• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land"

Text: Jonah 1:13

THE SUGGESTION OF JONAH

Jonah had asked to be thrown into the sea. However, this idea was initially rejected. It sounded horrendous to the ancient mariners. Their immediate response was to work even harder in saving the ship.

“Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land,
but they could not, for the sea continued to grow
more tempestuous against them.”
Jonah 1:13

1. Ancient ships

a) They had sails.

b) They also had oars just in case the sails get torn or the masts broken.

2. In a storm

a) Sails would be useless.

b) They would be torn in shreds quickly.

c) Masts with full sails would risk being broken easily.

3. “Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land”

a) The sails were down.

b) Oars were used.

c) Great effort was made to bring the ship back to shore.

4. “But they could not”

a) Every effort was made.

b) But they could not beat the force of the storm.

5. “The sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them”

a) The sailors have been in storms before.

b) Storms do not last forever.

c) They tend to die down after a while.

d) Then oars may be used to bring the ship back to land safely.

e) But in this instance, the storm seemed to grow worse and worse.

f) It seemed as if this storm was reacting against their efforts.

g) Every effort made by the mariners resulted in the storm becoming more furious.

h) The mariners were at their wits’ end.

Could Jonah’s suggestion be the right one to take?