Questioning God’s Love

 

Questioning God’s Love 

Malachi 1:1-2

SUBJECT: CHOSEN BY GOD

THEME: Be thankful for the blessings of love, privilege, and hope from God upon our personal lives, our homes, our churches, and our county.

RELEVANCE:  the Sovereign Choices of God (in the past) Concerning Israel’s General Conditions and Quality of Life Should be Viewed as an Act of His Love. 

INTRODUCTION: 

1. “Count Your Blessings” repeats the phrase, “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done.” Thankfulness requires reflection on our lives as we consider or count what God has given us.

2.  Malachi ministered to the restored Jewish nation about 400 years before Christ.  

3.  Malachi directs his messages to the priests, and then he turns to the people collectively—“Like people, like priest.” As the prophet delivers God’s Word, the people respond by arguing. Note the repeated “Wherein?” (1:2, 6–7; 2:17; 3:7–8, 13). It is a dangerous thing when people argue with God and try to defend their sinful ways.

From this passage the following truths may be seen.

MESSAGE:

I. We Enjoy Great Love from God, but Some People Ignore It (Mal. 1:1-2).

A.  GOD DECLARES HIS LOVE.   (Mal. 1:1-2a)

It is true that some people seem to be more favored by God than others, and yet they are often unaware or even doubtful of it.

   1.  This is the Burden of Malachi.  (Mal. 1:1) “The burden of the word of the LORD . . .by Malachi”

A “burden” is a judgment, a judgment from God, and it will be a very strong and rigorous rebuke that God will give to them.^[a]

Thus the Divine message which Malachi had to deliver to Israel: “I have loved you, saith the LORD.”  

Nothing should thrill our hearts like the knowledge that God loves us. 

       A.  It is God’s Nature to Love.

Deut. 7:7, The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

1 John 4:8,  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

       B.  It is God’s Desire to Love.

Jeremiah 31:3, The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

1 John 4:7, Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

       C.  It is God’s Glory to Love.

God love those who are unlovable, and do not know how to love in return.

Hosea 11:1, When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Love is a great and glorious act of God’s Person and Purpose.  It is a wonderful matter when God love us.

   2.  This is the Blessing of Israel.  (Mal. 1:1) “the word of the Lord to Israel”

Israel here stands for all the tribes, all the descendants of Jacob.

       A.  Consider God’s Blessings on Israel.

The nation of Israel was more favored than any nation on the face of the earth.

            1.  Notice Their Privileges.

In relation to their privileges Paul says, 

Romans 9:4-5, Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; [5] Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

            2.  Notice Our Privileges.

1 Cor. 10:11, Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Romans 15:4, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Just as the Lord love Israel because of Who he is, He likewise loves us.  It not our performance that wins his love. 

       B.  Consider God’s Blessings on an Individual.

As Jacob was more favored than Esau, so some people in all generations are more blessed than others. 

            1.  As Individuals, Some People Have More Blessings than Others.

                — Blessed with more vigorous and stronger bodies,

                — Some have more intellectual resources,

                — Other have more emotional wealth or greater ability to enjoy life. 

                — There is great variety in the degree of natural ability give to each of us.

                — Read the parable of the talents.

            2.  As Individuals, All People Are Not Privileged with the Same Type Blessings.

                — Some are born of healthier parents than others,

                — Some live in better circumstances than others,

                — Others are endowed with greater strengths than others,

                — Others are raised in a more wholesome family environment.

                — Some are afforded higher educational opportunities than others.  

            3.  The Existence of These Distinctions Is Too Obvious to Require Either Argument or Illustration.

       C.  Consider God’s Blessings on our Nation.

But it is the nation that is in view in our text.  “I have loved you” that is, “I have regarded you more than other nations.”

            1.  Is Not Our America More Favored than Most of the Other Nations of the Earth? She is recognized as the leading superpower in the world.  She is, in some respects, as far exalted above all existing countries, as Israel of old was above all the heathen nations that surrounded it.

            2.  But While this Is Such an Obvious Fact, the Blessed Ones Are Too Often Unaware of the Distinction. “Wherein hast thou loved us?”

                  — Israel did not realize its gigantic privileges. How often is this the case with us!

                  — The people most privileged of God are often most unconscious of His blessings, and they say, “Wherein hast thou loved us?”

