SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/24/2025 9:57 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-1 “The Gentiles’ Deliverance”
Bible Reading and Meditation Reference: “Jonah 1:14-16”
Message of the verses: “Then they called on Yahweh and said, “Ah! O Yahweh, we earnestly pray, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life, and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O Yahweh, as You have pleased You have done.” So the lifted Jonah up and hurled him into the sea, and the sea stood still from its raging. Then the men greatly feared Yahweh, and they offered a sacrifice to Yahweh and made vows.”
These men were trying to get to dry land by rowing this ship, but it was not to be, because it was not in the plan of Yahweh, for His plan was to get Jonah to Nineveh in order to preach to them, so that many of them would be saved, and in the end this was also good for Israel because they would in the future attack Israel and would not be so violent then because of Jonah’s visit to them. We see after these sailors were getting nowhere and the sea was getting worse that the acknowledged their inability and thus called on Yahweh. Having heard Jonah’s declaration in verse nine, they no longer appealed to their native gods nor to a generic supernatural power. Rather, the directed their petitions to Yahweh, who is the Creator of the sea and the land. So in this way the sailors turned form their idols to beseech deliverance from the one true God. Let us look at Galatians 4:8-9 “8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?”
MacArthur points out “The crew’s attitude reflected their new religious focus—the fear of Yahweh. They pleaded, saying, ‘Ah! O Yahweh, we earnestly pray.’ The Hebrew original expresses deep emotion, conveying the humility and desperation of their entreaty. Their prayer considered of two requests. First, regarding their immediate situation, they begged the Lord, ‘Do not let us perish on account of this man’s life.’ The sailors appealed to God not to kill them for participating in His punishment of the disobedient prophet. They assumed God to be an impartial (Deut. 10:17) and righteous Judge (Ps. 96:13) who does not overlook wicked means in accomplishing righteous ends. Accordingly, the sailors made a second request, ‘Do not put innocent blood on us.’ Though Jonah was far from innocent, the sailors did not want to be held guilty for killing a prophet of Yahweh. The shedding of innocent blood was a heinous crime, even in pagan culture. Any murderer usurps God’s authority as judge and executioner by taking the life of another person (cf. Deut. 19:10; 21:8; Jer. 26:15). Fearful of Yahweh, the sailors did not merely want to avoid divine retribution, but they also wanted to avoid sinning against the one true God. So they begged for the Lord’s mercy even as the considered killing Jonah.”
Spiritual Meaning for My Life Today: I can see that these sailors had a very difficult decision to make, and now because they had become believers in Yahweh that made the decision much harder for them, but in the end they had to do what they did not want to do, and there are times like this in my life too, to do something difficult even though I know that this what the Lord desires for me to do.
My Steps of Faith for Today: “13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:13-16)
9/24/2025 10:26 AM
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