Jonah 1:1-17
The Book Jonah begins with a clash of wills--that of the prophet and Jehovah God's! God dictates a message to be delivered to the city of Nineveh, but His messenger, Jonah, refuses to cooperate. Not only does he decline to deliver God's mail, but he revolts against the plan of God entirely. According to Dictionary.com, revolt means “to break away from or rise against
constituted authority, as by open rebellion; cast off allegiance or subjection
to those in authority; rebel; mutiny: to revolt against the present
government.” In the biblical account, Jonah, the prophet, scraps God’s
authority by refusing to deliver God's message of judgment to a foreign people. Actually he
personally felt deep hatred and animosity towards the people of Nineveh. But God’s plan of redemption
expresses His manifold wisdom and magnanimous grace towards all people
regardless of nationality or ethnicity! As a result, God teaches his prophet a
lesson about the high cost of rebellion.
Jonah was a real person and a very popular
prophet in the days of King Jeroboam II (II Kings 14:25).
Yes, he actually spent
three days and three nights in the belly of a whale as our Lord Jesus Christ reported (Matt. 12:39-40). Though some of the events of Jonah's life are unbelievably fantastic, they remain well attested in the Word of God and true. So, this is an actual historical event!
The book of Jonah illustrates how to
avert national catastrophe and divine judgment through a concentrated missionary and evangelistic
campaign. Clearly we see that God is both merciful to
single individuals and entire nations.
Also we see that the wickedness of the lost does not go unnoticed by the
Lord, even though we may be calloused against them. And lastly we see the extremes to which the
Lord will go in order to get His message of judgment and compassion to the lost
nations.
The key thought of this chapter seems to be
found in verses one through three.
* God’s call ......vs. 1
* God’s command...vs. 2
* Jonah’s response ....vs. 3
* Jonah’s revolt.... vs. 3
Instead of Jonah obeying God and heading to Nineveh as God commanded him, he rebelled leaving for Tarshish in the opposite direction. Jonah 1:3, says, "But Jonah rose up to flee unto
Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa".
A. Jonah was resigning
from his office as a prophet; he was leaving behind the will
of God for his life. This does not mean that
he wrote out a letter of resignation, but his actions indicate that he had indeed quit on God.
B. Jonah knew that he could not
run from God's presence, but he tried to run from God's
call upon his life. Too often we are like Jonah; we do not want to leave God out
of our lives entirely, we simply do not want to submit to His expressed will for us. Like him we too revolt against the Lord demanding and desiring our own ways, plans, dreams, or designs. What we often fail to calculate is the high cost of rebellion against the Lord!
MESSAGE:
I. THE CAUSE OF HIS REBELLION (Jonah 1:3)
Rebellion, like backsliding does not come
all at once. It is a process of the heart that begins when there is some resentment and resistance to the will of God. A certain measure of reluctance or un-yieldedness towards God, can grow into more significant forms of rebellion and self-assertion. Mild agitations can become outright revolt! But what was the cause of Jonah's rebellion?
HE HAD THE WRONG ATTITUDE ABOUT GOD’S WILL Jonah 4:1-2
Instead
of Jonah buying a ticket to Nineveh, he paid his own fare to go to Tarshish
(vs. 3). This is a great example of the futility
of resisting God's plan. During the reign of Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:25), king of Israel
(793–753 b.c.) Jonah was
commissioned by God to go to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire.
Jonah had different plans because he resented the fact that God was mindful of the wicked people of Nineveh.He rebelled
against God's instructions and took a ship headed for Tarshish, on the
southern coast of Spain, and almost certainly the farthest destination known to
Jonah in the opposite direction from Nineveh! The story might have ended there
with Jonah basking in the sun of southern Spain had it not been for the fact
that the prophet was contending with the Almighty God.
But, we must quickly check our own
attitude toward the will of God. Sometimes the will of God is described as too
hard. Often we perceive God’s will to be
something we do not want to do, or could not possibly like or enjoy. Sometimes we ‘claim’ the will of God is too
evasive or too difficult to really know for sure. All such attitudes about the
will of God lead to rebellion. But the
Bible spells out God’s will in many passages of the Scriptures. Note these clearly stated expectations of the Lord for all Believers:
1.
Give Yourself to God by Renewing Your Mind.
Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2.
Pursue a Life of Personal Sanctification and Holiness.
