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, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” 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. 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.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.
ESV
Jonah 1:11-16 How do people solve major & immediate crisis problems? What do you do? These sailors have prayed & made sure everyone else was also praying. They are led to identifying Jonah as the problem. Does Jonah pray? No! Jonah knows his disobedience to God is the cause of the storm-he knows God is pursuing him yet he never prays-repents-seeks God’s help. Jonah would rather die than give the Ninevites an opportunity to repent & be forgiven by God. Have you ever been that stubborn in your disobedience before God? Jonah instructs them to toss him overboard. Reluctantly they throw him over-storm stops-they pray out to God in fear & reverence. God is not finished with Jonah. He is not finished with you. Repent-Believe-Follow
