V1
The prophet sets the scene, telling his own story, and omitting no
embarrassing details. There is humility and courage in many biblical writers who
include details of their own mistakes and sins.
V2
Nineveh, the great city, built by Nimrod, Gen 10.10-12, renowned for its
wickedness. Jonah is already a prophet, 2 Kings 14.23-26, and God chooses him to
take the message of repentance; this precedes Nahum’s message of judgment upon
Nineveh.
V3
Jonah is fearful and fickle. We cannot flee from the Lord’s presence,
Gen 4.16; Ps 139.7-8; Jer 23.24; neither Jonah nor Nineveh can escape God’s
work. The word “presence” refers to a place of service and worship, it is
presence with intention and meaning. Jonah would serve God, but wanted to avoid
this particular task.
Jonah went down; down to Joppa, down into the ship, down into the lower
parts of the ship, and down into the belly of the whale. This matches his own
testimony; “From the depths of the grave …the deep … the very heart of the
sea … the roots of the mountains,” (2.2-6). Thus we read of a man rebelling
against God, Luke 10.30; 2 Pet 2.21; he experiences the consequences of his own
disobedience. We know from personal experience that any can turn from God for a
time.
V4
The Lord “sent” a great wind; later He provided a whale, a vine, and
a wind; throughout the narrative, God’s hand is clearly evident. The word
“sent” is also ‘hurled,’ as when Saul hurled a javelin at David. This
indicates the severity of the storm, and why the sailors were frightened. The
word is also translated ‘appointed’ in Dan 1.5,10, indicating that God has a
purpose in sending these things. Each one, being part of the natural world,
indicates God’s control over all things.
V5
Human responses to the problem; prayer to man-made gods, and reliance on
human wisdom and strength.
V6
Jonah is asleep when he should be praying; he is not ready, 1 Pet 3.15.
V7
Since their prayers go unanswered, the grew cast lots; such is the
disadvantage to prayer to a god who cannot hear. Until they know the true God,
what else can they do? Yet God overrules their ignorance.
V8-10
Jonah’s lack of testimony; he did not stand out as a man of God. “I
worship the Lord,” he testified, yet they know he is fleeing from God; such is
his inconsistent testimony, his actions not matching his words.
V11-12
We can imagine a conversation shouted over the storm, which is growing
stronger. Jonah begins to recognise his own guilt; this is the power of a
conscience.
V13
Although the sailors cannot deny Jonah’s words, they want to avoid
throwing him into the sea, knowing that means certain death. But again, the
storm grows “wilder.”
V14-16
This incident happened for the furtherance of the gospel, Phil 1.12; such
is God’s mercy and power. This does not justify Jonah’s disobedience, but
demonstrates God’s mercy. The sailors now pray to the Lord, no longer to
“his own god.”