JONAH 1
Jonah thought he had a choice. He forgot that the will of God is not an option: it is an obligation and an opportunity. When we run from God’s will, we always go down (vv. 3,
The “pagan” sailors reveal more character than does the prophet of God. While Jonah was sleeping, they were crying out to their gods, and they did their best to save him (v. 13). Jonah was a Jew, and the Jews were to be a blessing to the whole world (
A believer out of fellowship with God can cause a great deal of trouble. Jonah put the crew in danger and left the Ninevites without a message of hope. God loves us too much to let us run away; therefore, He disciplines us (Heb. 12:1–11), and He keeps working on us until we submit to Him.
“To fear God is to stand in awe of Him; to be afraid of God is to run away from Him.”
Carroll E. Simcox