1Thes. 4:3, For this is the will of God,
even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
3.
Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude and Heart-felt Appreciation.
1Thes. 5:18, In every thing give thanks: for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
4.
Faithfully Engage in Good and Wholesome Services, Ministries, and Activities, even During Times of Opposition. 1 Peter 2:14-15, Or unto governors, as unto
them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise
of them that do well. [15] For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye
may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
5.
Be Willing to Suffer For Doing Right if Necessary.
1 Peter 3:17, For it is better, if the will
of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
6.
Do Not Waste Your Love and Life on Worldly or Carnal Pursuits.
1 John 2:15-17, Love not the world, neither
the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the
Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is
of the world. [17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he
that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
These are just a few matters regarding the
general will of God for each of our lives as Christians. We do understand how these passages apply to
life. God’s will is good and it can be
known! What is your attitude toward these divine requirements? Do you excuse your failures or omissions? Do you take personal responsibility for knowing and living in
the center of God’s will?
HE HAD THE WRONG ATTITUDE ABOUT GOD’S MINISTRY
He thought, he could be selective about whom he preached and witnessed to. He wanted the final say about whom and when to the exclusion of foreigners--people different from himself and Israel. Jonah
did not appreciate the relationship between God and unbelieving nations. On
one level, Jonah portrayed God’s way of dealing with Gentile nations while
working with Israel through His covenant and Law. It is clear from the Book of
Jonah that God has not simply “set
aside” the nations as unimportant, or their peoples as without value. Note:
1. God Clearly Cared about the Gentiles
During this Era in Which the Jews Were His Chosen People. God’s heart
was moved with grace and compassion for Nineveh and its inhabitants.
2. God Also Maintained a Moral
Relationship with Those Nations Who Were Not His Own.
A. The Ninevites were responsible
for their actions, and God took the responsibility to judge them when they
sinned.
B. It is also clear from the
response of the Ninevites that they were aware of what constituted wickedness.
C. While God did not hold them
responsible for Israel’s Law, they were being judged on the basis of the light they
did possess (see Rom. 2:12–16).
3.
It Is Also Clear That God Gave the People of Nineveh Sufficient
Information about Himself and His Intentions for Them to Respond to Him.
We must never think that even pagan peoples have no light.
4.
Finally, We See Striking Evidence That God Was—and Is—Responsive to the
Unbeliever as Well as the Believer. He heard the prayer of these men
even though they were without a basis for personal relationship with Him.
The truth is God’s goodness extends far beyond our
understanding. We must be careful not to push these observations too far. Yet
it is important to realize that while God was dealing with the Hebrew people
throughout the course of Old Testament history, and while they are His chosen people, God still
maintained a supervisory relationship with all (Getz, G.). And God still does care for
all. Acts 1:8, records our Lord's commission, "But ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and
in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Again note the words of Doctor Luke in Luke 24:46-48, :And
said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and
to rise from the dead the third day: [47] And that repentance and remission of
sins should be preached in his name among
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] And ye are witnesses of these
things." Clearly these passages indicate God's keen interest in all peoples of the world!
HE HAD THE WRONG ATTITUDE ABOUT PRAYER
He was called, but never do we find him
praying about the call, nor about his fears, nor for strength to face the
enemies. In this chapter Jonah totally disregarded the privilege of prayer communion with God. It was as if he was left to manage without any divine engagement or intervention.
In contrast, the early Christians and churches were marked by their habitual prayerfulness; they readily appealed to God. Note the record of Luke in Acts 4:29-31,
And now, Lord, behold their
threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may
speak thy word, [30] By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and
wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. [31] And when they had prayed, the place was
shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Beloved, it was their habit to cling to God! They did not make a habit of ignoring or excluding God.
HE HAD THE WRONG ATTITUDE ABOUT SIN IN HIS OWN HEART
Sometimes the most difficult sins to see are our own. We tend to give ourselves the benefit of the doubt because of our good intentions. We also tend to judge others by their actions and question their motives! Periodically we need to turn the eyes of scrutiny on ourselves. Note what Jonah did in this connection.
1. He Did not Think of Anyone but Himself, Not
Realizing That His Sins Involved Others.
