Most people who know the story of Jonah remember that he was swallowed by the whale and after three days the whale hurled Jonah out upon the dry land (Jonah 2.10).  Jonah went on his way, and his warning (and probably his fish-guts appearance) caused the Ninevehites to believe and repent.

But even before God sent the Big Fish, there was a lot of hurling, believing, and fearing going on. Jonah’s disobedience starts the process in Jonah Chapter 1 as he boards a ship headed away from Nineveh, God’s commanded destination. 

• The LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea and the ship threatened to break up (vs 1.4)
• The sailors hurled the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship  (vs 1.5)
• And, against their initial reactions, the sailors eventually hurled Jonah into the sea (vs 1.15).

Jonah had testified to the mariners that he was a Hebrew who feared the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.  “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”

The sailors tried as hard as they could to row back to dry land but had to give up.  Once they tossed Jonah over the side, the “sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.”

This God of the Hebrews clearly had power over the sea and the wind and was not to be trifled with. As the sailors had said to Jonah, “What is this that you have done!” by fleeing such a mighty God.  They did not want to risk angering the LORD themselves, so appeasement seemed like a good stategy.