When you cast something, it flies for awhile, then comes down.
Jonah thought he could cast himself far away from God’s calling to preach to Ninevah.
But he quickly started going down.
He went down to Joppa.
First down for Jonah.
He got in a boat and cast off for Tarshish—never made it, not even close.
God cast a storm in the way of Jonah’s boat (amazing, how God has His ways).
Second down for Jonah—he went down to the bottom of the ship, where he went to sleep, deep sleep—didn’t even hear the storm.
Sailors, scared to death, cast the ship’s cargo overboard.
Sailors, scared to death, cast the ship’s tack overboard.
Captain, scared to death, finds Jonah and tells Jonah to pray (don’t know if he did, yet).
Sailors, scared to death, cast lots to find who is to blame for the storm.
It’s Jonah, and he confesses, and tells the sailors to throw him overboard (suicide ? doesn’t sound like repentance, yet).
Sailors, scared to death, more, try even harder to row the boat.
Sailors, scared to death, pray to God for mercy, and cast Jonah overboard.
Third down for Jonah—into the stormy sea.
Storm ended (miracle 1), immediately (miracle 2).
Fourth down for Jonah—swallowed by the fish.
Why three days in fish ? —hmmm.
Fifth down for Jonah—‘down on his knees’ (finally).
Repentance now ? Prayer ? —yes.
Must have been for real—Jonah gets second chance, back on land, where he started, to start over.
Perhaps I’ll continue the play on words with cast and down later, but let me include Jonah’s converts now.
++The sailors were converted immediately when the storm ended after throwing Jonah overboard.
They knew Jonah’s God was the real One, and they prayed to Him—I’m sure from then on—means we’ll see them in heaven.
++Jonah was converted, got right with God again, in the fish, and preached to Ninevah.
++Ninevah was converted, repented, and was spared God’s promised destruction.
How about you and me ?
Anything we need to repent of and get right with God ?