Yesterday we focused on the message of chapter one. There are several key truths packed into those 17 verses. Here are some highlights from the message.
1. God has a MESSAGE for people.
"Now the Word of the Lord came to Jonah...saying, Arise go to Nineveh," God was well aware of the wickedness of Nineveh and he had a message for Jonah to deliver to them. He hasn't changed and in His Word He has a message for us today. Along with His message He needed a messenger to deliver it. Is there a message God has for you? Is there a message He has for you to share with someone you know?
2. MISSIONS has always been on the heart of God.
The prophets of old were used of God to primarily deliver messages to the nation of Israel. Jonah was different. He was called of God to deliver a message to a Gentile nation. Israel was called to be a blessing to the "nations of the earth" (Gen. 22:18). They had failed in their calling. The Assyrians were cruel and evil and God called Jonah to deliver a message of impending judgement (Jonah 3:4). Jonah knew that such a message could serve to call the people to repentance (Jonah 4:2). He would have rather seen them judged that to have seen them repent. In the book of Jonah, we are reminded of God's concern for the nations. Do we have His heart for those in our community, county and country? How missions minded are we?
3. The MAGNITUDE of disobedience.
No man sins alone. The sin of one can have an impact in the lives of others. Jonah's words should cause all of us to think. He said: "I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you." (Jonah 1:12). Jonah's disobedience to the call of God affected....
A. The Sea. God hurled a great wind that stirred up a tempest on the sea (v. 4)4. The MERCY of God.
B. The Ship. The storm was so fierce the ship was about to break apart (v. 4)
C. The Sailors. These experienced mariners "were afraid" (v. 5 and 10)
D. The Stuff on board. Rather than deliver their freight they were pitching it overboard to lighten their load. That's not good for business. (v. 5)
E. The Stamina of Jonah. He was "fast asleep" in the inner part of the ship. How could he sleep through such a violent storm? Most of us sleep to be refreshed, some sleep to be removed from the troubles and trials of life. I think Jonah's spiritual perception and physical health was numbed because he was running from God.
F. The Strength of the sailors. "the men rowed HARD to get back to dry land, but they could not," (v. 13). The storm was too much for these men.
All of this because one man had chosen disobedience. We would be wise to evaluate our own lives and see if their is disobedience in our lives that may be affecting others.
It would be bad if we had to stop now. Thankfully the book of Jonah is a record of God's MERCY!
This is a great theme throughout the book. We see God's mercy to the people of Nineveh, as they repented. We see His mercy in the life of Jonah in the second chance he received to deliver the message to Nineveh. The sailors experienced his mercy when He immediately calmed the sea and in their realization that He was the one true God. The mercy of God is a vibrant message in the four chapters of Jonah.
5. The MIGHT of God.
We also are reminded of the great MIGHT of God. He controls the winds and the waves. He appoints the great fish to swallow the wayward prophet. He answers the prayers of those who turn to Him in repentance. He is with us in our deepest and darkest times. He has the power to change the hearts of men. He controls plants, worms and scorching winds to fulfill his plans. What a mighty God we serve!
Can you say "No" when God says "Go"? Ask Jonah. Is it worth it? I believe it would be better to say...
"I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,Let's decide now that we will not say "No" when God says "Go."
O'er mountain, or plain, or sea;
I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
I'll be what You want me to be."
Pastor Mike
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