Jonah’s flight (chaper one)

EXEGESIS VERSES 13 – 14:

THE CREW’S ATTEMPT TO SAVE JONAH

Wlko+y" al{åw> hv'ÞB'Y:h;-la, byvi²h'l. ~yviªn"a]h' WråT.x.Y:w: ^WTT Jonah 1:13

`~h,(yle[] r[Eßsow> %lEïAh ~Y"ëh; yKiä
^NAS Jonah 1:13 However, the men rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them. w + rtx + h; + vyai (waw - consec.; "However" + hatar - v/Qal/IMP/3/m/pl; used 8x; lit. "to dig"; hence "they rowed desperately" + d.a. + -ish - n/com/m/pl/abso.; "the men") l + bwv (lamed - prep. + shub - v/Hiph/infin./constr.; "to cause to return") la, + h; + hv'B'y: (el - prep. + d.a. + yabashah - n/com/f/s/abso.; same as 1:9; "to the dry land") w + al{ + lky (waw - conj. + lo- - neg.part. + yakol - v/Qal/PF/3/com/pl; "but they could not/were not able/could not prevail/could not overcome") yKi + h; + ~y" (kiy - causal conj.; "because/for" + d.a. + yam - n/com/m/s/abso.; "the sea") $lh + w + r[s + l[; (halak - v/Qal/ptc/m/s/abso.; + waw - conj. + sa-ar - v/Qal/ptc/m/s/abso.; same constr. as 1:11; "was going and whirling"; "becoming stormier" + al - prep. w/3/m/pl/suff.; "against them")

THE CREW’S PRAYER IN ORIENTATION

an"å-la; ‘hw"hy> hN"Üa' Wrªm.aYOw: hw"÷hy>-la, Wa’r>q.YIw: ^WTT Jonah 1:14

ayqI+n" ~D"ä WnyleÞ[' !TEïTi-la;w> hZ<ëh; vyaiäh' ‘vp,n<’B. hd"ªb.anO

`t'yfi([' T'c.p;Þx' rv<ïa]K; hw"ëhy> hT'äa;-yKi(

^NAS Jonah 1:14 Then they called on the LORD and said, w + arq + la, + hwhy (waw - cons. + qara - v/Qal/IPF/3/m/pl; "the they called"; + el - prep. + yahweh - prop.n/; "upon Yahweh") w + rma (waw - cons. + -amar - v/Qal/IPF/3/m/pl; "and said") "We earnestly pray, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man's life and do not put innocent blood on us; aN"a' + hwhy + la; + an" (-anna- - interj. part.; "We beseech you/We earnestly petition" + Yahweh - prop.n; "O Yahweh"; + al - adverb; "not" + na - interj. part.; "we pray"; hence, "we earnestly pray...do not") dba (-abad - v/Qal/IPF/1/com/pl/cohort; "let us perish/be destroyed/die") B + vp,n< + h; + vyai + h; + hz< (bet - prep.; "because of/on account of" + nephesh - n/com/f/s/constr.; "the life of" + d.a. + ish - n/com/m/s/abso.; + d.a. + zeh - adj/m/s; "this man") w + la; + !tn (waw - conj. + neg. adv.; "and do not" + natan - v/Qal/IPF/2/m/s/jussive; "put/hold accountable") l[; + ~D' + yqin" (al - prep. w/1/com/pl/suff.; "upon us" + dam - n/com/m/s/abso; "blood"; + naqi - adj/m/s/abso; "innocent/guiltless") for You, O LORD, have done as You have pleased." yKi + hT'a; + hwhy (kiy - conj. part.; "for" + -attah - indep. pro.; "You Yourself" + Yahweh - prop.n - "O Lord") K + rv,a] (ke - prep.; "the like of" + -asher - rel.pro.; "which") #px + hf[ (haphes - v/Qal/PF/2/m/s; "you have pleased/delighted in/desired" + -asah - v/Qal/PF/2/m/s; "you did/accomplished"; hence; "have done as You have pleased")

ANALYSIS VERSES 13 – 14:

1. 
   As often the case with cosmic types, the crew initially disregards Jonah’s (and God’s) instructions, “However, the men rowed desperately to return to land”.
   
