Jonah 1:10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him. Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.
Another passage that is thrown around quite loosely is the one which promises protection from invisible and visible foes, of which the invisible ones are the most dangerous…. Psalms 34: 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them….. Again, the text is a qualified statement, beginning with “This poor man cried”, which begs the question of who falls into the category of this poor man.
The bible specifically says that the angel of God encamps around them who fear Him. Now, it is true that any poor man can cry unto God in his despair, and we encourage every poor man to do so, because God delights in mercy. For instance, when Jonah was running away from the mission he was sent on by God, several poor men began to pray like they never prayed before, and God heard them.
Now, it is the will of God that after these poor men receive their blessing, that they would be seeking a relation with the God who saved them, because the Bible says that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. And, it seems as if the poor men in the narrative, responded positively…. Jonah 1: 5 Then 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. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
Jonah 1:14 Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, we beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!