GOD SAVES THE SHIP AND JONAH
Key verse: 17
NIV
8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”
9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord,(A) the God of heaven,(B) who made the sea(C) and the dry land.(D)”
10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)
11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”
12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”(E)
13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.(F) 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man,(G) for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.”(H) 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.(I) 16 At this the men greatly feared(J) the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows(K) to him.
Jonah’s Prayer
17 Now the Lord provided(L) a huge fish to swallow Jonah,(M) and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Cross references
- Jonah 1:9 : S Ps 96:9
- Jonah 1:9 : S Da 2:18; Ac 17:24
- Jonah 1:9 : S Ne 9:6
- Jonah 1:9 : S Ge 1:9
- Jonah 1:12 : 2Sa 24:17; 1Ch 21:17
- Jonah 1:13 : S Pr 21:30
- Jonah 1:14 : Dt 21:8
- Jonah 1:14 : S Da 4:35
- Jonah 1:15 : S Ps 107:29; Lk 8:24
- Jonah 1:16 : Mk 4:41
- Jonah 1:16 : S Nu 30:2; Ps 66:13-14
- Jonah 1:17 : Jnh 4:6, 7
- Jonah 1:17 : Mt 12:40; 16:4; Lk 11:30
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
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?” 9 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear (A)the Lord, the God of heaven, (B)who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that (C)he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.
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. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, (D)for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” 13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard[a] to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, and (E)lay not on us innocent blood, (F)for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, (G)and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, (H)and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord (I)and made vows.
A Great Fish Swallows Jonah
17 [b] And the Lord appointed[c] a great fish to swallow up Jonah. (J)And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Jonah 1:13 Hebrew the men dug in [their oars]
- Jonah 1:17 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew
- Jonah 1:17 Or had appointed
Cross references
- Jonah 1:9 : Rev. 11:13
- Jonah 1:9 : Ps. 146:6
- Jonah 1:10 : [See ver. 3 above]; Gen. 4:16; [Ps. 139:9, 10]
- Jonah 1:12 : [Josh. 7:20]
- Jonah 1:14 : Deut. 21:8
- Jonah 1:14 : [Ps. 115:3]
- Jonah 1:15 : Ps. 65:7; Luke 8:24
- Jonah 1:16 : [Gen. 8:20; 31:54]
- Jonah 1:16 : See ch. 2:9
- Jonah 1:17 : Matt. 12:40; 16:4; [Luke 11:30]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Running away from the Lord (8-12)
When the ship was breaking up in the storm, the sailors cast lots and found that Jonah was responsible. He confessed that he worshiped the God of heaven, the Creator of the land and sea. They were terrified because they knew that he was running away from his God. He told them to throw him overboard. He knew that the storm had struck them because of him.
2. The Lord prepares a great fish (13-17)
The men did not want to throw him overboard. They did their best to bring the ship back to land, but the sea was too wild. Finally, they gave in. They prayed and asked God's forgiveness, and threw Jonah overboard. Immediately the sea became calm. The sailors feared God and worshiped him. God himself took care of Jonah. He prepared a great fish to swallow him. God saves and trains even reluctant servants until they can obey him and do his work.
Prayer: Lord, help me to receive your mission and not run away from you. Help me not to be a burden to others.
One Word: God saves and uses reluctant prophets
