JONAH 1:8
SIMPLE SAILORS SEEK SOLUTIONS
I. SIMPLE-NESS:
A. Superstitious.
B. Sensible.
C. Steady.
II. SINCERITY:
A. Seekers.
B. Scrupulous.
C. Sympathetic.
III. SEASONED:
A. Sagacity.
B. Sensitivity.
C. Saddened.
The scene on the high Mediterranean Sea centuries ago was not one from which one could draw comfort. The Sea was still rolling and tossing while the winds blew unceasingly. The sky was still dark with angry clouds and the ship was tossing and turning trying to stay afloat. The sailors had ceased their praying and had gone to casting lots. The people stood as best they could, holding on to the sides of the ship and onto anything else that was not moving. All eyes had now turned to the Hebrew who stood facing everyone on board and his God whom no one saw, but he knew, nevertheless that He was there facing him. While everyone waited on hearing from him, he suddenly felt the weight of the world had fallen on his shoulders.
Jonah faced a dilemma, “What should he do?” If he lied to the people, they would soon know it and yet to tell the truth, was even more dangerous due to what possible consequences awaited him. Here he was-at the end of his tether. He knew he had brought this calamity on these innocent people. He knew that it was his fault that the ship had to toss over all of its wares. He knew that at any moment the ship could go down and it would be his fault. What was he to do and furthermore, what would be the response of the sailors as they heard him tell the reason. In that fraction of a moment, the surprise of a life time comes to the surface. In place of anger on the part of these sailors, he sees compassion and kindness something which he was not prepared to witness. Yet, there it was and the kindness came in the form of a series of questions posed by these people who did not claim to serve the God of all gods. As he stood there looking at these sailors he had to realize that these men were kinder to him than he was to them. These sailors showed him more compassion than what he showed the people of Nineveh and what he showed to those who were on this troubled vessel.
As I study the verse before me, I see three things about these sailors which shows some great personal traits and even eclipsed Jonah who was supposed to be God’s man at this time. The first thing I note about these sailors is their SIMPLE ways. This word is meant in the kindest way and it is in no way used in a derogatory setting in describing these sailors. Next, I note the utter and childlike SINCERITY of these sailors. Then, I note the kindness of these sea going men, how SEASONED they were when faced with a problem at sea. Taken together, they outshone Jonah that day and with these good characteristics, it is easier to see why these sailors later came to believe in and confess God to be their new God.
I. SIMPLE: These sailors, in all likelihood, were probably men of the working class. It is unlikely that they were educated and they probably never had much schooling-if any in their lives. They were no doubt born to poor working people and began their working days at an early age. What learning they were able to acquire was probably that of the lower class. In all probability, they were not expected to achieve much in this life and they really had little in life to anticipate except hard labor. Such was the common lot of the common man. All of this is not to belittle these men, it is just meant to state what was the fare of so many workers in that day and time.
Along with their “schooling” or lack there of, it can be safely assumed-based on the text-that these sailors were Superstitious. The casting of lots meant that they were believers in forces which were beyond their control. They turned from their religious prayers and began to cast lots to seek an answer to their dilemma. There is also a high probability that their religion was based in a great deal of illogical beliefs and practices. It is also a fact that people who practice such Superstitious practices can be very irrational and can do things which are not logical. However, these sailors-if they were Superstitious certainly behaved in a most commendable way towards this Hebrew as he stood there before them. They treated him with respect and dignity as they asked him several questions. They did not harm him as they could have done, but they treated him with respect and dignity-more than what he treated them.
Not only were these sailors probably inclined to be Superstitious, but they were Sensible. Note the questions they asked of Jonah. The queries they plied to this Hebrew were not such to bring him embarrassment, but they were questions that were honest questions and came from minds that thought in a logical fashion. Everything that they had tried before to end the storm had failed them and now with the casting of lots, and the end result of this action-whether it was of a Superstitious manner or was that which was ordered by God-these sailors calmly and with great desire to fine the truth made Sensible questions to Jonah. They did not berate him; they did not belittle him; they did not threaten him with dire consequences if he did not “level” with them, they merely asked him questions that were reasonable and direct.
