Jonah’s submarine,
Took him out to sea and back,
Spat him on dry ground.
Poor Jonah. God’s prophet. Super patriot. Reluctant missionary. Effective evangelist. Loved justice more than mercy.
Fortunately God is merciful toward all who seek Him. Even today.
You can read about it in the Bible. If you haven’t read it lately, you might want to read it again. It only takes a few minutes.
Jonah did indeed own up to his culpability when confronted. The Message, records it this way:
“But God sent a huge storm at sea, the waves towering. The ship was about to break into pieces. The sailors were terrified. They called out in desperation to their gods. They threw everything they were carrying overboard to lighten the ship.
Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship to take a nap. He was sound asleep. The captain came to him and said, “What’s this? Sleeping! Get up! Pray to your god! Maybe your god will see we’re in trouble and rescue us.”
Then the sailors said to one another, “Let’s get to the bottom of this. Let’s draw straws to identify the culprit on this ship who’s responsible for this disaster.”
So they drew straws. Jonah got the short straw.
Then they grilled him: “Confess. Why this disaster? What is your work? Where do you come from? What country? What family?”
He told them, “I’m a Hebrew. I worship God, the God of heaven who made sea and land.”
At that, the men were frightened, really frightened, and said, “What on earth have you done!” As Jonah talked, the sailors realized that he was running away from God.
They said to him, “What are we going to do with you—to get rid of this storm?” By this time the sea was wild, totally out of control.
Jonah said, “Throw me overboard, into the sea. Then the storm will stop. It’s all my fault. I’m the cause of the storm. Get rid of me and you’ll get rid of the storm.”
Relimom is right. Jonah is not a good role model — for you or your children.
I never really liked Jonah as a child. Running away, not wanting to do what God asked, and then getting mad when people were spared!
Doesn’t sound like a very sympathetic character.
Though if I remember correctly: he did come forward on the boat as the one who had made God angry.