Jonah 1:7 7 And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. They realize that the situation is extraordinary They perceive that God is avenging a great wrong Each suspected the other None suspected themselves They had a belief in the casting of lots What a great shame that the greatest wrong is done by the one holding the greatest light The Lord is in the casting of the lot (Numb. 26:55, Josh. 14:2, Neh. 10:34, Acts 1:26) The lot falls on the prophet

8 Then they said to him, "Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?" One has to admire the forbearance of the crew No man is an island – Parent – Congregant – Neighbor – President A great wrong has been done and they would know what it was It is a great calamity when the heathen have cause to question the righteousness of believers What is your occupation? What country are you from? Who are your people?

9 And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." What have you done? – It is easy here to ignore the great sin that Jonah has committed I am a Hebrew (What people are you?) – They are searching out evil – How embarrassing that this be found in a Hebrew I fear the Lord (What is your occupation/) – This is his answer as to his occupation – He is, after all, a prophet Jonah is here confessing the foolishness of his own narrow view: – Jonah makes an implication related to their gods – See the self-contradiction: How does one flee the presence of the One who made all things? – Such an One is not limited to a single country or people

10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, "What is this that you have done!" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. He has confessed that he is in flight The men perceive that an awful evil has been done to the One who has made this very sea – He is willing to let the people of Nineveh Perish – He has the impudence to disobey the Creator – He has placed them in great danger They are justly afraid What an embarrassment that the unbeliever has cause to rebuke the believer because he does not live to his calling There is a severe warning here for the child of God who would rebel against The Father

Jonah 1:11 11 Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?" For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. Though they are pagan, we see their humanity They would save Jonah if they could also save themselves They have more compassion than Jonah Jonah would not participate in the saving of an entire city Sin must not only be discovered, it must be forsaken When we are in a storm that has been raised by our own sin, it is right that we inquire of The Lord as to how we may bring quiet Meantime The Lord does not cease to threaten

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." Here is repentance Jonah admits his sin He sees it as being worthy of death He stands ready to take his punishment He sees his sin as being greater than that of Nineveh – 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