When the storm
came upon the “mariners” within the ship in which Jonah
boarded, they found Jonah asleep, “cast lots” to determine
who was responsible for the storm, asked Jonah why he did this to
them, and listened to Jonah tell them to “cast” him “forth
into the sea”. Jonah knew he was at fault for the “winds and
waves”, and though he made his appeal, in chapter one and verse
thirteen of this prophecy, we see how the “mariners”
continued to “row” to no avail. We read:
Nevertheless
the men rowed hard to bring it
to the land; but they could not:
for the
sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
The
verse begins, “Nevertheless the men rowed
hard to bring it
to the land;” The writer began with the
word, “Nevertheless”
or “yet, withal and all the same” “the
men” which refers to the “mariners”
“rowed hard” or “dug and forced passage
with oars” “to bring it”
which refers to “returning, turning back and repenting the ship
upon which they sailed” “to the land”
or “dry ground”. Though Jonah told the “mariners”
to “cast” him
“into the sea”,
the continued “rowing” so they could make it to “dry ground”.
The
verse continues, “but they could not: for the sea wrought, and
was tempestuous against them.” The writer added the word, “but”
which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be
written takes precedence over what was previously stated,
“nevertheless, nonetheless and moreover” “they could not”
or “didn't prevail, overcome, endure, have power over,
accomplish or endure”: “for the sea” which refers to
“the large body of water upon which they sailed” “wrought”
or “departed, came upon, proceeded, moved or went away”, “and
was tempestuous” which means “raging, tossing, enraging and
growing” “against them” which refers to the “mariners”.
No matter how hard the “mariners” rowed, the sea was
“raging” and working contrary to them.
When
we meditate upon these words, we think about people who continue in
their arduous stress to “row” their ship against the “storms”
in life. Jonah's “mariners” thought if they tried hard
enough and kept “rowing”, they could somehow get to safety. The
flaw in their thinking was not knowing “God” was against them,
and there was only one way to satisfy His displeasure. Yielding to
Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is the best way to “calm” the
“tempestuous” winds and waves we encounter, and should we
decide to “row” against Him, may the Lord quickly exhaust every
effort we make to resist.
Next
time we see the “mariners” pray,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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