2. 
   It is typical of people to ask advice and then do their own thing.
   
3. 
   In their thinking, Jonah’s instructions were too much to ask, even though it might save them.
   
4. 
   Principle: This is the mindset of a lot of believers regarding BD, even though it is their lifeline for Ph₂ salvation.
   
5. 
   The crew is unwilling to put their trust into Jonah in spite of the fact he has told them the truth and all of the circumstances pointing towards him otherwise.
   
6. 
   They are specifically reluctant to follow through as party to Jonah’s impending death.
   
7. 
   While on the surface this may seem reasonable to the cosmos (or outright correct), they show that they regard their own thinking as superior to God’s. Cp.Isa.55:8-9
   
8. 
   The crew had solid proof that Jonah’s God was real and his recommendation of vs.12 was reasonable considering his desertion of post before God.
   
9. 
   He has made clear that to appease God for his rebellion requires being cast overboard having all the appearances of the judgment of death.
   
10. 
    However, again it is fear that motivates them as vs.12 makes clear that they think God might hold them responsible for murder (innocent blood on us).
    
11. 
    Their fear illustrates the critical issue set before them as with all men.
    
12. 
    The issue that these men must ultimately face is that judgment of death is the lot for all that ultimately rebel against the God of the universe (Ph₁ & ₂). Cp.Rom.6:23; (eternal) Jam.1:15 (temporal); 1Joh.5:16 (SUD)
    
13. 
    That is a doctrine the world skewers in judgment against them.
    
14. 
    Through their –V and rulership of the STA, Satan keeps them blind to the eternal ramifications concerning the penalty of death. Cp.Joh.12:39-40; 2Cor.4:3-4
    
15. 
    Again, without doctrine, the crew reflects the knee jerk reaction of the cosmos to this principle as they resort to energy of the flesh to save Jonah and themselves.
    
16. 
    That they don’t want to deal with God’s justice, they resort to their own works.
    
17. 
    Principle: Disregard for BD can only result in energy of the flesh that is nothing more than “spinning your wheels” towards God.
    
18. 
    Principle: The only solution is to adjust to God’s justice (SAJG, R_BAJG & MAJG).
    
19. 
    The phrase “rowed desperately” is the Hebrew verb “hatar” meaning “to dig”.
    
20. 
    The crew put every ounce of muscle they could muster dipping their oars as deep as they could into the water to get them to the shore.
    
21. 
    This illustrates religious types that go all out in their energy of the flesh endeavors to provide their own salvation (action without honor).
    
22. 
    This scenario represents exactly what religion is (vs. true Christianity) i.e., man confronting God based on their own works and standards.
    
23. 
    The world seeks to “side step” God with their own ideas for their deliverance.
    
24. 
    True Christianity reveals that God demands a sacrifice of which the stage is now set for Jonah to become a type of Christ.
    
25. 
    That the crew considered it possible to even reach land indicates that their travel was following the coastline keeping it within sight.
    
26. 
    But in spite of their efforts, “they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them”.
    
27. 
    The phrase, “even stormier” is the same Hebrew construction of vs.11b literally rendered “going (walking) and whirling”.
    
28. 
    The negative + verb “they could not/lo yakol” means they could not prevail or overcome the sea under its increasingly inclement conditions.
    
29. 
    The tidal and wave action were of such force it was creating a severe undercurrent outward from shore making it impossible to overcome.
    
