Studies in Jonah, No. 8The Reluctant Prophet · part 8 of 29Rev. Ivan Foster · Sunday - AMJonah 1:4-5 · Sun Feb 25, 2007
"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. Having consider the fact that the Lord need not hurry to catch runaway man, such is the army of agents at His disposal; and having considered also God's sovereignty over the universe as He dispatched the wind after Jonah; we now turn to - HOW IMMUNE TO GOD'S DEALINGS A BELIEVER MAY BE Jonah 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. Hebrews 3:13, 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.
ID: 2250717541 · Studies in Jonah, No. 8