INTRODUCTION
I do not know about you, but my life has been one gracious second chance from God after another. If I had a half penny for every time the Lord has picked my sorry hide up off the ground, I would be the wealthiest man on the planet. I am truly thankful not only that the Lord has saved me, but has kept me saved for all of these years – and will throughout eternity!
OUTLINE
I. Second Chance is Required. 1:1-16
A. The Chance. 1:1-2
B. The Wrong Choice. 1:3
C. The Chase. 1:4-16
II. Second Chance Received. 1:17-3:10
A. Jonah’s Conveyance. 1:17
B. Jonah’s Compliance. 2:1-9
C. Jonah’s Second Chance. 2:10-3:10
III. Second Chance can be Rejected. 4:1-11
A. Jonah Languished. 4:1-5
B. Jehovah’s Lesson. 4:6-11
BACKGROUND TO THE BOOK OF JONAH
Intro:
1. In Basketball one of the most important skills for players to have is the ability to rebound. Rebounds occur because a shot somewhere has been missed. There is no need for a rebound unless something has been missed. If a shot was missed, that means a shot was attempted, but somehow something went wrong in the attempt that caused the shot to be missed, and therefore, we have the need for a rebound. One reason a shot can be missed is that a player was off in their perspective. They may have shot too short, too long, too hard, or too soft. Another reason that shots are missed in basketball games is because the opposing team is in a player’s face. It’s the job of the opposing team to wave their hands in the shooter’s face and obstruct their view. They are supposed to provide a distraction. Sometimes shots are missed because a player is fouled. A foul means that a player has been illegitimately handled, producing an inability for them to make the shot. Any coach will want their player to go for a rebound on their missed shot. In the Bible, there are lots of people who missed shots. Many of God’s servants missed their target and had to deal with the consequences of missing their shot. In fact, a study of the Word of God will turn up many people whom God used who were on the rebound.
2. Jonah missed a golden opportunity to obey God, but by the grace of God, God allowed Jonah to rebound. That same God is our God, and He still allows us to rebound, to have a second chance, to make a U-turn, to do a do-over.
3. The God of the Second Chance.
Trans: Let us begin by looking at the background of the book of Jonah.
First, this is one of the twelve books that we call “The Minor Prophets.”
I. FIRST, THE AUTHOR.
A. His Reality.
This is a real person, in a real historical narrative:
1. Jonah was seen in the historical Record (2Kg 14:25).
2. Jewish tradition Recognized this book as historical (Josephus, Antiquities IX, 10:2 and the apocryphal Book of Tobit 14:4ff.).
Flanigan notes, “Josephus, the Jewish historian, writes but briefly about Jonah but follows the ancient Jewish tradition which firmly accepts that the story of Jonah is authentic literal history, not folklore or fable but an integral part of the canon of inspired Scriptures.”
3. Christ’s Reference to Jonah can be seen in Mt 12:39-41; 16:4, and Lk 11:29-32. Jonah’s experience in the fish is seen as a sign of Christ’s death and resurrection (Mt 12:39-40; 16:4; Lk 11:29-32), and the response of Nineveh to Jonah’s preaching was a rebuke to the unbelieving Jews of Christ’s day (Mt 12:41; Lk 11:32).
Dr. Tatford comments:
“Our Lord’s references to Jonah were quite incompatible with any doubt as to the reliability and authenticity of the book. His statements in Matthew 12:38-42; 16:4; Luke 11:29-32 showed plainly that He accepted the account of Jonah’s experiences and the effect of His ministry upon the people of Nineveh. It is clear that He did not regard the book as parabolical or mythological, but as completely historical. He referred to Jonah almost in the same breath as Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, as though all the events which He mentioned were equally authentic.”
4. A Reading of it indicates that it is a historical account.
Daniel Arnold notes:
The author provides an historical framework for his account. Not only is the prophet mentioned by name, but the book begins like historical accounts do (see Commentary, 1: 1 p. 99). These first elements are very important, because they guide the course of the entire reading. “The reader’s initial reaction to the text will determine how he continues to view the narrative. If the opening lines are stylistically in keeping with other historical narratives, it is only natural that he should treat the text as factual.
