Jonah 4 Running against God Jonah: A Man on the Run

A man on the run • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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His mind knew God’s will / His will even obeyed God’s will/ But his heart did not share God’s heart. Jesus gives a parable:

(ESV) Luke 15 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

(ESV) Luke 15 11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. … 17 “But when he came to himself, … 20 he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. … 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

… 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

Two sons that a Father loves – both wander from him. One comes home. The condition of the other remains uncertain

In the Old Testament a story of men who are God’s creation – at some level both are sons of God The evil one repents and finds acceptance and grace

The condition of the religious one remains uncertain --- that one we are going to look at today.

Last week we saw Jonah obey – He ran with God.

But the journey was short – misleading-- today we find him turning and running against God just how much was he ever running with God?

Willing to receive God’s mercy himself, He is unable to accept that God desires to give mercy to others – especially to our enemies.

But if we reject this truth we will find ourselves running against God.

God is merciful and desires all people to be saved. He wants us to share His heart.

I. Running against God: Jonah’s bitter heart

A. A new source of evil Jonah 3:10, 4:1

(ESV) Jonah 3 10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the (evil) disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. … 4 1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly (it was evil to Jonah), and he was angry.

1. Word plays – use the same word with different meanings

a. The great evil/ calamity -- the people of Nineveh had been consumed The great evil /disaster that God announced on Nineveh The great evil / Jonah now is consumed with great evil himself

1) Sparing Nineveh - it was exceedingly evil to Jonah

2. Nineveh turned from their evil

3. God withheld the evil that He had pronounced as judgment

4. Jonah viewed this repentance / forgiveness as evil so the evil of bitterness and rebellion erupts in Jonah’s heart – another form of evil besides cutting off people’s heads

5. In fact this whole book is about the evil that invades the ‘righteous’ people’s heart – often harder to break through than the gutters evil

B. A contrast of hearts Jonah 3:10, 4:1

(ESV) Jonah 3 10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. … 4 1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly (it was evil to Jonah),, and he was angry.

1. Totally different reactions to the repentance of Nineveh / God turns from anger – Jonah becomes angry

2. God has a heart for others / Jonah focused only upon himself and his

a. The word “I” or “my” occurs no fewer than nine times in the entire prayer

b. Lacked a spirit of submission

c. Concerned with how events impact him and his alone

C. Bitterness against others Jonah 4:1-2

(ESV) Jonah 4 1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I saidwhen I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish;

1. Reason Jonah fled – afraid of their repentance and salvation

2. Angry that God did not destroy Nineveh

a. Past cruelty (earlier invasions of N Israel – already had terrorized – tradition that Jonah’s family had been killed by them – your mother killed by a terrorist beheading)

b. Misapplied nationalism – rather die than be the instrument of salvation to our nation’s enemy / God’s mercy only for us

c. Future destruction and cruelty to Israel (think ISIS – know they are going to destroy the US with great horror)

D. Bitterness impacts life Jonah 4:2

(ESV) Jonah 4 1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to fleeto Tarshish; …

1. Was Jonah ever running with God? Outward only obedience is never enough – it is a matter of the heart

E. Bitterness ultimately against God Jonah 4:2-3

(ESV) Jonah 4 2 … Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”