Though a prophet of God, Jonah exhibited
the characteristics that are at the heart of a rebellious spirit: pride and
selfishness. When questioned by the sailors, Jonah proudly announced to the
sailors his nationality and the greatness of his God (Getz, G.). Yet his pride in God and
country seem to have become a matter of selfish pride for this prophet. Jonah’s
self-centeredness is shown by his willingness to deny the Ninevites the same mercy
from God that he himself received in the belly of the great fish.
2. Self-Centered Pride.
A. Whether the surface motivation for turning
away from God is lust or greed, patriotism or dedication to an ideal, at the
bottom of it lies self-centered pride.
B. Pride tells us that we know better than God
what is right for us and others. In fact, if left unchallenged self-centeredness can become a monster!
3. Selfishness Insists That We Get Our Own Way,
Regardless of What God Desires for Us.
Only humility before God and faithful
responses to His will can provide sure fire defenses against a spirit of rebellion
establishing a stronghold in our hearts. This is precisely what the Apostle Peter prescribed for Believers in 1 Peter 5:5-7,
Likewise, ye younger, submit
yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to
the humble. [6] Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: [7]
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Then James echoed the very same idea in James 4:8-10, stating,
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to
you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
[9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning,
and your joy to heaviness. [10] Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
The allowance of sin in the heart of a Believer is a violent violation of the will of God for us, and pride is often at the heart of the various forms of rebellion we espouse. Zero tolerance regarding sinful attitudes and practices should be the standard for us all.
HE HAD THE WRONG ATTITUDE ABOUT THE UNSAVED
Jonah had rather seen the people of Nineveh dead and lost forever than repentant and saved by God's infinite mercy. His bitter spirit and harsh words regarding them indicates this most convincingly (Jonah 1:1; 4:1-2).
Why did Jonah respond with such
resentment? Why such a negative spirit?
1. Fear. History reveals to us that the Ninevites were cruel people;
they were a part of the Assyrian Empire. They thought nothing of burying their
enemies alive; skinning them alive; or placing them on sharp sticks or poles in
the hot sun. They were very violent and cruel people.
2. Distance. “The city of Nineveh was located on the east side of the
Tigris River about 550 miles northeast of Samaria…. That distance required a
journey of more than a month, if Jonah traveled the normal distance of 15-20
miles a day. The great city was second in size only to Babylon. It was in modern-day Iraq opposite the modern
town of Mosul.”— John Walvoord
3. Prejudice. Jonah was a Prejudice Jew. He had prophesied only to the
Jewish people, the Northern Tribes
called Israel. Jonah was now called to go to the Gentile people, plus, to some
of the meanest people at that time on the face of the earth. Because he had always been able to remain at
home, in his homeland among his own people. For him to travel to
a foreign land and
to preach among
foreign people was
out of his character. Besides he was very
prejudice against this people group.
4. Patriotism. Jonah was fervently patriotic, and hoped that
God’s judgment would fall on the Assyrians, who were his nation’s enemies.
Jonah was probably a contemporary of Amos and Hosea, who prophesied against
Israel. In both of their prophecies, Assyria would be the instrument of God’s
judgment on his unrepentant people. Jonah may have known this, which would have
only added to his bitterness over the assignment God had given him. His
nationalistic fervor put him at odds with God, who desired to show mercy to the
people of Nineveh.
The cause of his BACKSLIDING
was because of a wrong attitude toward God's overall will. God desired to save a foreign people and Jonah did not want anything to do with these people. He was unwilling to become a foreign missionary! If we are not
serving out of a submissive spirit, then we are headed for trouble. If we do not live in submission to God, then our will is automatically pitted against God's! We must honestly pray, not our will, but thine Lord.
The Bible faithfully traces
the troubled path of God’s people as they frequently rebelled against Him. It
also records stories of individuals who turned away from God. Through it all,
God's grace shines clear, as He continues to love and express willingness to
restore these people (Getz).
Hosea’s experience with his
unfaithful wife reminds us how deeply our own unfaithfulness hurts the Lord.
The experience of Lot and his wife warn us against the dangers of wanting
worldly wealth and prestige. Jonah's
story underlines the fact that even though we fight against God, He will
accomplish His purposes—and give us a second chance to have our part in
fulfilling His plan. Perhaps most
wonderfully, the familiar story of the prodigal son portrays God’s eagerness
that we return to Him, and His delight when we do. God mercy and grace is stronger and bigger than our failures and mistakes. He will forgive us and restore us when we repent with all sincerity of heart.
