“But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that [were] in the ship into the sea, to lighten [it] of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.” Jonah 1:4-5.

“But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea.” I meant to mention this last week but I will now. The Hebrew word translated ‘sent out’ appears first in 1 Samuel 18:11 as ‘cast’. See also verses 5, 12, & 15.

Consider today:— 

HOW UNAWARE OF GOD’S DEALINGS A BELIEVER MAY BE

He was unconscious of it all. He was “fast asleep.”

1. Sin tends to numb the heart and spiritual senses.

Fleeing from God will end in a sleep that blinds us to God’s anger and displeasure. It is out of his sight. Grace turns our stony hearts to flesh while sin will turn our softened hearts to stone. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin,” Hebrews 3:13. “Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness,” Ephesians 4:19.

2. While others are agitated, the backslider seems at ease and content.

What a delusion has taken over Jonah’s heart and mind.

3. Such a state results in even more folly.

He is in mortal danger but sleeps. His state is as Samson’s. He sees not nor senses the great danger he is in. Sin is a drug of the heart, the mind, the soul. It can produce a state of stupor from which only the Holy Ghost can arouse the soul.