12 He said to them, "Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you." This is not repentance Jonah admits his sin, but does not forsake it He sees his sin (disobedience) as being worthy of death He stands ready to take his punishment He sees his sin as being greater than that of Nineveh ( he anticipated that The Lord would forgive them) – He does not expect that The Lord will forgive him His first concern is for his sin – not his salvation If he remains aboard his sin will destroy them all

13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. They were dealing with a prophet They did not want his blood on their hands They strove against the wind of His vengeance and the tide of His councils Their works would not avail – obedience was the only way to still the storm The storms increased Sin must be eliminated or the sea will grow in its menace

14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, "O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you." When their strivings ceased, they went to their knees Notice it is not each man praying to his god – they have see the hand of the True God and it is to Him they pray The are dealing with a prophet and they are loth to kill him They are now more concerned with the peril of sin as they are with the peril of the sea The blood of the prophet is precious, but so also is that of the saints – There are many who will find this out to their condemnation Israel was at this time killing their prophets – not so these heathen mariners Both God and Jonah have confirmed the sentence He will die not out of their desire, but because the Lord has commanded They recognize the sovereignty of Jonah's God Thy will be done

15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Imagine the thoughts of Jonah’s mind – He had lately been God’s prophet – He had been under the protection of his God But he has chosen the sin of disobedience He has chosen between his life and his sin He may not have both The Lord would most willingly cast his sin into the deepest sea How often would He have gathered Jonah under His win- but Jonah would not! When the sin was gone, the seas ceased from raging

16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. They saw His power They saw His justice They saw His goodness They exchanged fears – They had feared the storm – Now they fear the One who hurled it upon them All that the Father hath given to me, will come to me. Now they, with a fearful and right heart, worship the One True God Their plans have been changed Their wealth has been lost Their souls have been saved

17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. In the midst of punishment, God remembers mercy – Not even Jonah contests his guilt – If he dies, it is no more than justice – But, God will save this one who has offended Him. And is running He is not so much hurt as he is reduced to his duty The sign of Jonah (Matt. 12:39) – God prepared Jonah’s grave – He is there for three days and nights – He returns from the grave – He is brought forth for the salvation of many