Charles Spurgeon Commentary Jonah 1:5

"Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep." — Jonah 1:5 (ASV)

Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god,—

If there is ever a special time for prayer, it is a time of need.

Nature then seems to compel men to utter prayer of such a sort as it is, for it is but nature's prayer at the best: The mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god,—

And cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them.

Life is precious, and a man will give up everything else in order to save it.

Satan spoke the truth when he said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath, will he give for his life.

From the action of these mariners, we may learn that sometimes we may lighten our ship for the safety of our souls. When we have less to carry, we will probably sail more safely. Losses and crosses may turn out to be our greatest gains. Let the ill-gotten ingots go to the bottom of the sea; and see, the ship rights herself at once!

But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep (Jonah 1:5).

The greatest sinner on that ship appeared to be the least concerned about the storm which had come because of him; he did not even seem to know that there was a storm, for he had gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.