II. THE COURSE OF HIS REBELLION Jonah 1:3
REBELLING is always downhill, painful, costly,
and fearful. It never takes one closer to God, but it will drive one farther
and farther away from God. Thus it is
marked by severe insecurity, anxiety, uncertainty, and fear.
Sin
will takes you farther than you want to go:
Sin
will keep you longer than you want to stay:
Sin
will cost you more than you want to pay.
REBELLING DOES NOT MEAN THAT LIFE WILL BE DIFFICULT IMMEDIATELY (v. 3)
At first nothing went wrong; all seemed to be going well according to Jonah's plans.
1. Sometimes We Think Because a Person Is Having
it Hard He Is a Rebel, or Backslider.
Sometimes hardships come because we are doing the will of God (2Tim. 3:12; Matt. 5:10-12; Jn. 17:14). However, Jonah's hard trials came as a result of his rebellious path. Truly the way of transgression is extremely difficult for a child of God (Prov. 4:19; 12:15, 26; 13:15).
2. But, Many Times Things Go Well for the Rebel,
and Backslider for a While. Sometime the Lord is extremely patient and
slow to chasten His people. Often His
corrective actions are lenient and merciful (Ps. 103:10; Ezra 9:13; Neh. 9:31; Ps. 130:3; Job 11:6; Lam.
3:22). We must not misread God's gracious nature as His approval when we are living contrary to his plans for us.
3. Jonah’s Plans Went Well for Him for a While:
A. He had a place to go. vs. 3
B. He found a ship ready to sail.
vs. 3
C. He had money to pay the fare.
vs. 3
D. He was at peace with
himself in his stubbornness. vs. 5
E. His religious system of beliefs never changed. vs. 9
Yet, there is an important lesson here for every Child of God. We must be aware of the grace
of God even though we are out of the will of God. Sometimes we mistake the patient mercy of God
for His approval on our actions. Sometimes
we know we are out of the Lord’s will and we presume upon His long suffering
nature. But this is a very dangerous game
to play, because God will not always bear with our overt or passive rebellion. Presumptuous sins often linger in our hearts
without our conscience awareness of them or their damaging impact on our minds,
emotions, and concept of God. We must often
turn to the Word of God to reveal our assumptions regarding God’s mercy and to
examine the motives of our hearts. God’s delay to chasten us, does not mean we will get away with sinful actions
and attitudes. Just because God was patiently affording us opportunity to repent and make thing right on one occasion is no guarantee He will do the same on the next occasion. To presume upon God's grace is a gross misunderstanding of His loving, holy, just, and righteous nature. It is not even remotely acceptable to sin flagrantly with
intentions of asking God for forgiveness later. Psalm 19:12-14, summarizes this though so well saying, Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from
secret faults. [13] Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them
not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent
from the great transgression. [14] Let the words of my mouth, and the
meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my
redeemer. It is far better to pray this prayer sincerely than to flagrantly attempt to get away with sin, or assume God will be patient while we presume to manage Him and our sins.
GOD’S MERCY DOES NOT MEAN LIFE WILL CONTINUE FREE OF COMPLICATIONS
When we sow seeds of disobedience, rebellion, disregard for God's will indulging ourselves in self-willfulness, we can be certain of a foreboding harvest season--a time of reaping what we have sown (Gal. 6:7, 8). God in mercy and grace will help us learn our way is not the best way and that our plans or gravely inferior to His. Often He will allow our complications to drive us to this healthy conclusion.
1.
Sometimes We Conclude a Believers is Right
with God Because Life Seems to be Favorable. We assume such a person cannot possibly
be rebelling or backslidden and must be in the Will of God. Furthermore we judge ourselves ‘obedient’
because we know our good intention, though we have failed to live up to
them. We are struck with perplexity and
confusion when things begin to crumble before us.
2. Jonah's Self-willed Plans Did Go Wrong Eventually,
and Became Very Complicated and Costly to All Involved:
A. He was the cause of God’s anger and delay of His plans in Nineveh, vs. 4
B. He was the cause of this incredible storm and these merchant sailors losing some of their expensive cargo,
vs. 4
C. He was the cause of the sailors almost losing their livelihood and very lives. vs. 5
D. He forced the men to do something that was against their nature when
they threw Jonah overboard, vs.
