Jonah ch 1 v 10 - 17
I. GOD'S MOTIVATION OF FEAR. v 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.11 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.
A. The Severity Of Their Fear. v 10 a Then were the men exceedingly afraid,
(a) The Reason For Their Fear
I. THEY QUESTIONED HIS PREOCCUPATION v. 5-6 v 6 What meanest thou, O sleeper?
Rom. 13:11-14 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
II. THEY QUESTIONED HIS PROFESSION v. 7-8 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. 8 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?
III. THEY QUESTIONED HIS PEDIGREE v.8 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?
Questioned His Work What is thine occupation?
His Way Whence comest thou?
His Worship what is thy country?
His Witness of what people art thou?
IV. THEY QUESTIONED HIS PURPOSE v.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.
Note 2 Cor.7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (b) The Reality Of Their Fear exceedingly afraid, And the men fear a great fear,
(c) The Result Of Their Fear and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? Luke 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
B. The Shock Of Their Fear. v 10 For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
Fighting the Lord Is :-
(a) Foolish Why hast thou done this?
(b) Futile v.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
(c) Fatal Why hast thou done this?
C. The Solution To Their Fear v 11 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. Sought Light Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
THE TRUTH OF NATURAL RELIGION
1. THERE IS A GOD,
2. SIN ANGERS GOD,
3. GOD PUNISHES SIN.
2. GOD'S MOTIVATION OF FAITH. v12 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.
A. MOTIVATING A . . REVEALING TESTIMONY. for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. B. MOTIVATING A . . REGRETFUL TESTIMONY. Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; C. MOTIVATING A . . REGAL TESTIMONY. so shall the sea be calm unto you: 1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
3. GOD'S MOTIVATION OF FAILURE OF GOOD WORKS. v 13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
A. A FUTILITY IN WORKS DONE . . ENERGETICALLY. And the men row to turn back unto the dry land, and are not able, for the sea is more and more tempestuous against them.(YLT)
B. A FUTILITY IN WORKS DONE . . EARNESTLY. Eph 2 v 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
C. A FUTILITY IN WORKS DONE . . EAGERLY 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.
ILLUSTRATION:
Once upon a time there were three monkeys standing on a seesaw. Above them hung a bunch of bananas.
4. GOD'S MOTIVATION OF FERVENCY. v 14-15 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. 15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
Note The FERVENCY A.IN THEIR CRY. JON 1:14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD
Mark 10 v 46 ¶ And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. B. IN THEIR CONCERN. v. 14 We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood Acts 2 v 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? C. IN THEIR CONSENT. v 15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
ILLUSTRATION:
Donald Grey Barnhouse told the following story: A young son of a missionary couple in Zaire was playing in the yard. Suddenly the voice of the boy's father rang out from the porch, "Philip, obey me instantly! Drop to your stomach!" "Now crawl toward me as fast as you can!" "Stand up and run to me!" 5. GOD'S MOTIVATION OF FRUIT. v 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. A. FRUIT EVIDENCED IN FEAR. JON 1:16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly B. FRUIT EVIDENCED IN FAITH. and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. C. FRUIT EVIDENCED IN FOUNDATION and made vows.
