Question

why does Edwards claim that non-believers are akin to spiders in sinners in the hands of an angry god

Answer 1

Spiders are powerless should a rock fall on them. 

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

Answer:

The answer to the question is that, Jonathan Edwards, as portrayed through his speech "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", believed in a wrathful and vengeful God, and in the fact that man was only kept from going to hell and suffering because of the mercy of God, as long as people did what God wanted them to do. Sinners, are the very representation of that which goes against God´s will, and they are happy to be there. Edwards likens sinners to spiders because spiders are animals that are easily squashed and killed, which to Edwards is exactly what sinful people are expected to receive from God, when the time comes; to be squashed by God for having disobeyed him.