• Psa. 139
• Jonah 1:1-10
• Matthew 12:38-42
Illustration
An American missionary was traveling across Korea by train. At a busy station an old man boarded and sat across from Him. The man was Korean and he addressed the American in his native tongue.
The Missionary responded in the only Korean phrase that he knew which “I DON’T UNDERSTAND” was.
A few minutes later the Korean tried again, but the missionary could only say “I DON’T UNDERSTAND"
The Korean then tried a third question, only this time the American recognized a familiar word YESU which means JESUS.
The American pointed to himself and said YESU
the Old man did the same thing with a smile of delight on His face.
The Korean then unwrapped the bundle he was carrying. It was a large Korean a Bible
He turned to a page and pointed to a place that he wanted the American to read.
Remembering that oriental Bible are written from back to front. The clergy men took his own Bible and counted the number of books and chapters from the back to the place that the old man had pointed to.
The old man had pointed to
Mark 3:35 "Whoever does the will of God is my brother"
The American searched for a suitable reply. He counted out and pointed to it in the Korean Bible.
Psalm 133:1 "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
M.R. DeHaan writes, "On Yom Kippur, the most solemn day of the Jewish calendar, a big fish story is read in synagogues. As worshipers fast, confess their sins, and reflect on the words of Moses and Isaiah, they listen once again to the account of a catch and release that is so amazing no one would believe it if it wasn't in the Bible.
"Of all the readings that could have been chosen for the highest holy day of the year, someone started the tradition of reading Jonah. But why? Why do Jewish people read about the reluctant prophet who ran from God, was caught by a big fish, and then was miraculously released to complete a dangerous mission in what is now the nation of Iraq?
"Rabbis have different explanations for reading Jonah on the holiday commonly called the Day of Atonement. One teacher of Israel says the story of Jonah is more about repentance than it is about the fish. Some explain that Jonah is evidence that no one can escape the presence of God, even while trying to run from the Almighty. Others believe Jonah is read on Yom Kippur with the hope that listeners would learn from Jonah's mistakes
Here's a great question: What is God willing to do to bring us back to Himself? Maybe you left God because you carelessly drifted from Him or you consciously disobeyed Him. Regardless, what is God willing to do now? Those that desire to see God move in the church must grasp this truth: God is willing to do whatever it takes to bring us back to Him.
As we look closer at Jonah we begin to see ourselves. If your spiritual fire has gone out or you have chosen a life of outright rebellion against our Lord.
The story of Jonah is working towards a good end, and yet it is filled with all kinds of twists and turns as it heads there. Jonah, a prophet of the Lord, was unwilling to go preach to the wicked city of Nineveh, the capital of a Gentile empire, and yet he was willing to run away from the Lord to another Gentile location.
When the Gentiles on the ship are in despair, they come to Jonah to see if he can help with the situation, but then they find out that he is the cause of their dire state. The Lord hurls a storm at the ship, and Jonah tells them to hurl him from the ship. Everything about the account so far seems ironic and confusing, but everything about the life we live also often seems ironic and confusing. And yet, the Lord is working it out for a good end.
For those who are willing to accept that there is one God, and that He is in control of all things, that knowledge is a comfort, because we can trust that He has a plan and it is working out for a good end. The key is to make sure that we have grasped that plan and have done what is necessary to be included in that good end.
This is why we are given stories like Jonah. They show us hints of Jesus who is the key to that plan, and the One to get us to that good end. If we learn nothing else in this life, if we can grasp and accept this one premise, then we too shall be a part of that good end.
Because of that one Jonah they entire ship had to go into dilemma.
Instead of throwing out Jonah from your boat (Life)
• Many of us we are throwing out belongings which we need for a long time travel
• Which is loss and huge loss for us
• People should have thrown out there food
• Dress
• Boxes
In the same way in our life we are throwing out what is necessary for us rather than throwing out Jonah.
1. Jonah ran away from God’s word.
2. Jonah ran away from God’s calling
3. Jonah ran away from God’s presence.
The boat is our Life and Jonah is something that is within us that is dragging us away for the God. We have to run back to God’s purpose and plans in our life.
