Jonah: God’s Straying Prophet
“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time saying, ‘Arise and go to Nineveh, that great city and call out against it the message that I tell you’”. So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh.” – Jonah 3:1-3
I. Jonah Demonstrates Blantant Rejection of God
“Now the word of the Lord came to jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.’ But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” – Jonah 1:1-3 (ESV)
A. Jonah demonstrated several avenues of disobedience
1. He was more of a patriot than a prophet
2. He wanted to choose the crowd he would preach to
3. He desired to escape God’s presence
B. We demonstrate disobedience in two basic ways
1. As believers we often put our own interests above God’s will
Examples of People that Demonstrate Believers Putting Our Interests Above God:
- Jonah – Runs from his calling
- Adam & Eve – Succomb to the desires of their flesh, eyes & pride
- Peter – Denied his Lord to avoid ridicule
2. As unbelievers there is the outright rejection of God
“Then Arippa said to Paul, ‘You alomost persuade me to become a Christian’”. – Acts 26:28 (NKJV)
II. Jonah the Stray is Captured By God’s Grace
A. God pursued Jonah
1. He pursued him by preparing a ship
“…he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish…” – Jonah 1:3 (ESV)
2. He pursued him by preparing a storm
“But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea….” – Jonah 1:4 (ESV)
3. He pursued him by preparing a crew on the ship
“Then the mariners were afraid and each cried out to his god…..but Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.” – Jonah 1:5 (ESV
4. He pursued Jonah because he had a purpose for his life
B. God captured Jonah with grace, mercy & forgiveness
1. In Jonah’s darkest moment God extended grace
“And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah” – Jonah 1:17 (ESV)
2. As Jonah’s life was sinking God extended mercy (Jonah 2:1-9)
“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, ‘I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me.” – Jonah 2:2 (ESV)
3. As Jonah was ready to give up God extended forgiveness
“And the Lord spoke to the fish and it vomited Jonah out on the dry land.”
- Jonah 2:10 (ESV)
III. The Restoration of God’s Prophet
“The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time…” – Jonah 3:1a (ESV)
A. God demonstrates his willingness to restore the rebellious
“Arise and go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” – Jonah 3:2
1. His restoration gives you a new purpose
“So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.” – Jonah
3:3a (ESV)
2. His restoration will drive us to obedience
“Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, ‘Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’. – Jonah 3:4a (ESV)
B. When God restores His children good things often follow
“And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them” – Jonah 3:5
1. God will bless our obedience
2. God will bless others through our obedience
3. Our restoration will be a testimony to the culture around us.