                  — As a rule, perhaps the most privileged people of God are the greatest complainers.

                  — What ignorance of God’s love we find here! 

                  — God’s love counted for nothing!

B. THEY DOUBTED GOD’S LOVE (Mal 1:2b).

“I have loved you,” God says to His people. “Oh?” they respond. “Wherein hast thou loved us? Prove it.”

When God tells people that He loves them and they respond, “Yeah, right!”, there is a serious spiritual problem at work. That is exactly what we find here.  How can we recognize it in our own experience?

   1.  It is Marked by Doubt.

       A.  Ignoring and doubting God’s love is the beginning of unbelief and disobedience.

       B.  Eve doubted God’s love and ate of the forbidden tree; she thought God was holding out on her.

       C.  Satan wants us to feel neglected by God. “Look at your difficult circumstances,” he said to the Jewish remnant. “Where are the crops? Why doesn’t God take care of you?”

   2.  It is Marked by Mediocrity.

      A.  They Did Not Possess the Commitment that Comes from Love.

Not surprisingly, the Jews who had returned to Judah and Jerusalem and lost a sense of God's love for them were unable to muster much love for Him in return. This showed in the way they kept up a superficial form of religion that actually insulted God.

      B.  They Did Not Experience the Victories that are Rooted in Love.

             — When the Jews from Babylon returned to Jerusalem and Judah after seventy years of captivity, they experienced a great deal of frustration and defeat.

             — Oh, sure, they responded to the divine cheerleading of Haggai and Zechariah to rebuild the temple—on a small scale.

             — Yes, they had finally raised walls around the holy city under the none-too-gentle prodding of Nehemiah.

      C.  They Did Not Know the Perseverance That is Motivated by Love.

On the whole, the Jews in the days of the prophet Malachi were ready to join the “quitters’ club” where you simply go through the motions, but your heart is really not in it at all.  

             — They were beaten down and ready to settle for the path of least resistance.

             — They embraced mediocrity as a goal worth easing toward.

   3.  It is Marked by Ingratitude.

As usual when people question God’s love, it generates a great deal of bitterness, complaining and general ingratitude.  So God here proves His love to His people in two ways:

       A.  He Graciously Chose Jacob.  

            1.  That is their national father, and rejected Esau, who in many ways was a much better man. 

            2.  Bare in mind, this has nothing to do with salvation, but the privilege of participation in God’s plan to bring the Messiah into the world.  Salvation is not in view, but a position in God’s great plan of the ages.

       B.  He Judged the Edomites.

These are Esau’s descendants who were without the blessings of the Lord, but God gave to Israel the best of the lands.

            1.  Too often we have to be reminded of another’s tragedies before we can see our own blessings.

            2.  He promised Israel a land flowing with milk and honey, but, alas, their sins polluted the land. Even then, he graciously restored them to their land and delivered them from captivity.

            3.  With all these blessings, you would expect God’s people to be thankful instead of complaining.

Application: To take someone for granted means not to appreciate him, especially because you are too familiar with the person. Such actions also assume that the relationship is 'fine' even without any acts of gratitude or appreciation (Luke 17:17-18). Sometimes we take God for granted! We can go ahead and sin and sin and sin, thinking that it's okay because we can be forgiven the moment we ask for forgiveness. We do this because we think salvation is ours, and that excuses us from trying harder to live a holy life. We seem to think the ideas of the grace of God suggests that we will be exempted from the consequences of our wrong actions, but this is a deception and exceedingly harmful; it gives Satan the advantage. (Rom. 6:1-2)

Application: When a person is in love with God, they are overflowing with joy, faith and excitement. A person is drawn and repents when they are convicted by the gospel, surrenders their will, and becomes spiritually born-again. They are redeemed through the blood covenant atonement and become a new creation that is governed by Christ our Lord who fills and controls their life.

We agree the infinite life of God within these individuals illuminates and empowers the presence of His mercy, compassion, and love. So, could it be possible for an individual who has yielded everything they have and all that they are unto God, to never say a word about knowing Him? Could someone who has taken up their cross feel embarrassed or ashamed to talk about the Bible, pray for someone in need, or share about what Christ accomplished on Calvary? (Living on Purpose: Ignoring God does not lessen our need for Him

Rev. Billy Holland)

Application: Sometimes it is unbelief that has prevented us from receiving God's love. You may have hardened your heart against His love at some point, and while you still believe in God and believe other truths about Him, you cannot bring yourself to believe in His love.

