CRITICAL NOTES.]
Jonah 1:4. Sent out] Lit. to cast or hurl, passive, to be thrown prostrate. “God throws the wind down upon the surface of the sea.” “Hurled a greate wynde into the see” [Coverdale]. Was like] Lit. thought to be broken. The ship personified; ship and crew identified in the writer’s mind.
Jonah 1:5. Afraid] Though accustomed to storms. Lighten] The sailors and ship under a burden. Fast] A heavy sleep, from a word to snore.
HOMILETICS
THE RETRIBUTIVE STORM.—Jonah 1:4-5
Sin is not only an expensive pleasure, but a disturbing element. In the human heart, the domestic circle, and the Christian Church, it creates storms. Some are permitted to escape from God, not so Jonah. Perverse and self-willed as he may be, God’s grace abounds. God sends a messenger to recover him.
I. The storm and its lessons. Learn—
1. The operations of nature are under Divine control.
(1) In their origin. It is distinctly said, “the Lord sent out a great wind.” Nature is created and dependent; has neither force nor will of her own. All the elements are God’s messengers and obey him (Psalms 147:15-18). Mark the perfect ease and mighty power displayed. He wills, he speaks, and calm and tempest, sunshine and shower, are cast forth upon us (Genesis 1:3; Job 37:1-7). When we expect rest, lo, a messenger to rouse us to a sense of danger! “Winds and tempests fulfil his pleasure.”
(2) In their strength. “A mighty tempest fell upon Jonah.” Storms often swept that sea, were known by special names, as Euroclydon off Crete, but none like this. God gives force to matter and motion to winds. He whispers in the breeze and thunders in the hurricane; he gives strength to the floods and direction to the storm. Regularity does not exclude supreme and personal control. The sudden change in the financial weather which melts our fortune like ice before the spring-time—the rains which frustrate our plans, and the clouds that enter our dwellings, are sent by God. “For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind which lifteth up the waves thereof.”
2. The operations of nature are moral in their design. The wind was sent after Jonah and fell upon him. It had a special end, a moral design. God is accomplishing many purposes in daily providence. By the same process he can punish the sinner and reclaim the backslider. We may see mischief in the storm. One thing may engross our attention, but nothing deranges God’s design. Individual circumstances are adapted to individual character, and national calamities to national morality. The elements are messengers of mercy and judgment. Fire and water, wind and malaria, are sent to reach the disobedient. Fugitives from God will be caught in their transgression. It is better to be recovered by a tempest than perish in a calm.
II. The storm and its effects. God’s efforts are not powerless. Nature roused to fury speaks with no small voice.
1. Its effect upon the ship. “The ship was like to be broken.” Often had it ploughed the sea, but never tossed about as then. What are works of man when seized by the hand of God? Who can contend with the Almighty? Our merchant fleet and men of war are helpless in the raging of the sea. It is needful for all, especially for those who do business on great waters, to own dependence upon God and thank him for a prosperous voyage.
2. Its effect upon the mariners.
(1) They feared. “The mariners were afraid.” Men of careless and jovial spirit matured in peril, trembled in fear. God can damp the most buoyant spirit and rouse the most secure.
(2) They prayed. “And cried each to his God.” Perhaps of different nations each had his favourite idol. They were sensible men, knew that their own power and wisdom would not avail in that tempest. Prayer is a law of our constitution and the most sensible part of our conduct. But many do not pray until they get on the sea. In a calm they forget God; in a storm, alarmed by danger, roused by affliction, they feel conscious of sin, and cry to God for help. But better late than never. When forced to feel that we cannot flee from God, it may be acceptable to return in prayer to him (Psalms 107). “Lord, in trouble have they visited thee; they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.”
(3) They cast out their wares. God’s purpose does not excuse man’s neglect. Men risk life sometimes to get wealth; but when life is in danger they will part with the most valuable treasures to keep it. “All that a man hath will he give for his life.” Spiritually we should be anxious to save the soul. Every besetting sin in the race, every cumber in the voyage, must be cast away. Worldly cares and pursuits which endanger the soul and raise the anger of God must be forsaken. The crew with Paul threw overboard all the merchandise. Lay aside all encumbrance. Life is more value than cargo. Forsake all sin, and you will pray with greater speed than Jonah’s mariners. “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”
HOMILETIC HINTS AND OUTLINES
Fear brings many recruits into the army of Christ, who afterwards fight under his banner from love of his service. The cry of sorrow often turns into the pleading of true contrition and filial dependence (Acts 16:27-34; Isaiah 26:16-18). To his grace be the glory. It is well to find these heathen sailors not sunk into a stupid insensibility, nor bewildered with extreme terror, two common effects of imminent danger on bold and irreligious minds, especially in their profession. But one thing alone gives true peace in danger: assurance of God’s love (2 Corinthians 5:5-8). Do we enjoy it? do we seek it [Sibthorp]?
In the prayer of the mariners notice,
1. The light of nature which instructed them to recognize a Supreme Being.
2. The power of conscience to hear him speak in anger in the storm.
3. The impotence of idolatry in distress. Their prayers were earnest, though ignorant. But we learn that the deities of pagan lands and sentimental religionists are deaf and dumb like the gods of Baal. “The natural light of reason extends thus far, that it considers God kind, gracious, merciful, and mild. This is a great light; but it fails in two particulars. In the first place, it believes that God has power and knowledge to do and to give; but that he is willing also to do such things for it, it knows not; therefore it does not continue steadfast in its opinion. In the second place, reason cannot correctly bestow the predicate of Deity upon that being to whom it belongs. It knows that God is; but who and what he is who has a right to be called God it knows not” [Lange].—
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 1
Jonah 1:4-5. Storm. Some years ago an infidel embarked at Buffalo with a printing-press, to set up an infidel publication in Cleveland. He annoyed the passengers by his zeal to discuss the subject of religion. When a storm arose and threatened them with destruction, he was not only willing to throw overboard his press, but was conspicuous for his prayers and cries for mercy. When the storm was over, and he found himself a laughing-stock among the wicked and an object of pity to the pious, he went back to his infidelity and blamed his early education in superstition, as he called it, for his fright and prayers [Mitchell].