Jonah 1:1-17 A POP QUIZ FOR A WORLD FULL OF SLEEPING SAINTS

 Intro: Ill. The background for the book, the call of Jonah and his attempt to out maneuver God. Notice that he path was a downward one, v. 3. The path of disobedience to God can only lead downward. It seems evident from v. 5 that Jonah was the only true believer on board. As such, he had a responsibility to be a bright light for God. Jonah isn’t shining though he is sleeping. While the storm is raging all around, while the heathen mariners call out to their false gods, while every man on board needed help from the true God, the only one who could have made a difference was sound asleep. When the captain of the vessel locates the sleeping prophet, he asks the first of a series of questions that Jonah had to face. As I read this, it is clear to me, that conditions in our world are no different from those on board that ship. The world is engulfed in a great storm, people are perishing and looking for answers to life’s questions. They are looking for someone to point the way. All he while, the church and church people are sound asleep.