CONCLUSION.

Aren’t we as individuals, homes, churches, and Americans among the peoples whom God has specially blessed and smiled upon? Are not these words specially applicable to us, “I have loved you, saith the Lord”?

But what is our practical response? Does not our daily life speak out the ingratitude, neglect, and unbelief of Israel, “Wherein hast thou loved us?” We do not see it; we do not feel it; “Wherein?” What ought we to think of our country, civilization, our freedoms, our fruitful lands, our prospering hopes?

Above all, what about our Lord Jesus Christ? 1 John 4:10, Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

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^[a] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 3 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 992.

Fostering the Attitude of Joy 2

1 Thessalonians 5:16

 
SUBJECT: Cultivating the Christian Attitude of Joy

THEME: We can foster the spiritual attitude of Joy by rejoicing in the Lord because He is the Source, Subject, and Sovereign of spiritual Joy!

INTRODUCTION: As Christians our inner life is awfully important to God and our spiritual welfare—attitudes, motives, and behaviors are equally weighty aspects of our inner and external growth in grace. Doing the right thing should stem from being the right person. You may recall, an attitude is “a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior.” Attitudes include our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors; all of which are to be consecrated to the glory of our Lord God. Our focus today is on the attitude of joy.

Joy is the fruit of a right relation with God. It is not something people can create by their own efforts. The Bible distinguishes joy from pleasure. The Greek word for pleasure is the word from which we get our word “hedonism,” the philosophy of self-centered pleasure seeking.”^[1]

The Apostle Paul characterized false teachers as “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3:4). Let this be a warning to us all; we are to love God first and foremost. Joy will prove evasive and illusive as long as we pursue joy, but if we refocus and pursue the Lord then joy will be a benefit of our lavish communion with him. Rejoicing can become our habit…our practice…our character…our destiny.  

Joy as Action. There is a joy that Scripture commands. That joy is action that can be engaged in regardless of how the person feels. Proverbs 5:18 tells the reader to rejoice in the wife of his youth, without reference to what she may be like. Christ instructed his disciples to rejoice when they were persecuted, reviled, and slandered (Mt 5:11, 12). The apostle Paul commanded continuous rejoicing (Phil 4:4; 1 Thes 5:16). James said Christians are to reckon it all joy when they fall into various testings because such testings produce endurance (Jas 1:2). First Peter 4:13 seems to include both action and emotion…. Joy in adverse circumstances is possible only as a fruit of the Holy Spirit, who is present in every Christian (Gal 5:22).^[2]

All of this means our attitudes are a choice! We can choose to be joyful. This is further supported by the fact that God commands this behavior—rejoice. “Rejoice” is a firm authoritative command; not merely a suggestion we can take or leave. We must cultivate attitudes of Joy to ensure it marks our character. 

FOSTER AN ATTITUDE OF JOY CONTINUED….  

1Thes 5:16, Rejoice evermore. 

Recall also the Apostle Paul’s wise counsel, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Phil 4:4). 

Thesis: We can foster the spiritual attitude of Joy by rejoicing in the Lord because He is the Source, Subject, and Sovereign of our Joy!

          I.               Rejoicing Forevermore is Possible because of the Source, Subject, and Sovereign of Spiritual Joy! We understand the imperative and command to rejoice evermore, but here we explore further why we should. There are incredible reasons for fostering the holy attitude of joy. 

A.    First, Rejoice because Jehovah God is Our Source of Joy (Neh. 8:10-12).

                                        1.     We can rejoice always and, in all things, because the Source of our joy is a constant unchanging and all-sufficient origin.

                                        2.     Joy of the LORD—Jehovah, Yahweh—the existing One! It denotes absolute rule and authority of the Creator, Owner, and Master of the universe!

                                        3.     It is the “joy of the Lord” that strengthens us and empowers holy resilience—God-wrought buoyancy—divinely provided elasticity. We can continually rejoice because He always supplies all we need as we need it and whatever we need.

                                        4.     You can rejoice in the Lord as the infinite Source of our Joy! Joy comes from a supernatural Source—God himself and it is supernaturally sustained in our experiences. Transcendental, supernatural, spiritual and mystical are reasonable descriptions of the divine rejoicing; joy is made available through our faith and dependence upon the Lord for it. As certainly as the Lord resources our sun and a trillion billion stars in millions of galaxies He can resource you and me.

