The Reluctant Prophet: Lessons From Jonah

Introduction:

Jonah was a prophet who runs from God's call and jumps on a ship going in the exact opposite direction than where God told him to go, So then God caused a great storm to come up and it was about to sink the ship… What they thought was going to be the death of Jonah turned into a miraculous rescue… The prophet reluctantly begins his journey in the right direction, and the word of God brought a surprising revival in Nineveh.

Aren’t we a lot like Jonah? Sometimes reluctant in our obedience to God… but when we get back on track, repent and obey, we receive the boundless mercy of God...

I. God Calls - Jonah Responds (Jonah 1)

Jonah is Commissioned by God to go to Nineveh, which was a great city known for its wickedness, to preach a message against it. Instead of obeying, Jonah attempts to flee from God's presence by boarding a ship to Tarshish.

How often do we run from God's call in our lives? It doesn’t matter if we are running from God out of fear, out of prejudice, or out of unwillingness… Running from God is pointless; He is ever present, all knowing and sovereign over all.

II. Fish in the Storm (Jonah 1-2)

So God sends a great storm, that endangers the ship and the crew. The sailors are afraid and begin to wonder who the cause of this storm is? Who made their God angry? So, they cast lots, and Jonah draws the short straw and acknowledges that he is in disobedience to God and tells the crew to throw him overboard. After doing all they could to save themselves to no avail they finally threw Jonah overboard… The End…. But wait, God had a big fish prepared to swallow Jonah up and save him… While inside this great fish Jonah sees the error of his ways, prays to God and repents…

Have you ever wondered why God allows storms in our lives? Sometimes the storms come to get our attention, sometimes the storms come to redirect us… The storms come to get us back on track… Even when we are at our lowest, God’s grace is available… When we are at our worst, He is willing to rescue us… even in the storms, even when we think He is far away… God is right there ready and willing to restore us.

III. Ninevah …or better yet… God of Second chances (Jonah 3)

Jonah gets a second chance, God speaks to Jonah a second time, telling him to go to Nineveh… Guess what? This time, Jonah obeys God, reluctantly, and heads to Ninevah.

Jonah gets to Ninevah and preaches a simple message of God’s impending judgment, the people of Nineveh, believe it or not, from the king to the commoner, repent and turn from their evil ways.

What can I say? God is a God of second chances. When we repent, He offers forgiveness… To everyone who turns to Him, forgiveness to all regardless of their past. Not only do we receive forgiveness… Our obedience can lead others to experience God's mercy and Grace.

IV. Jonah ain’t happy but God is Compassion (Jonah 4)

So, you would think that Jonah would be happy with all the folks repenting and turning to God…But you would be wrong… Jonah got mad when God showed mercy to Nineveh. Jonah struggled with the idea that such a wicked city could be spared.

So God teaches Jonah a lesson about compassion through a plant and a worm… the plant provided Jonah shade and the worm caused the plant to wither and die. God explained that His concern for Nineveh can be compared to Jonah's concern for the plant.

Sometimes we all struggle with God's mercy towards others, especially His mercy toward those we feel are undeserving. But we must remember that God’s love and compassion extends to all people and we are called to share in His compassion and in His love for others.

Conclusion:

God calls us to obedience and through the boundless nature of His mercy and compassion, He gives us the opportunity for repentance, No matter where we have been, no matter what we have done… He is always there waiting with open arms.

Are you running from God's call, do you struggle to show compassion. Whatever is going on in your life God is ready to forgive and to restore… I challenge you to be a light in the darkness of our broken world…