It’s really easy to throw stones at Jonah, but perhaps we should learn from his mistakes instead. If it weren’t for the grace of God, then I could easily be a wandering preacher. His story strikes my heart with fear and trembling by convicting me of the importance of immediate obedience.  Despite his disobedience, Jonah challenges me by his willingness to ultimately take responsibility for his actions.   So let’s pray this prayer in response to Jonah’s failure, believing we will not make the same mistakes.

Prayer

Father, may I quickly obey, but if I do step out of Your will, then may I quickly recognize it, and immediately return to the path You have for me.  Don’t let me sleep comfortably in a spiritual stupor, but help me to live with spiritual eyes and ears wide open.  Lord, I ask no one will suffer for my disobedience and sin. When I make mistakes, just like Jonah, let me take personal responsibility for them.  Let me have the courage to own up to my sin, mistakes, and failures. I want to live for You, but when I fail I want to have the character to admit it and correct it. Give me a contrite heart that is willing to correct the problems I have created in Jesus name, amen.

Jonah 1:4-15

Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 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, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 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.” 13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 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, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.

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