                                        5.     Nehemiah 8:10-12, Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. [Power] 11, So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. 12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them. (Neh. 8:10-12)

                                        6.     We make a gross mistake when we pursue joy or when we expect joy from other sources. While there is natural joy and happiness that we experience through positive circumstances and healthy relationships. Some pursue joy primarily in human relationships—spouse, children, friends. Others look only to things to bring them joy—houses, cars, boats, ect. There are folks who expect joy in their occupations—promotions, more money and raises, new joy, bonuses, recognition ect. Yet, others hunt for joy in achievements—advanced degrees, and on the list goes. The Lord is your real Source of Joy! Look to Him!

B.    Secondly, Rejoice because Jesus Christ is our Subject of Joy (Phil. 4:8).

                                        1.     Philippians 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phil. 4:8)

                                        2.     Your thought life matters when it comes to cultivating a joyful character! We can perceive what is involved in rejoicing evermore by focusing on the Lord. My heart has been rescued from downcast feelings and thoughts by refocusing my thoughts on the Lord Jesus. Thinking about Him stirs joy deep within.

                                        3.     Reflecting on His compassion, mercy, and love gives rise to comfort, assurance, and security in the deepest centers of my soul. Meditating on His patience, wisdom, and courage awakens persistence, confidence, and peace in my heart—again I am helped!

                                        4.     Beloved, concentrate your thoughts on Calvary, the empty tomb, your resurrected Savior, the ascended Christ, the enthroned and powerful Lord, our all-glorious Advocate, our compassionate High Priest, and the coming King of kings and Lord of lords!

                                        5.     Remember Jesus saved you, forgave you, brought you into the family of God and gave you his blessed Holy Spirit. Heaven and forever with the Lord is your eternal reality. Beloved, shout for joy! Let it rise from the depth of your ever-deepening conviction that you have many reasons to rejoice in the Lord. O’ the impact of Christ on our inner life is reason to rejoice evermore! (Phil. 1:4, 18; 2:16-18; 3:3; 4:4, 10; 1 Peter 1:5-8; 1 John 1:1-4)

                                        6.     If you merely ruminate on what’s wrong, bad, evil, sinful, awful, or negative then you will naturally be down cast and mitigate the joy you seek to build in your life!

C.    Thirdly, Rejoice because Father-God is Our Sovereign of Joy (Acts 16:19-35).

                                        1.     JOY is an acrostic for Jehovah over You! He is wonderfully in control of our circumstances! The command to “Rejoice evermore” (1Thess. 5:16) certainly rises out of a firmly fixed conviction that God is in complete control of our circumstances and challenges! His plan concerning you and me is good! We really believe that…come what may. No one else and nothing else occupies the throne of the entire universe! God alone rules forever on high over all; He is supremely in control. If he rules over all, then that includes you and me. If he exercises control over all, then we must accept his control over us. For me, this is reason to rejoice!

                                        2.     Accordingly, in Acts 16:19-35, Paul and Silas were simply obeying God and preaching the Gospel of Christ in Philippi. People were being saved and lives were changing, but this brought false accusations, physical persecution, public humiliating beatings, condemnation without a fair trial, and imprisonment in a dank jail. Rather than being bitter, lapsing into depression, or plotting an escape, these servants of Christ demonstrated confidence in God’s great plan for them. Instead of weeping, cussing, complaining, or protesting they rejoiced and sang praises to God! This was a powerful testimony to the on-watching prisoners. You see, this is the power of joy in action—strengthening and sustaining faithful servants to continue in the work of the Lord Jesus. In fact, God started the church at Philippi with the converts from this development.

                                        3.     Our role is to trust this truth and be glad in the Lord God. Notice how David agrees with Paul saying, “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart” (Ps 32:11). Why not join David and shout for joy? Why??? You and I are not subject to chance, lucky stars, fate, or horoscopes. God is managing our affairs with love, grace, wisdom, power, and this is far more meaningful than impersonal forces randomly impacting our lives!

