RUSSELL SANDERS
8-17-2020
JONAH PART 8
Ch 1:11-12
In Jonah Ch. 1:11 (KJV) it says, “Then said they unto (Jonah), ‘What shall we do unto thee, (so) that the sea may be calm unto us?’ For the sea was wrought, and was tempestuous.”
Now that they knew Jonah’s actions had brought on this violent wind, they knew that only he could make it right. There was nothing they could do about it themselves.
Let us bring this down to our level. Our bad choices bring consequences not only to us, but often to others around us. This is especially true even more so when it involves family; they can suffer greatly because of our choices or our attitudes even when they were not directly involved. Even though you might “make it right,” many times there are scars that remain. Time might heal a wound, but only God can remove the scar left by the wound. “Inner healing” deals with the scars.
Jonah’s reply in verse 12 to the sailor’s question was, “Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so (then) shall the sea be calm unto you. For I know that for my sake the great tempest (vicious windstorm) is upon you.”
Jonah accepted full responsibility for his sin of rebellion and the consequences caused by it. The sailors had already cast their cargo overboard to give the ship greater buoyance. Jonah told them he should also be thrown overboard as well. This would rid them of the problem…him.
Whether Jonah decided on his own punishment or he heard it from God directly we may never know. What we do know, however, is that God used the “overboard” action to bring about correction (as we shall see in vs. 15).
When God brings correction to our disobedience, it is not a pleasant thing to undergo. It is always better to daily “walk the straight and narrow” path which is pleasing to God than to try to “go our own way” about things. Then no correction becomes necessary.
Stay in the center of His will. “If it pleases you to please God, then you can do as you please.” We have a plaque on our kitchen wall that says just that.
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