Jonah 1:15-17
So they took
up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
Then the men
feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made
vows.
(Now the
LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly
of the fish three days and three nights.
The sailors who threw Jonah
overboard were obviously riddled with guilt over what they had done. While
Jonah was being swallowed and protected by the great fish, the sailors were
offering a sacrifice and begging for God's mercy.
It is almost certain that
they never learned how God delivered Jonah and therefore very likely lived with
the guilt of what they had done the remainder of their lives. Though
· Jonah was the one who put them in the mess they
were in and
· Jonah was the one who advised them to cast him
overboard
· Jonah was not the one who had to live with what
they did
It would be a gracious thing
for each of us to consider others before we act or speak or in any way lead
others to an action. It is a gracious and considerate thing to keep in mind
that others will have to live with whatever are the consequences of the choices
they make as a result of our influence upon them.
Jonah moved on.
I doubt that these sailors
ever did.
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