15
E. He caused the men on the ship
to experience panic, fear, anxiety, and to suffer great loss. (Vss. 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16)
Beloved, the course of REBELLING becomes increasingly
dangerous with each and every step we take moving us farther away from God. This often ominous course can
become expensive in material losses and opportunities--reverses, setbacks, and dead ends become common place. REBELLING against the Lord God is serious because
it risks the welfare and lives of others needlessly as well as endanger our
own life. In addition, a rebell will experience damage in His fellowship with God, distortions in his perception of God, and confusion in discerning the plan of the Lord. Invariably he or she will suffer shrinkage in their soul because they have ignored and neglected the grace of God. Fear, discouragement, frustration, some forms of depression, and disappointment will grow like weeds in their minds choking out any semblance of faith and spiritual vitality.
Beloved, we can turn away from God and reject Him if
we choose, but our faithlessness will never cause God to reject us. No matter
what we do, our heavenly Father will always love us and long for our return
when we stray. We may suffer when we rebel against God, but this is not simply
a punitive response. Through our need, God is reaching out to us, reminding us
of our dependence upon Him. We should never let pride or fear keep us
from repentance. When we come back to God, we will find He has been waiting for us with
open arms.
Like Peter, who was miraculously freed
from prison (Acts 12), we who have accepted Christ are free from sin through
His redemptive blood. How sad it is that we sometimes forget what God’s grace
has done for us and long for the old shackles we had once left behind! When we choose
to reject God’s will for us, it is as though we have rejected the paradise God
has prepared for us and crawled back into our cage of sin, locking the door
behind us. All of life becomes extremely complicated when we rebel against God's plans or us.
III. THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS REBELLION (Jonah 1:3-17)
The results of REBELLION are extremely expensive, sad, and a real danger both to the life of the backslider and to
others. The price of REBELLION often costs more than an eternity can pay for. The consequence of rebellion is
‘loss.’ Well, what did Jonah lose?
HE LOST GOD’S VOICE
1. In Jonah 1:1, God
spoke and Jonah heard. God's voice is distinguished by clarity, compassion, vision, a sense of mission, purpose, strategy with certain aims and objectives.
2. In Jonah 1:4, the Lord
had to send a storm to get Jonah’s ATTENTION that he might listen to Him. Jonah could have responded obediently to God's clearly expressed will, but he refused it. He would not hear it; he rejected it fervently!
When God cannot speak to us from His Word in
a gentle manner, it is self evident that we are living too far from Him. You see, the primary person in this story is God
Himself, not Jonah. It was God who initiated contact with this prophet and sought to teach him compassion and grace for the lost Gentile city of Nineveh. To accomplish His purposes, God sovereignty controlled
various events throughout this story. In fact some of the most fantastic developments and miracles in the entire Bible appear in this historical account! God is obviously at work in the heart of a rebellious prophet and on behalf of a people who are lost and ignorant of God's grace! He
overcame Jonah’s rebellion, and it was He who opened the Ninevites’ hearts unto fervent repentance and deliverance. In this blessed chapter God miraculously labors to get Jonah’s attention through this storm. He desires to communicate Himself to the prophet and so it is with you and me. God is speaking loudly in our storms and clearly it is time to pay attention to what He is saying to our hearts from His Word.
The willful rebellion of the
Prophet Jonah did not bring him the freedom of self-determination, but instead
brought God’s judgment upon him. Often people and even Believers refuse God in order to seize some elusive notion of freedom and independence. Drunk with the persuasion that they know what is best for them, they date indiscriminately, pursue love and intimacy promiscuously, chart a career path arrogantly, and abuse family and friends mercilessly to seize their heart's desires! Years later when some of these 'modern Jonahs' have secured what they thought they wanted, they realize they failed to get what they really needed--a life lovingly directed and guided by God. Rebellion never affords us true freedom, because spiritual freedom is becoming like Christ and exploring the will of God for our lives without any reservations!
In addition, rebellion also robbed Jonah of the blessings God had prepared for him. Jonah’s story provides this important
lesson for modern Christians. The writer of Hebrews warns believers: "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost
saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, [8] Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of
temptation in the wilderness" (Hebrews 3:7-8). Christians too can be guilty of the sin of
rebellion, because only Believers, who have a personal relationship with God
can violate it.
