth to swallow? When the fish has swallowed you?

Jonah was inside that sea creature for, now count them, three days and three nights! Then the next sentence says Jonah finally prayed to Yahweh God. Was Jonah really that stubborn? Are you that stubborn?