30. 
    In short, God jammed their efforts.
    
31. 
    Obviously, all of the spiritual principles illustrated in this scenario are over the heads of these sailors.
    
32. 
    Yet, God’s dealings with them reflect a primary sub-theme brought out in this book.
    
33. 
    That is, God personally dealing with volition that he reads as having positive traits: Cp.1Chr.28:9
    
    1. 
       Jonah as a believer (imposes DD to help maintain his +V).
       
    2. 
       The Ninevites as potential believers (sends a messenger of truth).
       
    3. 
       The crew having traits as potential seekers (God places them in the periphery of truth with the right circumstances and situation).
       
34. 
    The crew’s failure to reach the shore illustrates God frustrating the erroneous paths potential seekers may attempt in life away from the truth (God controls all circumstances and situations).
    
35. 
    He will in turn bring about situations (in whatever shape or form) that will cause seekers to seriously examine the alternative of God’s plan.
    
36. 
    God is not so obligated with –V (answers why pagans may never hear the truth and die and go to hell and why –V may seem to go through life uninterrupted in their endeavors).
    
37. 
    Apart from the believer’s part in sharing the truth, in all cases, God knows exactly what it will take otherwise to stimulate any volitional interest in His person.
    
38. 
    This is a clear lesson on evangelizing in the world.
    
39. 
    Two issues are at stake: The believer’s faithfulness to truth and Divine intercession.
    
40. 
    And let us not overlook that God has here used a believer maladjusted to His niche for His own purposes regarding the crew.
    
41. 
    In other words, just because someone ends up evangelizing in their course of life doesn’t mean the path that led them there is in line with God’s directive will.
    
42. 
    Again, God is not limited and will pull all stops to bring volition to the surface that hold’s interest in His plan. Cp.Luk.19:40
    
43. 
    This is the real lesson on evangelizing in the book of Jonah.
    
44. 
    God will ensure that any volition that He reads as positive or potentially +V has opportunity to seek God’s plan no matter success or failure in the believer’s life.
    
45. 
    In turn, He will do whatever is necessary to bring that volition to the surface.
    
46. 
    This is not to diminish the importance of our witness, only to counter the fundy notion that another’s salvation is totally dependent upon what the believer does.
    
47. 
    That the whole ordeal has its intended results for the crew is made clear in vs.14, “Then they called on the Lord and said”.
    
48. 
    After realizing their hopelessness in reaching shore, they turn to God in prayer.
    
49. 
    After exhausting their human energy to save themselves, they now seek the only alternative that logically remains.
    
50. 
    This is a trait sponsored by God and BD that appeals to the logic of one seeking.
    
51. 
    This is the way it is for many seekers after exhausting dead end pursuits of religiosity under energy of the flesh, they turn to the truth of God.
    
52. 
    They finally come to recognize that their only hope lies in the truth of God’s word.
    
53. 
    That prayer is in view is clear in the next phrase, “We earnestly pray, O Lord”.
    
54. 
    They pray making petition on their behalf for God to spare them and “not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us”.
    
55. 
    They ask God not to kill them on account of Jonah’s guilt nor hold them guilty for murder.
    
56. 
    Their petition indicates that they have now determined to follow God’s instruction for deliverance as vs.15 validates.
    
57. 
    They are now willing to sacrifice Jonah as God’s prescription for their salvation.
    
58. 
    This again typological illustrates God’s demand for Christ’s sacrifice to procure salvation for men.
    
59. 
    Their prayer in essence beseeches God for grace and mercy, necessary attributes of God to find help in the time of their need. Heb.4:16
    
60. 
    Again, though lost on the crew, the spiritual significance of their actions, the typology and prayer for grace and mercy, illustrates God’s plan for salvation for those that will believe (belief in Christ is acceptance of His sacrifice under grace).
    
61. 
    The final clause in vs.14c, “for You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased” coupled with the fact that they now turn to God in prayer harks back to Jonah’s prescription for their deliverance in vs.12.
    
62. 
    The crew now fulfills the spiritual illustration as noted in that verse as they look up to God and acknowledge His Sovereignty as God.
    
63. 
    In a very real sense, this is the initial spark of orientation for any potential seeker.