When we turn our hearts away from God, we
not only take the chance of missing out on the good things God has waiting for
us, but we expose ourselves to the possibility of judgment. But we can guard
ourselves from rebelling against God. Hebrews 3:12–13
advises us to: “Take heed, brethren,
lest there be in any of you an evil
heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. [13] But exhort one
another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
HE LOST HIS SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY Vs. 5, 6
He slept during this incredible storm while the crewmen worked feverishly to save
their lives, the ship and its cargo, and yes, the life of Jonah as well. In contrast with the concern of the mariners, Jonah’s actions are nothing short of amazing. He went below deck and fell asleep, undisturbed by
the storm as it thrashed away upon the ship. Perhaps he felt secure there, but obviously he was
insensitive to the danger. He evidenced no concern for the welfare of others...he simply slept.
But are we any different from Jonah at times? It is sad when the people of
the world, or even the people of false religions have more concern for the
lives of others than God’s genuine people. Many Christians routinely disregard those they could assist and help in meaningful ways. Unfortunately our neighborhoods are so dangerous that we are afraid to trust people even in our own communities. Others are simply unwilling to get involved! Yet there are other insensitivities we have tolerated in our own hearts for so long that we feel justified when we fail to behave Christian in those instances. The homeless, the extremely poor, and the imprisoned are just a sample of our society toward whom even Christians have grown cold towards these needy individuals. My wife and I have bought meals, provided clothing, secured key home appliances, donated to worthy charities, given money to beggars, support and helped the impoverished for extended periods, and housed the poor for brief periods. Yet, when I have nothing to give because of other legitimate obligations it still does not feel right simply passing by a homeless person. There is so much more I should be doing and certainly there are many opportunities.
If these were our only insensitivities then these alone would be horrific, but they are not! Many Christians are asleep to the dangers of
our dying faith, the fact that America is becoming less Christian in her principles and values year by year, and the peril of a lost world destined to eternity without God forever. We need more Christians to raise godly children to serve Jesus Christ in whatever vocation He leads them into. We need young people to forgo the lure of American materialism to serve Jesus Christ on foreign soil bearing the Gospel message of hope and salvation. Remember the peril on the ship was so great that these experienced mariners despaired for their very lives; yet God’s servant was asleep. Beloved, this is utterly scandalous not only in the light of the sailors, but even more so in the light of Calvary! What an object lesson
to God’s people then and now to awaken from apathy as crying people perish on
the seas of life. Beloved, when we lose the sensitiveness of our
spirit then we behave less than human and certainly less than Christian. Are we asleep or are we wide awake and engaged?
HE LOST HIS POWER IN PRAYER AND HIS DESIRE TO PRAY Jonah 1:6, 11-12
We do not find Jonah praying at all in
chapter one. Most ironic is the fact that a pagan ship
captain had to call a man of God to prayer! The captain was desperate; in his mind every
known god should be appealed to so that perhaps one might grant relief from their peril
(v. 6). Because of Jonah’s rebellion, he had no
power in prayer.
Often when we stray away from a walk of consecration and devotion to the Lord or when a besetting sin takes us by surprise, we feel so dirty inside and unworthy of an audience with a holy God. As result we shy away from God, church, spiritual Believers, and we reason that God is no longer interested in hearing from us because of our moral failures. While feelings of guilt, unworthiness, and shame are real, so is the grace and mercy of God. In addition, the Lord Jesus resides as our High Priest in Heaven (Heb. 7:25) and He lives continually making intercession for us Believers! Therefore it is not a matter of coming to God because we feel worthy of being in His presence because we have been obedient. This is no more true than the opposite notion. No, we come before God by faith and not by feelings, works, or the lack thereof (Js. 1:6). While we should always strive to be obedient to the Lord (PS. 66:18), we are assured of access to Him based on Christ's Name and merits (Jn. 14:12-15). It is because Christ is our High Priest that we can come to God for grace and mercy (Heb. 4:14-16) to help us as those needs arise! Therefore when we feel unworthy of talking to God in prayer, we must use our faith believing that Christ gives us access to God still. Confess the sin, make things right with God (1Jn. 1:7-2:2), ask the Spirit to fill you with power and grace anew (Eph. 5:18-21), and ask God to meet your needs according to His will (1Jn. 5:14-15). While sinful attitudes and action certainly do hinder our prayers and motivations to pray, God has provided a means of dealing with our sin. His name is Jesus Christ the all-sufficient Savior!
Praying is one of the highest privileges afford saved human beings, and it is one of the most powerful engagements we will ever exercise ourselves in. We need prayer power for everyday life and challenges; we have much work to do for the glory of God and it can only be satisfied through people with robust prayer habits.
