A lot of relief comes when we finally own up to our sins and face whatever consequences may come. I’ve felt that relief, I’ve seen the relief on my kids’ faces, and I’m sure you’ve felt that relief as well. I imagine Jonah felt a similar way when he finally told the sailors, “I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you” and then, “throw me into the sea” (v. 12).

Jonah seemed to finally acknowledge his sin and was ready to intercede for the sailors, even if he was not quite ready to go to Nineveh. Even so, Jonah’s response to the sailors’ question about how to calm the storm raises some questions that the book of Jonah doesn’t answer.

First, does Jonah’s response reveal a repentant heart? Or was he simply conceding to the Lord’s overwhelming power with no desire to actually change his ways? Second, was Jonah’s command to toss him overboard done out of selfishness or compassion? That is, did Jonah really want to rescue the sailors by sacrificing his own life? Or did he simply want to die so he did not have to obey God’s call to preach repentance to Nineveh? And finally, did Jonah really think the Lord would let him die in the storm-tossed sea, or did he know, deep down, that God would rescue him so he could fulfill his mission to preach to Nineveh?

The passage raises these questions, but it does not answer them for us. Rather, these verses (and the rest of the book) invite us to meditate on Scripture, to roll these questions around in our minds and to put ourselves in the place of Jonah.

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