Sermon Title: What happened after this?
Scripture Text: Jonah 4: 1-3
Have you ever met people that just seemed like nothing ever made them happy. They complained about everything. They just seemed to be so unhappy that, you down deep, felt sorry for the way they were. Have you ever wondered what caused them to be that way?
I want to tell you this story about a man just like that. God came to him and said I have something I want you to do for me. I want you to take a message to them that its time for them to find out who I am and that I’m their God whether they proclaim it or not.
So this man God picked to take His message to them about repenting went down to the sea port and got a ticket heading in the opposite direction. God was watching him all the time of course. So to get his attention God caused a magnificent storm and the sailors figured out the cause and threw him overboard.
Now it gets exciting for him because his mind was rushing at top speed. Looking around at the bottom of the sea, mountains down there and the plant life. Then all of a sudden this huge fish came in a flash and swallowed him. Needless to say he and God had started to have a deep and precise conversation at this point. The belly of a huge fish couldn't have been the best accommodations.
While in the belly of that fish he was sore beyond belief because of the swallowing process. The acid was bleaching his skin and hair totally white. The smell was horribly offensive and it was seeping into his skin. Sea weed was stuck to his body. Then he told the Lord that you are my salvation and I will honor you and do as you say. But we hear nothing about his attitude towards the Assyrian coming from him.
God had the huge fish swim up to the shore and vomit him up and Jonah hit the dirt running straight to Nineveh. He doubled time his speed to get there faster and when he hit the city limits the news of him spread like a wild fire in a dry forest. It was God and Jonah limping and trying to walk through the large city. Remember what Jonah had been through and what he looked like and his smell. He was impressive to say the least and his smell that was left behind had to linger for long periods of time. For three day’s he told them what God had said “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!”.
Ironically, as we see, Jonah’s sin was grounded in a correct view of the Lord, albeit one that was grossly misapplied probably because of teachings he had heard and his own experiences. Assyria had world conquest views and did their best to conquer all people. They had treated the Israelites horribly. God did forgive them because they believed in him and they did change their ways.
Now here the reading of God’s word:
Jonah 4 (NLT)
1 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”
God didn't destroy them but Jonah had almost destroyed himself. He loved the Lord, he believe God would do what he said and rescue them if they repented. But he still hated them and was mad about the whole thing.
So here we are with a prophet of God, that believes God will do what he says but with hate in his heart. He is setting on top of a hill seaweed stuck to him, bleached from acid in the huge fish stomach, smelling to high heaven and so unhappy he just would like to die.
Influencing others can be hard. God, in this story, got Jonah to do what he wanted him to do. Even God didn't influence Jonah much about his attitude so we will have a hard time influencing others too. God can do anything he wishes. Why didn't he change Jonah’s attitude. If I remember I’ll ask when I get to heaven.
The best thing about this story is this: We learn that doing God wishes as led by him is very important and desirable. But to truly enjoy a Christ centered life we must have a Christ centered attitude (A mind of Christ).
How are we doing with our attitude? Is it aliened with God’s?