HE LOST HIS TESTIMONY BEFORE OTHERS Jonah 1:7-8, 14
Jonah failed miserably in this regard. The lot fell on him as the guilty party responsible for this storm of chastening that had befallen this ship and crew. This is the equivalent of a Believer being singled out for attempted murder in a police line up! How discrediting this is of Jonahs faith! Here was a prophet of God, whom God had used greatly and now in rebellion against God he soils his reputation and destroys anything of a testimony for his faith.
1. Paul wrote that if our gospel be hid it is
hid to those who are lost. II Cor. 4:3
2. We are to walk carefully so that we will
never be a stumbling block to others (Eph. 4:1-18).
Many people have been burned and hurt deeply by careless Christians who failed to uphold the honor of our Lord Jesus in their daily lives. May we strive to sustain a solid testimony of sincerity, devotion, love, and grace that brings honor to the name of Christ evidencing the grace of God at work in us (Titus 2:11-14). In doing so we commend others to Christ and attract people to faith in Him.
HE PROBABLY LOST HIS LIFE Jonah 1:15, 17
According to the text, Jonah may very well have paid for his rebellion with his life! Excepting God had supernaturally sustained him under the sea in a great fish, Jonah died. His rebellion led to his death at sea. However, God was very merciful to Jonah and gave
him a second chance--yes, a resurrection. Every one of us as Believers ought to bow our knees before God to humbly thank Him over and over again for the many 'second chance' opportunities He has given to each of us.
In summary, Jonah teaches us some
practical lessons about the value of obedience, by highlighting the high cost
of his rebellion. While we all have our desires, wills, dreams, ambitions, and rathers, it remains true that the plan and will of God for each of our lives must be our priority. Yes, revolting again the Lord is clearly possible for every child of God in some particular. Yet, it is not wise to do so. The cost of rebellion and throwing off divine authority is great as demonstrated in this Bible account. It is true we do not always understand or appreciate what God requires of us; it is also true that we sometimes do not care for or even like what God would have us do. In the process of time and with much grace we will eventually see God's purpose, design, and wisdom. We will also know Him better for the experience! Nevertheless our faith must move us to compliance and full obedience. God always knows best, His plans are always for ultimate good in our experiences, and He designs to reveal more of Himself to Believers who meekly journey with Him through life. Let us make the choice to be submissive to divine authority; we should resolve to follow our Lord Jesus wherever He leads us. Yes, there is an element of rebellion that resists authority, God's authority, in each of us. Resist that natural inclination by the Spirit of grace and live in full harmony with God's plan and will. To do so is not surrendering oneself to the life of a brainless automaton, but to knowing life at its best! Life with God that His will may be done through each of us.
There are two basic lessons for us in this story:
1. God will confront Believers
who rebel and turn from Him and His will.
2. God promises restoration and
return to Him, His Plan, and His meaningful care for those who repent.
It is clear from the life of Jonah that
God does not bless a disobedient heart and life. Paul wrote: “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a
man be found faithful.” (I
Cor. 4:2) Our Lord requires faithfulness and loyalty to Him that is peerless! Then also Samuel wrote about the value of obedience:
“And Samuel said. Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings
and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better
than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the
word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
(I Samuel 15:22-23)
One other great purpose of the book of
Jonah is to show the sovereignty of God at work in the life of an individual
and His great concern for the heathen nations.
Here in chapter one we have seen:
I. The
Cause of His Rebellion. The cause was resentment and resistance to God’s
express will.
II. The
Course of His Rebellion. The course
always takes us further away from fellowship with God and is hedged with fear,
anxiety, pain, insecurity, and difficulty.
III. The
Consequences of His Rebellion. The consequences are losses of God’s fellowship,
prayer power, testimony, and possibly life.
In spite of Jonah’s resentment, we still see
God patiently preparing Jonah for a crucial mission of mercy and grace. God in His providence pursued Jonah in his
rebellion to bring him back to the safety and certainty of His will for him. God allowed Jonah to reap the consequences of
the rebellion he had sown, He foiled his plans to refocus him on a greater
plan. God permitted him to face hardship
to help him overcome his rebellion, prejudices, and selfishness. Also, remember, God is not obligated to do
any of the above. Whatever God does, remember that He does so by grace.
