The Rebel
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When we like Jonah disobey the call God has issued upon us we harm ourselves and all those around us.
We have a call like Jonah to a world like Nineveh - How will you answer?
We like the sailers often try to appease God on our own terms - Will you finally submit?
Real Historical Account
39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
The Charge
The Charge
1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”
God’s Word to Jonah
Jonah seasoned prophet
Jonah = dove
great city - large + numerous people
Exploring the Minor Prophets: An Expository Commentary 2. The Inescapable Missionary Challenge of the Multitude (1:2a)
It is estimated that Nineveh’s population was over 1,000,000. The last verse of the book of Jonah tells us that infants alone numbered 120,000.
Call out…
evil before him… Sodom… Babylon
Israel punished by Assyrians to come
Look at God’s care for this people… God’s care for you !!
God’s Word to Us
If the word of the LORD came to you how would you respond?
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jonah = type of christ
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
We have a better preacher then Jonah…
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Like Jonah we too have a charge to go and tell a people like Nineveh.
Exploring the Minor Prophets: An Expository Commentary 2. The Inescapable Missionary Challenge of the Multitude (1:2a)
Truly the missionary challenge of reaching the multitudes has assumed gigantic proportions in our day. The world population is exploding. It has already passed the 5,000,000,000 mark. Every year about 85,000,000 people are added to the total. Every hour about 10,000 people are added. Two-thirds of these will never have enough to eat, one-third will grow up in communist lands and be indoctrinated with atheism, three-fifths will never learn to read, and two-thirds will never hear the gospel.
This is the charge we have been given not from Jonah but from Jesus !!
but the choice is ours, as it was Jonah’s …
The Choice
The Choice
3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
Jonah chose Disobedience
Jonah got up all right …
Jonah flees… Jesus weeps
Jonah is disobedient… Jesus obedient to the point of death
Slides of Travel / Travail …
Tarshish - furthest he could go
“Paid the fare”
Presence of the LORD...
4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
Who was Jonah kidding !!
Cain marked = Jonah marked also
3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
Jonah went Downward
Down is the only direction away for God
down on self
down on others
down on luck
down in despair
down to the grave
down to hell
The Chaos
The Chaos
4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”
V4
The Lord Pursued
Sovereign power of our God
even the winds and waves obey him = Matt 8.27 “27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?””
Psalm 77:13–18 “13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. 15 You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah 16 When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled. 17 The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side. 18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook.”
hurled = same word later
Heb 12.6 “6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.””
V5
The Sailors Prayed
Seasoned Sailors feared !
prayer to false gods brings only false hopes
they knew this was no ordinary storm
V6
The Prophet Paused
Where was the MAN of GOD in all this ?
DOWN...
The captains words of irony
arise / call to god = the very gos he is running from
Jonah’s lack of concern for gentiles is stagering
they knew death was certain without help
Exploring the Minor Prophets: An Expository Commentary 1. Jonah’s Shame (1:6)
What a text for a sleeping church! Today’s world is being torn apart by drugs, drink, immorality, apostasy, and the menace of nuclear war—and the church sleeps. False religions and wicked philosophies are making giant strides—and the church sleeps. Abortion, pornography, syndicated crime, sodomy, and dreadful diseases threaten mankind—and the church sleeps. Friends, family, neighbors, and workmates grope in spiritual darkness—and the church sleeps. Two-thirds of the world’s people will never hear the gospel—and the church sleeps. What a crime! A soldier caught sleeping on duty in a time of war faces a court martial and possibly death because his sleep placed other men in peril.
Exalting Jesus in Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk Rebellion Invites the Wrath of God (Jonah 1:4–5)
God can send a storm on one’s income; He can hurl a wind on one’s health; He can crush one’s grades, scholarships, and dreams in school. When we rebel, He can do whatever it takes to get us to return to Him or to take us out of this present life in our disobedience.
Disobedience to God inevitably leads to frightful storms of life for ourselves and others.
The Confrontation
The Confrontation
Pray for opportunities to share the gospel clearly, coarsely and humbly
Be clear on the gospel and its significance
Go on the offensive on Mondays
Actively and regularly invite people to come to church with you
7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” 9 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”
V7
A Casting
Notice Jonah has not prayed yet !!
Sailors call it EVIL
Sovereignty of God
Pro 16.33 “33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
V8-10
A Confession
Confession and Repentance are not always the same thing
He answered their questions
He did not answer to God
Eze 33.11 “11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”
V11-12
A Conviction
Stubborn to the point of death
Guilt beyond comprehension
how many of us don’t say this out loud but feel this in our hearts?
1 Jhn 1.8-9 “8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
We have a better word than Jonah !
Matt 11.28 “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
The Ceasing
The Ceasing
13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.
V13
Stop your Works
Nevertheless
they heard the word and yet still did their own works
rowed hard = dug in
seasoned sailors
get back to dry land… not what Jonah said !
Matt 11.28 “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Rom 10.9 “9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Eph 2.8 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”
V14-15
This is Wisdom
See your inability + Call out to God
LORD = Yahweh - God of Israel
It is only when we cease from our own works that we find peace in Christ.
These Sailors needed someone to die in their place … so do we !!
Ps 6.4 “4 Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.”
V16
Pursue Worship
Made Vows + Kept Them !!
Jhn 14.15 “15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
Everything that looks like conversion is not conversion
Real conversion goes beyond the day of belief
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Group Questions
Group Questions
What are some typical reasons believers do not share the gospel with the lost regularly? Which reason(s) mostly characterizes the hesitancy you have shown in sharing the good news with unbelievers you know?
Why do you think the Lord’s command to proclaim the gospel is easier to ignore than other commands in Scripture?
When have you chided a fellow believer for obvious rebellion to the word of God? How would you feel if a believing friend chided you about missing opportunities for sharing your faith with unbelievers?
Prior to the call to go to Nineveh, what experience had Jonah had with the Lord that should have given him the will and confidence to go to Nineveh immediately on the Lord’s command? What experiences have you had in life in which the Lord has shown you His power? How might these experiences fuel greater courage to share the gospel to the most oppositional unbeliever in your life circles?
What is the significance for the sailors of Jonah’s sleeping—Jonah’s indifference—during the storm? What might be the significance of a casual attitude toward telling a non-Christian relative about the love of God in Christ?
What is one immediate decision you can make that will help you be better prepared to share the gospel when the next opportunity for sharing arises?
In the New Testament, what are some examples of God responding fiercely to the disobedience of His children? Theologically speaking, how then should one think about God’s characteristics of love, mercy, grace, and patience
What are some things that occur in childhood that, wrongly, lead us to believe that we must become the masters of our own destinies or that we must save ourselves?
What are some early experiences—familial, social, educational, religious—that have shaped your ambitions and drives, and how do they affect your walk with Christ?
When Jonah reveals that he worships the Lord, how is he being both sincere and hypocritical? In terms of what Christians believe and practice concerning the Great Commission, how might it be possible for a believer or a congregation to be both sincere and hypocritical in following the Lord?
How does this episode demonstrate that being tolerant of other’s religious beliefs does not mean that believers must accept religiously plural roads to salvation?
What acts in the story demonstrate a process of real conversion on the part of the sailors? Is it unreasonable for churches to expect believers to demonstrate evidence of conversion? Do you think the sailors’ experience agrees with what the New Testament teaches about conversion?
What are some ways in which Jonah’s account resembles the account of Christ? What might the resemblance say about the plan of God for all mankind? What might the resemblance say about the character of Scripture?