Years ago in Chicago two homosexuals by the names of Leopold and Loeb were brought to trial for the murder of a young man. Their lawyer was the well-known agonistic defense attorney Clarence Darrow, the man famous for the arguments at the Scopes’ trial regarding the teaching of evolution in the public schools of Tennessee. The Chicago trial was a long one, but at last drew to a close and Darrow found himself summing up the evidence. The testimony of one witness had been particularly damaging. So Darrow referred to it, saying, “Why, a person could as easily believe this man’s testimony as he could believe that the whale swallowed Jonah.”
If truth were known the reason why people reject this book as historical is because they reject God and His sovereign power! By the way there were some on the jury that day that did believe the fish had swallowed Jonah and convicted Leopold and Loeb as guilty!
The people’s problem is not with Jonah and the fish but with the power of God!
O. S. Hawkins notes, “Why should we think it strange that God could prepare a fish to swallow Jonah? If you were in my city today, I would take you to Port Everglades. Docked in that port, you would find a nuclear submarine, a great vessel of human ingenuity and engineering, that can keep persons alive for several months under the sea. If human being’s can prepare an iron fish like that, why do some of us have difficulty believing that God who made the world and flung the stars in space could perform a miracle as mundane as preparing a fish for a runaway prophet named Jonah?”
It reminds me of an atheist who was mocking a Christian about Jonah being swallowed by the fish. He said, “How could he live for 3 days in the belly of the fish?” The Christian replied, “I don’t know, but when I get to heaven I’m going to ask him about it.” The atheist said, “Well, what if he is not there?” He replied, “Then you ask him!”
B. His Identity.
He was a prophet (2 Ki. 14:25/Mt. 12:39; 16:4/Lu. 11:29).
He is the author of the book of Jonah – Jon. 1:1.
Henry Morris notes:
The Book of Jonah was almost certainly written originally by the prophet himself. It was written in the third person, but this was a common style of writing, even in autobiographical narratives. No one would have been able to write about his unique experiences except Jonah himself.
Jonah means “dove” and even the meaning of his name brings to mind the idea of a second chance. This word is used in the Noah story in Genesis 8. Noah sends the dove three times to look for land. The first time the dove returns, it failed to find land. So it is given a second chance and succeeds, it comes back with a “plucked-off olive leaf” (Genesis 8: 11). Jonah likewise after failing is given a second chance!
God is the God of the second chance!
The Huffington Post ran a beautiful story about a church in Honolulu called Bluewater Mission. This small church started a restaurant called Seed, which gives people a second chance at work and at life. The article focused on a woman named Mary Nelson, who started working at Seed last year. It was only the second job the 53-year-old had ever had. At the age of 14, Nelson's mother committed suicide and she started working on the streets of New York City as a prostitute. Then when she was in her early 50’s some Christians at Bluewater Mission persuaded her to leave the streets and try working at Seed. Mary noted that what she makes in a month at Seed, she used to make in one night on the streets. She had it all: new cars, jewelry, travel, nice condos—though, sometimes, beatings, rape and "so much horror" came with the price. "You can't buy what I'm going through right now," she says. "I never thought that I'd be this person I am now."
Recently, Nelson went with her church on a trip to the Philippines to reach out to prostitutes. She told the reporter:
"I want those women to know there's hope. You can change. There are people out there that really want to help and you've got to…believe. Just like you went out there and took a chance on the streets, you've got to take a chance on this as well."
The only one who can really give a second chance, to both the lost and saved, is the Lord Jesus Christ.
We should not forget two things:
One, this should never encourage us to sin.
Two, God does not always give people a second chance (Esau/1 Ki. 13:7-10, 24-26/Num. 20:12).
C. His Family.
Son of Amittai – [a- MIT- ih] - derives from the Hebrew word emet, which means truth.
The truth is, the Bible is full of people who were given a second chance.
• Abraham was told to leave his kindred and go to the land that God would show him. He took his kin with him and went to Haran for 5 or 6 years. But God then spoke to him again.