It is still worth the note, that these sailors were SIMPLE, hardworking men, who may have been irrational in many aspects of their lives and thinking, yet were rational
in their approach to Jonah as he stood before them, they were also Steady in their time of great testing. While the ship rocked and rolled in the mighty storm which befell the vessel, these SIMPLE sailors were in no hurry to cast Jonah over board. Time might have been of the essence, but these men were calm, deliberate and Steady in their quest for the truth. What a contrast between them and Jonah. Jonah, believed in the God of the universe and was not prone to inculcate any Superstitious practices in his faith in God. Jonah was certainly not Sensible in his desire to flee from God and he certainly was not Steady in his actions. Yet, here he stood before men who were the opposite of him and they meant no harm to him while he had already done much harm to them by his rebellion and impetuousness. He should be the one who was in control, but he stood at the mercy of these sailors who were all that he was not and the worse was yet to come.
II. SINCERITY: I have studied some of the simple characteristics of these sailors. Now, I turn to another admirable characteristic of them: their utter SINCERITY in certain aspects of their lives.
The first thing I note regarding their genuineness of conducting themselves was in regard to them being Seekers after the truth. These sailors were more interested in finding out the reason for the storm rather than to take drastic actions. I have to admire men such as these men; they were not hasty to form adverse opinions about Jonah, but really wanted to know some answers to the reasons of “Why” they were in the straits they found themselves.
Again I notice a contrast between these wayward men as compared to a man of God. Jonah, at least from the text, never took the time to honestly see the truth about what he was supposed to do, but ran away, not seeking the reason behind God’s call. Sometimes, one can ask of God and He does give answers, while at other times He wishes His servant to simply trust Him and He will show the reason later. Jonah did not seek the truth-he ran. These sailors, once they found the lots settled upon Jonah, wanted to take time and find out “Why;” they were gentlemen to this stranger and they simply wanted to know the background behind the reason for the storm and felt that Jonah would supply them with his answers.
Besides being in earnest with their inquires to Jonah, they were Scrupulous in their covering all aspects of the reasons as to why they were in the situation they were held. Notice the questions they asked of Jonah! They were methodical and logical in their questioning of this man. The queries they proposed were not frivolous-they were sincere. Their lives were being held in the balance and they took their time in trying to find out as much information as possible.
Again, I have to hand it to these men for their seriousness of making sure that Jonah knew exactly what they wanted from him. They refused to rush to judgment before they knew all of the facts. That is exactly the opposite of what Jonah did. He ran and did not stay to seek God’s will and then to act on it. The only part of God’s will he understood was to go and preach to the people of Nineveh and that was as far as he got. What he knew of God’s plan was enough for him to disobey. Far too many sinners are in the same situation as Jonah was. They know enough of God’s call upon them, but they never stop to view the complete aspect of obeying God-instead they run. While the storm raged on the Sea, these sailors took the time to examine every aspect of their situation as they thought Jonah would reveal to them.
In their SINCERITY of being true Seekers of the truth and to not leave any stone unturned regarding the present circumstance, these sea going men were above all, Sympathetic to Jonah.
Notice they took the time to investigate instead of throwing him overboard. In fact, it was Jonah not these men who suggested that he be jettisoned off the ship into the angry waves. These men had every right to grab this Hebrew by the nape of his neck and without even thinking about their actions throw him overboard. He was unconcerned while they were rowing to try and get to land. Remember, he was asleep while they were praying. No, not these men, they were compassionate to this man who now stood before them with answers of which they wanted to hear. He was not carrying his share of the load while all were fretting. There he stood, a shirker, while they were workers. They could have said, “Overboard to you, oh worthless man-you are the cause of our trouble,” but they were restrained and gentlemen in their concern for his safety: more than what he had been for their well being.
One may say what one wants to say about these men who remain nameless, but I have to take my “hat off to them” for their restraint and their kindness towards this errant prophet of God. They were better followers of their ways than the man of God was of his ways. May people never say that about we Christians. May we live what we preach and preach what we live. As my old Theology professor used to say to we preachers-more than once, “Consistency, thou art the jewel.” Amen, Doctor Perry.
