So the captain came and said to [Jonah], “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

Jonah 1:1-6 

So the captain came and said to [Jonah], “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.” Jonah 1:6

I completed my study of Hebrews, and I begin a study in Jonah to supplement my church's current sermon series in this book.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V1: God speaks and works as He is accessible and available to people through various forms - most prominently through His Word, the Holy Spirit, the church (sermons, Bible studies, etc.).  V2: When God speaks, we are prodded into action - this time Jonah is called to go to Nineveh and urge the people to repent of their sin.  V4: Disobedience to God has consequences - for many, when such rebellion persists it will be eternal damnation.  Here, God causes a great wind and tempest - "so that the ship threatened to break up."   Vv5-6: Jonah is so comfortable with his sin that He goes to sleep, feeling deserving of rest.  We may think we will get away with sin but no sin is hidden from God. God stirs fear into the mariners on Jonah's ship - God is seeking to get Jonah's attention and He works through not just the wind/storm but also through the mariners (captain) stirring Jonah to call out to (his) God. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V3: Jonah rebelled against God's authority and command, as he fled to Tarshish - about as far away as one can go from Nineveh at the time (see this map).  The text is silent why Jonah fled but there are many reasons why someone would flee from God - fear of punishment, fear of failure, disagreement with or objection to God's commands, etc.  What we do know is that Nineveh was the capital city of the of Assyrian Empire - a known enemy of Israel. Vv5-6: Anxiety and panic forces a response, often not the right response.  In the text today, the mariners "each cried out to his god," but this did not lead to the outcome God was seeking, which was for Jonah to preach to Nineveh.  The captain sought for Jonah to call upon God (not even knowing who Jonah's God was) - this was the right move for the captain but God sought for Jonah's heart to move....
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid rebellion against God.  Claim the promise that obedience to God is not burdensome (1 John 5:3b) as it is a natural response based on our love and adoration for Him. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who alone forgives and offers eternal life!  I know that when I cry out to You that You not only hear me but respond!  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You love, save, and bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.