• Moses got ahead of God and killed a man to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage, and things stalled for some 40 years! But God gave him a second chance at the burning bush.
• Israel repeatedly sinned, cried out to God and was given a second chance – read the book of Judges.
• David committed Adultery and murder, but was given a second chance and died still king of Israel.
• Peter denied the Lord, but was the keynote speaker on the Day of Pentecost.
• John Mark deserted Paul on their missionary trip, but was given another chance from both Barnabas and eventually Paul (2 Tim. 4:11).
Since 2006 a group of people celebrate an important event around the New Year. It's called Good Riddance Day. Participants write down unpleasant, painful, or embarrassing memories from the past year and throw them into an industrial-strength shredder. Or if you prefer, you can also take a sledge hammer and smash your good riddance item, like a cell phone, for instance. The U.S. event is based after a Latin American tradition in which New Year's revelers stuffed dolls with objects representing bad memories before setting them on fire. One of the Good Riddance Day organizers said:
"It really is this need we have, even when the world is crazy, to say, 'You know what? I'm gonna let go of the things that have been dragging me down and going to look forward with a sense of hope and the possibility of change. Either for myself personally or the world.' So this is a chance to detox in a big way."
God has a Good Riddance that really works! When we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to cleanse us from all sin. And we say good riddance to past sin and are given a chance to began a fresh walk with God.
D. His City.
Gath Hepher - From Joshua 19: 10-13, we learn that Gath Hepher was located in the territory of Zebulun, in what became the Northern Kingdom following the division of the monarchy. It was located about 3 to 5 miles northeast of Nazareth in Galilee, which made the religious leaders complaint that no prophet has risen from Galilee wrong (Jn. 7:52)!
E. His Popularity.
In 2 Kings 14:25. Jonah predicted that King Jeroboam II of Israel (783–753 B.C.) would extend the Northern Kingdom's territory almost to the extent of the Davidic kingdom. Jonah immediately became a national hero with a reputation of being a great prophet of God.
F. His observance of God’s Mercy.
This book is full of the mercy of God:
• Jonah saw it first-hand when God enlarged Israel’s boarders in spite of the fact that king Jeroboam II was a wicked king (2 Ki. 14:24).
Not only was the king wicked but the people also, God sent both Hosea and Amos to warn of impending judgment. Because of Israel's stubbornness, the nation would fall under God's chosen instrument of wrath, a Gentile nation from the east. Amos warned that God would send Israel "into exile beyond Damascus" (Amos 5:27). Hosea specifically delineated the ravaging captor as Assyria: "Will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent?" (Hosea 11:5)
• We see the mercy of God in sparing those pagan sailors.
• We see the mercy of God in sparing Jonah from drowning.
• We see the mercy of God in bringing revival to Nineveh.
It is only by God’s mercy that any of us is given a second chance, there is not a single one of us that deserves a do-over! We not only do not get what we deserve, which is hell, but by grace, we get what we don’t deserve another chance.
It was the first night of camp, and a group of tough kids from the city had hardly unpacked when the leaders received word about a theft.
A work crew kid was missing a wallet, $35, and a watch. The next morning, Kirk, the intern from the city, found the empty wallet in his cabin. He immediately called his guys together and hit them with the hard facts:
"Man, you guys did exactly what society expected you to do. You just proved them right. And it's a shame. Now you've got 20 minutes to produce that money and the watch, or we're all going home."
Kirk walked out and shut the door. He could hear the guys shouting at one another and scrambling around inside the cabin. In a moment, the door opened again, and the toughest kid in the crowd presented Kirk with the $35 and the watch. The money was already spent, but the kids had emptied their pockets and pooled their cash.
When the staff person came to pick up the stolen goods, someone asked, "Who did it?" Kirk replied, "We all did it. We're all guilty. We're in this together." The kids were shocked by Kirk's display of solidarity. Then he shut the cabin door and started to preach:
"Let's talk about grace, grace is getting something you don't deserve. God is going to correct you, but he's going to forgive you. Jesus is going to break you, but he's going to remake you. We all deserve to go home, but we're going to get to stay."