III. SEASONED: I come now to the last part of my sermon regarding these seamen. I noticed that they were simple in their approach to the situation at hand. While they were credulous they were also rational and collected in their dealing with the situation. I also see where they were earnest and were seeking after truth.
I come to the point where I can say these men were veterans when having to deal with problems on the high seas. The first part of their not rushing to judgment is what I call their Sagacity, their level headedness. They were sure that this stranger who now stood before them was somehow connected to the storm and their perilous situation but they wanted to hear him out first. These men are to be congratulated because so often we tend to judge people by a set standard and really allow little or no room for anyone to deviate from our set norm of thinking. Jesus ran into this problem with the Pharisees and the results were nothing but disharmony. May the prayer of my heart be, that I take time to evaluate each person and each circumstance in the light of what Jesus would do.
Besides these men being levelheaded, they were also Sympathetic to Jonah. Sensing that this man was in some type of trouble, they were the last ones to want to throw him “to the wolves.” I cannot help but wonder how much hurt we Christians have inflicted on the Name of Jesus by our refusal to be Sympathetic to some other Christian.
Recently, my wife and I were privilege to visit Israel. I enjoyed seeing the places mentioned in the Bible. I enjoyed and felt awed by the fact that at some places I walked on stones and stairs where He walked. Yet in Jerusalem, with so many different Christian bodies, the witness for our Lord has been dimmed by many who are not considerate of other Christians. In one church, the Egyptian Orthodox share the same building grounds with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Every day, one priest from each body sets and stares across a brick pavement at his counterpart. If by chance one representative of these bodies of Christian believers is not present in the morning, the one who is there goes and has the locks changed on the doors in order to lock out the absent Christian body. This is just one example of Christians not being kindly disposed to one another and the Moslems world looks on and laughs. May I not be that way. May I take a cue from these sailors and be kindly disposed to ones who do not look like me or who are different from me. These sailors were sensitive to the plight of Jonah and treated him with respect.
Besides being Sagacious and Sensitive to this foreigner, I also thing these seamen were Saddened on account of Jonah. They knew that he had been withdrawn from them and only now was he standing before them due to the captain’s orders. Then, when the lot fell to Jonah, he had no place to go and they sensed that something was amiss. These sailors had a heart after all.
I cannot help but think that these rough sea going men put me to shame in my walk with Christ. They were SEASONED sailors. Their lives were in danger at any moment and yet they were sensitive to their passenger and they were perceptive to him and his plight. Something told them that they should be kind to this man and not rush to judgment on him. They had every reason to demand that he tell everything and then they could have thrown him over board as they did their ware, but they did not. In place of anger, they must have been a bit smitten with pity on him.
I wonder how often I have been just the opposite with people whom I rub elbows on a day by day existence? What about my family? How many times have I been short and un Christ like to my wife and my children? How many times have things been going bad for me and I rushed to judgment and said un kind and hurtful things to the ones I love? How many times have I been in a hurry and did not give someone else the opportunity to speak for oneself? How many times should I have had pity and should have been saddened on what I noticed from others and in place of these earmarks, I brushed them aside? How many times have I been rude, hasty and obnoxious and left people crying over what I said or the way I treated them? I do not know the exact amount but I know I have done more damage to others due to my senseless manners than what I want to count. These sailors, with all that they were facing, were tested men and they exhibited more grace than I have exhibited in many ways. These sailors were SEASONED men and they showed more restraint than Jonah showed to the people of Nineveh. It is no wonder that they were shocked when he finally confessed to them that he was the fault of the trouble.
In spite of it all, their restraint and kindness helped pave the way for their acceptance of God as their God. They faced a man who was in need and he made others be in need, yet their hearts were able to be overcome with the presence of God on that Sea so long ago. I do not know what type of believers these sailors turned out to be, but if I could postulate, I think that with their display of so much kindness towards Jonah, these men became hearty followers of God and made good missionaries wherever they went from that time forth. May that be my goal also to exhibit Christ the best I can so others will see Him in me and they will turn to accept Him as their Saviour.