                                        4.     Since your confidence and trust is indeed in the Lord “rejoice” and “shout for joy”! "But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee." (Ps 5:11) Express your love for the Lord Jesus by rejoicing in Him. Envelop yourself in His defense strategies first and foremost; rejoice in the impeccable security Jehovah affords. Once again, the Apostle Paul said it perfectly, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." (Phil 4:4). There is NO need to fret or fear—trust Him implicitly.

                                        5.     When we keep our minds and hearts upon the truth that Christ controls our circumstances, then we can’t help but rejoice. With the Lord on the throne, everything will ultimately be alright. He does all things well; He rules with wisdom, power, and love. He is our Sovereign, Source and Subject of Joy; therefore, keep rejoicing as you go! (Acts 16:19-35)

                                        6.     If you find it difficult to give God control of your entire life, it may be you do not trust His sovereign wisdom, power, or love! On the other side of full surrender is victory and joy unspeakable and full of glory! (1Pet. 1:5-9)

II.            Rejoicing Always and in All Conditions Must be Fostered…How May We Foster Joy? While we fully acknowledge joy cannot be produce through mere human manipulations, there our spiritual activities that God uses to produce joyful experiences. So, again what are some ways we may experience joy?

A.    By Communing with God through Christ (1John 1:4)

B.    By Abiding (staying) in Jesus Christ to be Fruitful (John 15:11)

C.    By Depending on the Spirit for his gracious life-changing Fruit (Gal. 5:22-23)

D.    By Reaping a Harvest of Converts through sharing the Gospel (Phil. 2:15-18)

E.    By Rejoicing in the Lord Habitually and Intentionally (Phil. 4:4)

F.     By Renewing the Mind with Scripture (Rom. 12:1-2; Phil. 4:8)

CONCLUSION:

We can foster the spiritual attitude of Joy by rejoicing in the Lord because He is the Source, Subject, and Sovereign of spiritual Joy!

Holy Joy can be the continual experience of Christians, even in the most contrary conditions. Beloved, this is because our great God is the source, subject and sovereign of our joy! Therefore, we can deliberately “rejoice evermore.” In doing so we foster the attitude of joy. Remember, Christ is fully in control of our circumstances.

Even from the world of science and psychology, joy and happiness have been linked to good health:

            1.  Promotes a healthier lifestyle

2. Protects your heart
3. Combats disease and disability
4. Boosts/strengthens your immune system
5. Fights stress and supports fewer aches and pains
6. Promotes longevity—lengthens our lives

Truly, “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Prov. 17:22; see also Prov. 15:13). The science world is only beginning to realize the physical and temporal benefits of joy and happiness. For thousands of years the Scriptures have informed us of these along with the far reaching spiritual benefits of a joyful life in Christ. Let us explore the wonders of intimate communion with the Lord; one incredible result is fullness of joy (1John 1:1-4). In obedience to God’s command, let us “rejoice evermore” in the Lord!

Finally, as joy-filled believers, we will make a positive impact for the glory of God. It is easy to conceive how more people would come to Christ if we were characterized by real joy (Jn. 15:11; 10:10). Christ wills that His people not only have life, but that we have it more abundantly! Joy should not only create a curiosity, but also a hunger in hearts for the Lord. Christianity should be marked by saltiness while providing light to all (Matt. 5:13-16). Joy is solid evidence of Christianity’s distinctive testimony. Remember the words of the Savior, “Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

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^[1] Dean, R. J. (2003). Joy. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (pp. 956–957). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

^[2] Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Joy. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, p. 1225). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

God Sent a Great Wind

Jonah 1:4, 11-16

SUBJECT:  God’s Chastisement and Jonah

THEME:  Jonah’s experience teaches us how God uses means to chasten rebellious believers to turn our hearts back to Him. God in his sovereignty will use natural disasters and great wind storms in an attempt to persuade his people to repent and obey his will.

RELEVANCE: Chastening is any instruction, correction, teaching, rebuke or circumstances God uses to conform our hearts attitude and behavior to His will. In this account God sovereignly uses the natural element of the wind, which is related to Jonah’s circumstances to get this wayward prophet back on track. God still chastens His people today to keep us on track or to persuade us to repent and return to His will (Heb. 12:5-13; Rev. 3:19). Clearly, one goal of chastening is to bring about deep repentance—a change of mind and heart that results in a change of action or direction. A person who repents turns from his old ways to wholeheartedly commit himself to doing the will of God.  

