Jonah 1 F.R.O.G

2 Samuel ends pretty wild. One of David’s sons takes the throne from David and tries to kill him. There is lots of revenge that takes place that does not honor God. David gets the throne back after his son dies, but fails to trust God in a moment and causes a plague to kill thousands of people. David repents and builds a alter to worship God, and in God’s kindness He is receptive to prayer and relents of punishment.

Then we step into the Kings where David will pass the throne over to his son Solomon gets to action. Punishing though that need to be punished, appointing new leadership in areas, and the construction of the temple of God.

Kings, kings and more kings. This book literally tells of the history of the kings that were over God’s people. What we see is they are still in search for the perfect King, because all of these kings, some good, a lot bad, have their moments of failure, which continue the anticipation for the perfect King that will come. BUT I want to step away from the Kings and talk about a prophet named Jonah who God appointed as his messenger during the same time period of the Kings. Just to maybe help you bible study out a little bit, the prophets which were Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, these were prophets to point people back to him and a lot of them were during this time of the Kings, and Jonah is one of them. Jonah has an interesting assignment though. Unlike the other Prophets God sends him outside of the people of Israel to a foreign people to share with them about God and lead them to repentance.

Read Jonah

Have you ever felt like you were running from God, or maybe you are frustrated and angry at God? Like you didn’t like what God had to say, or maybe you didn’t want to do what God said to do. Here in Jonah we get to see these things unfold, Jonah did not want to follow God’s plan. In fact what Jonah was doing without was doing without sayings, was my plan is better than yours God, but in every situation that happens in this story it is clear that God, is patient, gracious, and never abandons Jonah.

One of the questions I want y'all to think about in groups is who is Jonah from the first 3 verses and how can you relate.

Who is Jonah?

- Jonah was God’s prophet or messenger who is running from God.

Jonah did not like what God wanted him to do and so he flees in his own direction rather than God’s.

Have you ever heard something maybe you’ve read in scripture or heard someone say about God that you didn’t like and so you decided to do your own thing? You thought maybe thats God is not for me? or Maybe you were like that does not sound very loving of God or how could a good God let that happen. Or why can’t I do this or that and you’ve thought God doesn’t really care for your feelings? Or maybe you feel like God gave you some very clear instructions, but you don’t want to do that and so you are struggling to follow and believe God’s plan. So what do you do when you are struggling to believe/follow God?

Maybe there are some here that are struggling to believe in God.

Maybe there are some here that are struggling to follow God’s way.

Here is what we Learn from Jonah 1:

- Find out what the problem is.

The sailors here in this story because of this big storm they begin to throw our the cargo to lighten the ship, but what do we know. The cargo isn’t the problem Jonah is, so they throw the cargo out but it didn’t really help the situation, but the captain went down to the lowest part of the vessel and woke Jonah up. The captain went down to the core of the ship to try an figure out the problem and we find out here in a second that he discovers the problem.

Get to the core of things and be open to the truth. I think a lot of people question bible and christianity because they just aren’t sure if it is true. I would say some of the biggest reasons people question whether or not the bible is true is because,

- They had a bad experience with a Christian who did not live like Christ.

- They don’t like something the bible says, and more specifically because it may touch on something they deal with or knows someone who deals with.

- Or it could be because no one in their life follows God or seems to care about God.

This is what I challenge you with. God says if you seek me, you will find me. Seek out the truth, and get to the core, maybe ask the question why do I not believe, or why am I struggling to follow God, and as you look into it is it a pride issue. Do you not want to believe or follow God because you think your way is better, or do you have sin in your life that is keeping from seeing things clearly. Are you listening to those who just have an agenda?

Even if something is hard to hear. Seek the truth and get to the problem.

When you don’t want to believe or follow God.

- Call out to God.

The Sailor, someone who didn’t even follow God at this point was encouraging the guy that was suppose to be following God to pray. Do you hear how ironic that is. The guy that is suppose to know to pray isn’t praying and he’s being encourage to pray by someone who doesn’t pray to God.

AND

Jonah at this point seems like he still doesn’t want to talk to or deal with God, but here is the challenge - call out to God, Even when you don’t want too. God created you. He is for you. He loves you. Despite what you believe and despite what you He has done and hasn’t done for you this is what you need to know Jesus died and rose for you, and has place you in this moment to hear these words God loves you.

When you don’t want to believe or follow God

- Don’t blame someone else for your decisions.

The sailors are trying to figure out who is to blame for all of this and Jonah actually does the right thing here he says what? “I am to blame.” Jonah said, “I am running from God.” Take ownership and responsibility for the choices you make. There is a lot you can’t control, but you can with help from the Lord and from others to make choices that are helpful for you and others rather than what is hurtful for you and others. IF you have made mistakes part of repenting and turning from sin is taking ownership/responsibility for what you have done. I know that so and so has done this to you, and so and so said this but what is your part in it all. Justin why would I repent? Why would I take ownership for the wrong that will just lead to me getting in trouble with a leader or parents. Repenting opens the door for God to restore you. You want to be free from the habits and mistakes you have made start with taking ownership, and repenting and being honest.

When you don’t want to believe or follow God

- Get accountability.

Jonah knew he needed to be thrown into the sea so why didn’t he just jump in. Maybe it was scary, he was struggling to still follow God, and he needed others like Paige said earlier this week, “He needed others to throw him in the sea of accountability.”

We need others to help us when we don’t see things clearly, or when we don’t want to follow God.

When you don’t want to believe or follow God

- Trust God to provide a way.

This whole book as we will see is how God is gracious and patient towards people, giving them second chances, helping them see clearly, wanting to restore them, seeing how God provides salvation to a wayward people, and to a wayward prophet.

In this story and in life God uses different things to get our attention.

At the beginning of Chapter 1:

God used a storm.

- God did not use the storm to get back at Jonah but to get Jonah to come back to Him.

At the end of Chapter 1:

God used a great fish.

- God did not use the great fish to ruin his life but to restore his life.

Let’s head to group and talk this out some more.