A few nights later, Kirk invited the work crew kid who had been robbed to come to his cabin and to share his own experience of God's grace with the guys. After the young man left that night, Kirk said:
"Now I'm going to say a prayer, and if any of you want to pray with me and give your lives to God, then just do it." By the end of the prayer, 17 baritone voices had cried out to Jesus Christ.
II. FURTHERMORE, THE APPROXIMATE DATE.
760 B.C.
III. THIRD, THE ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION.
“Jonah was a contemporary of Jeroboam II of Israel (782-753 B.C.) who ministered after the time of Elisha and just before the time of Amos and Hosea. Israel was enjoying a period of resurgence and prosperity, and nationalistic fervor was probably high. Assyria, a nation which had achieved a near-legendary reputation for cruelty, was in mild decline during these years, but it remained a threat. The repentance of Nineveh probably occurred in the reign of Ashurdan III (773-755 B.C).”
IV. FOURTH, THE AIM OF THE BOOK.
A. To reveal God’s Mercy.
B. To reveal God’s powerful Sovereignty.
1. The resting of the ragging sea (1:15)
2. The rescuing of Jonah by the appointment of a fish (1:17)
3. The releasing of Jonah from the fish to the land (2:10)
4. The repentance of Nineveh (3)
5. The remarkable appointments of the plant, worm, and east wind (4:6-8).
G. Campbell Morgan had it right, “Men have been looking so long at the great fish they have failed to see the great God!”
C. To reveal the Universality of God’s salvation.
God is not just interested in saving Jews but Gentiles as well.
V. AN ACCEPTABLE OUTLINE.
I. Second Chance is Required. Chp. 1-2
II. Second Chance is Received. Chp. 3
III. Second Chance can be Rejected. Chp. 4
-Johnny A Palmer Jr.
There are many other good outlines:
Jonah’s Disobedience [in a Ship]. Chp. 1
Jonah’s Distress [in a Sea Creature]. Chp. 2
Jonah’s Declaration [in a big City]. Chp. 3
Jonah’s Displeasure [on the Side of a hill]. Chp. 4 -Charles Ryrie
I. Running from God.
II. Running to God.
III. Running with God.
IV. Running ahead of God.
-Derward William Deere
Focus:
First Commission of Jonah. Chps. 1-2
Second Commission of Jonah. Chps. 3-4
Topic:
God’s Mercy upon Jonah. Chps. 1-2
God’s Mercy upon Nineveh. Chps. 3-4
Location:
The Great Sea. Chps. 1-2
The Great City. Chps. 3-4
-Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts
I. Running from God’s Will. Chp. 1
II. Submitting to God’s Will. Chp. 2
III. Fulfilling God’s Will. Chp. 3.
IV. Questioning God’s Will. Chp. 4
-John MacArthur
Con:
1. This is a great book because sooner or later we all need a Second Chance, a do-over, to rebound.
2. We are not talking about two chances when we talk of another chance. We mean another chance, like a millionth chance and then some!
3. The actor Bill Murray claimed that a work of art once saved his life. He was in Chicago for his first experience as an actor. Murray said:
"[My performance] was so bad that I just walked out afterward and onto the street. I kept walking for a couple of hours. Then I realized that I walked in the wrong direction and not in just the wrong direction from where I lived, but in the desire to stay alive."
He headed for Lake Michigan as he contemplated taking his own life. Murray continued:
I thought, "If I'm going to die, I might as well go over toward the lake and float a bit." So, I walked toward the lake and reached Michigan Avenue and started walking north. Somehow I ended up in front of the Art Institute and walked inside. There was a painting of a [simple peasant] woman working in a field with a sunrise behind her. I always loved that painting. I saw it that night and said, "Look, there's a girl without a whole lot of prospects, but the sun's coming up and she's got another chance at it." I said, "I'm a person, too, and will get another chance every single day."
After gazing at the painting, Murray decided to live.
22 The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 (NASB)
Johnny A Palmer Jr.
