Casting Lots to Find Jonah Jonah 1:7

Because Jonah fled from “the presence of the LORD”, God sent a “great wind” upon the ship he boarded whose destination was Joppa. Although the “mariners” and the “shipmaster” were afraid for their lives, Jonah was asleep in the bottom of the boat. The “shipmaster” came to Jonah and asked him how he could sleep in such conditions, and exhorted Jonah to call upon his God so they would not perish. In chapter one and verse seven of this prophesy, the mariners “cast lots” to determine the fault for the storm that had come upon them. We read:

And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

The verse begins, “And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us.” The writer began with the words, “And they said” or “answered, appointed, avouched, bid, boasted self, called, certified, challenged and charged” “every one” or “each man or human” “to his fellow” which refers to “companion, friend and fellow citizen”, “Come” or “walk, proceed, carry, go and live”, “and let us cast” which means “throw down, assign and apportion” “lots” which means “pebbles used for systematically making decisions”, “that we may know” or “perceive, see, find out and discern, discriminate and distinguish” “for whose cause” which means “whosoever and whichsoever's sake” “this evil” or “bad, disagreeableness, malignancy, unpleasantness, unhappiness and misery” “is upon us” which refers to “the mariners and seamen”. The “mariners” purposed to throw down “pebbles” which were used determine the person responsible for this problem.

The verse continues, “So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.” The writer added, “So they cast lots” or “threw down, assigned and apportioned pebbles used for systematically making decisions”, “and the lot” which means “pebbles used for systematically making decisions” “fell” or “assigned and apportioned” “upon Jonah” which means “dove”. When the “mariners” threw the pebbles, they indicated that Jonah was the reason the “storm” came upon them.

When we consider thoroughly these words, we understand how the “mariners” had no idea it was Jonah who caused all their problems. They resorted to the only means they knew to determine who was to blame for their troubles, “the lot”, and when “the lots” were “cast”, Jonah was found as the culprit. The Lord Jesus may have us oblivious to the reason troubles have fallen upon us, our family or our friends, and although we are not to resort to “cast lots” to find out the cause, we should go to the Heavenly Father in prayer and seek His face concerning it. Perhaps we have “fled” from God's call, and the reason for the “storm” is us. In that case, let us turn to Jesus with all our heart, change our rebellious ways, and implore Him to calm the storm that prevails.

Next time we see how the “mariners” ask Jonah many questions, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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