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. 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 the Lord, the God of heaven, 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 he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. ESV
Jonah 1:7-10 What do you do when there is no where else to run? Did Jonah immediately confess/repent? They cast lots-like choosing straws or rolling dice. Was it just a coincidence it fell on Jonah? They had all been pleading with their false gods. Jonah is questioned & confesses that he follows the God of the heavens, dry land & the seas. Jonah had already indicated that he was running from his God & now all are afraid. Are you afraid of God? Romans 3:18 “For there was no fear of God in their eyes” - is near the end of a list of the ways of sinful men. In this moment Jonah was the one who lacked fear of God-who disobeyed & ran from God. You either repent & follow Jesus who took God the Father’s wrath or you run in sin & face God’s wrath. Run or Repent