INTRODUCTION:

No matter how you look at it, Jonah had rebelled against the Lord in a most flagrant manner. He had utterly refused to accept the missionary ministry to Nineveh; instead he elected a cruise in the opposite direction to Tarshish, a Pheonician colony on the southwestern coast of Spain about two thousand miles west of Israel. The last thing the wayward prophet wanted for the city of Nineveh was the mercy of Jehovah, so he rebelled rejecting God’s directive.  

Accordingly, the Lord has a way of dealing with wayward believers who insist on their way thus negating His will. God “sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken” (Jonah 1:4). No doubt someone will insist that the Lord only “allowed” the great wind to come…in an attempt to vindicate or defend the notion that God is a “good” God. However, the statement of this Scripture is transparently clear. “But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea…!” God is directly responsible for these developments in the light of His servant’s rebellion and willfulness. Yes, God “sent out” the great wind, which means he threw it down or hurled it far out there. Beloved, this was a deliberate and calculated attempt to turn this rebel, Jonah, around and set him back on track to reach a wicked people! God does not need to be defended on this point; His character is good, His actions are good and His motives are good. Why do we feel the need to defend Him concerning such passages?

MESSAGE:

God uses Great Winds to Chasten His Rebellious People (Jonah 1:11-16).

Beloved, it may not be an actual wind storm at sea for you and me, but God in his sovereignty over all things uses whatever means necessary to turn our hearts from rebellion back to Him. Obviously, he can use great winds and great fish, but he can use anything else he deems fitting to get our attention and redirect us in his will. So, God used a great wind, but why?

A.    To show Jonah how his rebellion negatively impacted innocent people (Vs. 11-13).

1.     I have heard people say in defense of their substandard Christian living, “I am not hurting anybody but myself” or “I am minding my own business, and what I do is no one else’s concern.”

2.     But this is not at all what God’s Word reveals; Jonah’s rebellion affected this captain and his entire crew and literally put their lives in mortal danger (1:11-17). 

3.     Often our sin does negatively impact others.

                                          i.     The Apostle Paul says to the Corinthians, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? ⁷ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: ⁸ Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”^[1] (1Cor. 5:6-8)

                                        ii.     Leaven here is a picture of moral sin. The apostle is saying that if they tolerate a little moral sin in the church, it will soon grow and expand until the whole fellowship is seriously affected. Righteous, godly discipline is necessary in order to maintain the character of the church.^[2]

                                      iii.     Our failures to confront our sinfulness will certainly impact others in negative ways.

4.     Lot’s worldliness compelled him to move to Sodom where he eventually lost his spiritual credibility (Gen. 19:24-38), his two daughters were corrupted by that society, and he lost his wife to worldliness well before she turned to look back on Sodom. The Lord Jesus warned, “Remember Lot’s wife.”

                                          i.     Although Lot’s wife was taken almost by force out of Sodom, her heart remained in the city. This was indicated by the fact that she turned back. She was out of Sodom, but Sodom was not out of her. As a result, God destroyed her by turning her into a pillar of salt.^[3]

                                        ii.     We cannot afford to be so attached to possessions, luxuries and earthly comforts when commitment to Christ demands prioritizing eternal and spiritual realities over worldly things. Beloved, our worldliness will impact others. Often what we parents practice in moderation, our children will practice in excess!

5.     Acchan’s sinful greedy heart compelled him to take the gold and silver, but his entire family died with him as punishment for his sin (Josh 7:16-26). Clearly, our sins impact others!

                                          i.     Romans 14: 7-8, For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. ⁸ For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.^[4]

                                        ii.     The lordship of Christ enters into every aspect of a believer’s life. We don’t live to ourselves but to the Lord. We don’t die to ourselves but to the Lord. It is true that what we do and say affects others, but that is not the thought here. Paul is emphasizing that the Lord should be the goal and object of the lives of His people.^[5]

B.    To show Jonah how God could still witness to His power, nature, and character (vs. 14-15).

1.     God did not leave Himself without a witness because the natural world responded to His will and evidenced His awesome strength.

2.     God wanted to show these mariners their need to fear the Lord (16), therefore He taught these pagans something about the “fear of the Lord” (Ps. 111:10; Prov. 14:26, 27; 15:33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4).

