¹² He told them, “Throw me overboard. Then the sea will become calm. I know that I’m responsible for this violent storm.”

¹³ Instead, the men tried to row harder to get the ship back to shore, but they couldn’t do it. The storm was getting worse.

¹⁴ So they cried to the Lord for help: “Please, Lord, don’t let us die for taking this man’s life. Don’t hold us responsible for the death of an innocent man, because you, Lord, do whatever you want.” ¹⁵ Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the sea became calm. ¹⁶ The men were terrified of the Lord. They offered sacrifices and made vows to the Lord.^[a]

¹⁷ The Lord sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.

¹³ God made a promise to Abraham. Since he had no one greater on whom to base his oath, he based it on himself. ¹⁴ He said, “I will certainly bless you and give you many descendants.” ¹⁵ So Abraham received what God promised because he waited patiently for it.

¹⁶ When people take oaths, they base their oaths on someone greater than themselves. Their oaths guarantee what they say and end all arguments. ¹⁷ God wouldn’t change his plan. He wanted to make this perfectly clear to those who would receive his promise, so he took an oath. ¹⁸ God did this so that we would be encouraged. God cannot lie when he takes an oath or makes a promise. These two things can never be changed. Those of us who have taken refuge in him hold on to the confidence we have been given. ¹⁹ We have this confidence as a sure and strong anchor for our lives. This confidence goes into the ⌞holy⌟ place behind the curtain ²⁰ where Jesus went before us on our behalf. He has become the chief priest forever in the way Melchizedek was a priest.

⁴⁵ It’s the same way with the Son of Man. He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”