Iām preaching on Jonah 1:1-17 this Sunday (Jan 21, 2007). Its the daily Bible Reading scheduled for January 19. I would be interested in hearing from you as to what jumps out at you in this passage. What questions does it raise? What do you hear God saying to you in this passage. I suggest keeping your comments brief and clear, and I will try to return the favour on Sunday. Click on 
Comments to leave your thoughts.Pastor Norm
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
God speaking to Jonah. Having ears do we hear the Words of the Lord? Having eyes, do we see Jesus in our lives? And when we do, what do we do with it? Living the Christian life is going against the flow and many a time I am like Jonah and would rather go with the flow of the world. What an awesome responsibility I have as a Christian proclaiming God’s Word!
God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. God’s will will be done inspite of the stubborness of His people. In the storms of my live, do I see God speaking. The other sailors saw Jonah’s God since the Lord had spoken to them. And even when given God’s saving Word, the sailors still went on their own way to save themselves. So I too think that I am in charge of my own life and I am master of my own fate. Thank God for turning me around to not walking in darkness but in His marvelous light so I may graciously walk in His Sonshine eveyday.
We never know the impact we have on others by our living for Jesus. Jonah was thrown overboard and the men made vows to God. We do the Word of the Lord, but it is He who works mightly. He gives the increase. His Kingdom will come inspite of our weak efforts. The three days and night – Jesus Christ – the Author and Finisher of our faith, He brings all things to completeness.
In my journey of learning to live for Jesus and need to hear His Word and do His Word by what I say and do. Help me in my walk with You Lord. Lead me, guide me, Lord for then I will not stray.
Jonah must have enjoyed God’s favor, as the “word came to him”(vs 1). This is opposite to Eli where the Lord’s word was rare. He was instructed to go to Nineveh, capital of Assyria and “preach against it”. (vs 2) Jonah must have been terrified knowing the city’s cruel and evil reputation. He went in the completely opposite direction to Tarshish. God got Jonah’s and the sailors attention by sending a violent storm. Casting lots was an accurate way of determining responsibility for the storm. The men knew Jonah was running away from God (vs 10)and were afraid in vs 5 but now they were terrified following his confession that he was a Hebrew who worshipped “the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.” (vs9) Jonah told them to throw him overboard to calm the sea but they didn’t listen and “the sea grew even wilder (vs 13). After throwing him in, the raging sea became calm and the men greatly feared the Lord leading them to offer a sacrifice and make vows.(vs 16) In the last verse we see the significant number 3 appear twice when the fish swallowed Jonah.
I know that sometimes I have felt like Jonah and had a rebellious spirit which made me want to run in the opposite direction. It is not always easy to trust and obey. Jonah was called to preach against the wickedness of Nineveh. I also find it hard speak against what is wrong around us. God’s word does often show us that things are clearly black and white, right and wrong and not grey and “all good” as the world likes to promote. How often are we like the sailors who did not listen to Jonah’s clear request to throw him in and calm the sea,? Things became worse when they tried to fix things using their own might (they rowed). It is interesting that we still rely on casting lots to guide our decisions. The progression of the sailor’s emotions from being afraid to being terrified upon realizing what God they were dealing with reminds me that although we need to have a healthy fear of God. we need to live according to our faith and not our fears. The whale ended up being a “fisher of men”. God has a great sense of humour. Again we see the significant number three in the last verse.
Thank you God for revealing so many beautiful truths in this passage. Help me to step out in faith and not fear when you are clearly leading me in a new direction.
Here is a website on Kirkuk Christians and their plight – http://www.christiansofiraq.com/Kirkukmay176.html – John Walhout:(
Some thoughts about Jonah: He was sent to the wicked city of Nineveh to prophesy against the gentiles there. Ninevah is at the site of present day Kirkuk, Sadam’s home town in Iraq. Would we go to Iraq today to preach to the Muslims there? I recall hearing about a large group of Christians in Iraq today who are being persecuted more and more since war started there. Perhaps we can find some right in the town of Kirkuk. What can we do to help them? Perhaps we take a collection to encourage and strengthen them, similar to what the churches did for the Christians of Jerusalem in Paul’s day. – John Walhout š