C.    To correct Jonah’s rebellious attitude…. (Vs. 11-17).

1.     Jonah’s resentment and rebellion broke fellowship with the Lord. He brought these developments on himself when he departed from God’s will for his life. While we cannot live free of all troubles and challenges, some of the “winds” and storms we face are self-inflicted. That is correct, we invite the Lord’s correction through our carelessness and rebellion. In addition, the natural consequences of sin are a punishment in and of themselves.

2.     Tragically, the great winds did not produce the repentance God desired. Though the ship’s crew suggested something had to be done concerning Jonah in order for them to survive, Jonah’s response in verse 1:12 is absolutely shocking. He intimated that the only means of the sailors surviving was to cast him into the sea…since it was his fault they were in jeopardy. Though the sailors had suggested this, they were not ready to act on this notion of sacrificing the prophet. So, they worked even harder against the winds to bring the ship to safety, but they failed utterly. The great winds prevailed! Finally, accepting the apparent inevitable, they begged God to not hold them accountable for the death of Jonah, and they cast him into the sea. Instantly, the storm ceased from her ragging! What’s so tragic about that? Though Jonah had experienced all this trouble, fear and anxiety at sea, he still was not willing to go to Nineveh and preach God’s warning to them. He had not repented…he would rather have died first than to obey God!

                                          i.     What frightful bitterness and resentment is this! How stubborn can a human heart be to persist in such rebellion? What awful lying intoxication sin holds? Will we dare God kill us because we refuse to get right? Rational behavior is completely abandoned here.

                                        ii.     Beloved, this is jaw-dropping off the charts ridiculous! No wonder God had to turn up the heat and prepare a “great fish to swallow up Jonah.” There is zero repentance in this prophet’s heart at this time!

3.     But God initiated the process of restoration. In chapter 1:17, God prepared the great fish to swallow Jonah. This was an act of loving mercy on God’s part. He provided a means of Jonah’s safety, a means that brought him to repentance, confession, and to prayer. 

4.     God purpose for chastening His people is to produce righteousness in our lives: “... but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.” “...nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12:10-11)

5.     Many times we resent what God places in our pathway, but we need to see and consider His mercy, for He is working towards restoration. How far would Jonah have gone had it not been for the storm and the great fish?  How far would you and I have gone if it hadn’t been for the storms and the great fish (or whatever it was that God sent) into our lives?

6.     All things God bring to us, directly or indirectly, come for our good.  What kind of fruit did the chastisement of God produce in Jonah's life? It eventually produced repentance, and from a heart of repentance, Jonah sought the Lord in prayer.

CONCLUSION:

Clearly, Jonah’s experience teaches us how God uses means to chasten rebellious believers to turn our hearts back to Him. God in his sovereignty will use natural disasters like this great wind storm at sea in an attempt to persuade us to repent and obey his will.

What does all this mean for you and me? Honestly, we need God’s chastening—his instructions, corrections, teachings, rebukes or circumstances as he seeks to conform our hearts attitude and behavior to His will. We should appreciate His initiatives to convict us and bring about a godly sorrow. To our shame, we tend to persist in sinful attitudes and behaviors. We truly need the Spirit of God to deal with us fervently at times.

In our experiences, God will sovereignly use natural elements like the wind, or some other natural element related to our circumstances to get us back on track. He has used sickness, disease, financial straits, stock market crashes and even the death of loved ones to help us reconsider the course we have chosen. God still chastens His people today to keep us on track or to persuade us to repent and return to His will (Heb. 12:5-13; Rev. 3:19). Please do not miss this point: God’s corrective measures are acts of love towards his children. It is not because he hates us that he corrects us, but because he loves us. Clearly, chastening is designed to bring about deep repentance—a change of mind and heart that results in a change of action or direction. We have truly repented when we turn from our old ways to wholeheartedly commit ourselves to doing the will of God.  

A believer pursuing sin will experience God’s chastening. Although not all pain and suffering are related to chastening, certainly chastening can include pain, suffering, loss, and trouble. A believer who refuses the prompting of the Holy Spirit to repent and be transformed in character and behavior will experience a few semesters in “Whale University.” Jonah provides us with a great case study of how God in his sovereign love will use a number of means to steer us back to a lifestyle of obedience, submission, and conformity to His plan for our lives.

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^[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Co 5:6–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[2] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1760). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[3] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1437). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ro 14:7–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[5] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1736). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.