Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. 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. So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. 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. Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. 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. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallw up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:1-17
Jonah! "Yonah"! His name means DOVE!
Jonah was a brave but obstinate man of God.
He was the dove that dove downwards in a futile effort to escape the mandate of God above!
Jonah appeared to be the only preacher known who was disappointed by the huge success of his ministry. He cared about a plant dying more than he cared about the people of Nineveh!
Moving in directions opposite to God’s will is never a good idea!
When Jonah moved his own way he endangered others but when he decided to obey Yahweh he saved the whole city!
“Nineveh, capital city of the Assyrian empire, is located in the modern city of Mosul, Iraq. The oldest and most populous city of the ancient Assyrian Empire, situated on the east bank of the Tigris opposite modern Mosul, Iraq. This “exceeding great city” lay on the eastern or left bank of the river Tigris, along which it stretched for some 30 miles, having an average breadth of 10 miles or more from the river back toward the eastern hills.” WWW
Jonah was a caring person but he only cared about his own! God had to take him down to teach him a lesson which he still had a hard time learning! His sense of loyalty was so warped that he even cared about a plant more than he cared about people!
Jesus endorsed Jonah!
And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. Luke 11:29-30
Jonah’s ministry was endorsed by Jesus.
Jonah was endorsed as a prophet
Jonah was endorsed as a sign to the Ninevites
Jonah was endorsed as having a successful mission.
In verses 1&2 we note God’s awareness of sin, aversion to sin, compassion for sinners, and concern for sinners. It results in His response through Jonah!
It’s noted that the wickedness of the city came up before God! Its sin was a foul smell in God’s nostrils. The stench of its sin assailed the Holy Nature of God and became an affront to His Holiness. Unlike mankind God cannot ignore sin. He will ultimately move against it in whatever form and wherever He finds it whether in the world, the church or our personal lives.
The Discriminating Ability of Smell
Our sense of smell is something we usually take for granted but it plays an important role in our life. The average human being is able to recognize approximately 10,000 different odors.
Every home has some kind of air freshener or incense that gives off a sweet scent for a reason! We use perfume, deodorants and cologne for a reason! There are some scents that are definitely unpleasant to our sense of smell. We are always drawn to pleasant scents but we have a tendency to move away from the unpleasant! However if we force ourselves to remain in the environment that is unpleasant we can become accustomed, accepting and desensitized to what we would normally abhor! Some are more fastidious than others and are constantly cleaning and sanitizing! It’s a very odd person indeed who is content to live in continuous stench and squalor!
I remember passing the Diamond Sugar Estate on the East Bank of Demerara on the way to the Timehri Airport in Guyana. It was a standing joke that one had to hold one’s breath while passing because of the horrible stench. We use to remark on the people living in houses built in the area and their exposure to the constant stench of the water. How could they stand it? They had become accustomed to it! They had become desensitized to the stench. It had become a normal thing to them.
The Distinctive Aroma of Sin
In similar manner we can give forth distinctive scents in the spiritual realm! We are referred to as a sweet savor before God: Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 KJV
We need examine the scent of our lives before God. We also need to evaluate the scent of our congregation, community and country before God, for if we become offensive before Him and our stench assails His Holy Nostrils we are setting up ourselves up for a Disinfecting Purge! The Bible says: Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. Ecc 10:1
It’s useless to try covering up sin before God. It’s like a festering sore that only becomes bigger and gets worse with time if not taken care of!
Sin assailed His nostrils in Noah’s days as well as in Lot’s days. When we allow sin to become a ruling force in our lives, God no longer respects our sacrifices and displays of religious activities.
The Divine Abhorrence of Sin
The stench of wickedness assailed God’s nostrils. How often do we allow stench to remain around us?
It’s notable that a little sin in our life can be a serious stench before God!
How many times is it noted in the Word that the wickedness of a city or a nation rose up before God?
The sound of wickedness resounds in the heavens and assaults the senses of Yahweh.
It crowds out the praises and worship and therefore must be dealt with.
Do we not realize the kind of tumult our nation’s sins and our cities’ wickedness make in the presence of God?
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:10-15
bdélugma- translated Abomination is a noun from bdelússo, to emit a foul odor, to turn away through loathing or disgust, abhor. (Complete Word Study Dictionary)It’s a thing of disgust to God!
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV
A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 11:1 KJV
They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. Proverbs 11:20 KJV
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. Proverbs 12:22 KJV
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. Proverbs 15:8 KJV
The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. Proverbs 15:9 KJV
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. Proverbs 15:26 KJV
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. Proverbs 16:12 KJV
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. Proverbs 17:15 KJV
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Proverbs 28:9 KJV
I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom. Isa 65:1-7
SIN HAS THE STENCH OF ETERNAL DEATH! ONLY THE BLOOD OF JESUS AVAILS!
The Divine Availability of Salvation!
How often we should stop to think of the mercy and long suffering of God as He pleads with man to repent?
He is not willing that any should perish! The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 AMP
We need to examine our cities and nation today to determine where we are positioned in God’s judgment timetable
Do we not see the accuser making his case before God as he accuses us of disobedience and indifference to the Word of God?
We not only overcome him by the Blood of the Lamb but by the word of our testimony as well.
Does our testimony align with what the Blood says, which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel can utter? While Abel’s blood screamed bloody vengeance on his killer crying out GET HIM...the Blood of Christ cried out in love, mercy and triumph I’VE GOT THEM BACK!
The Blood speaks of the necessity of a sacrifice for sin because of the horrendous character of sin before God!
The Blood speaks of the necessity for a cleansing because of the horrible corruption of sin.
The Blood speaks of the necessity of a death because of the heinous consequence of sin.
The Blood speaks of the necessity of a warning because of the horrific casualties of sin!
The Divine Authorization of Saints
If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it does it make a sound?
Theoretically yes but practically no.
Why?
Simply because there is no one present to hear it!
For the message to become practical it must be heard!
For the message to be heard it must be preached or taught!
For the message to be preached or taught there must be preachers and teachers with a mission!
In effect it’s as Paul said “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" Romans 10:14-15
We have no doubt heard the smooth phrase "some were sent while others merely went"! I have also been guilty of using it!
However notice that Philip WENT down to Samaria before he was SENT to the dessert!
Peter and John went up to the temple to pray and the cripple was healed!
Many continue to wait until they are sent and will find life spent while they never went!
We are all sent in the command to go. We are all commissioned to spread the good news of the kingdom. What if they do not hear? We will have obeyed!
We are all endowed with a ministry of reconciliation.
It’s our calling as saints to shine as light for the glory of the Father! Let us not allow anything patriotic, petulant, private, public, to hinder us from letting the light of God shine. There is a limit to His patience where sin is concerned! (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV Remember NOW is the accepted time! NOW is the day of salvation!
