The Chase of Grace

Introduction

A. Jonah's story as a mirror of our own inclination to flee from God's call.

Share illustration of running from God in my call to the ministry

Have you ever ran from God?

B. God's relentless pursuit of His wayward children.

Matthew 18:12–14 CSB

12 What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over that sheep more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

C. Preview of how Jonah's narrative ties into the gospel message of Jesus seeking out those who are running from Him.

It’s not God’s hope that anyone would perish, he is seeking out each of us.

There is a story in scripture that so vividly points out our great human desire to run from God and God’s desire to chase after us and bring us into a relationship with him

Jonah's Flight (Jonah 1:1-17)

Jonah 1:1–17 CSB

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because their evil has come up before me.” 3 Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the Lord’s presence. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the Lord’s presence. 4 But the Lord threw a great wind onto the sea, and such a great storm arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break apart. 5 The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his god. They threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel and had stretched out and fallen into a deep sleep. 6 The captain approached him and said, “What are you doing sound asleep? Get up! Call to your god. Maybe this god will consider us, and we won’t perish.” 7 “Come on!” the sailors said to each other. “Let’s cast lots. Then we’ll know who is to blame for this trouble we’re in.” So they cast lots, and the lot singled out Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us who is to blame for this trouble we’re in. What is your business, and where are you from? What is your country, and what people are you from?” 9 He answered them, “I’m a Hebrew. I worship the Lord, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were seized by a great fear and said to him, “What have you done?” The men knew he was fleeing from the Lord’s presence because he had told them. 11 So they said to him, “What should we do to you so that the sea will calm down for us?” For the sea was getting worse and worse. 12 He answered them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea so that it will calm down for you, for I know that I’m to blame for this great storm that is against you.” 13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they couldn’t because the sea was raging against them more and more. 14 So they called out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, don’t let us perish because of this man’s life, and don’t charge us with innocent blood! For you, Lord, have done just as you pleased.” 15 Then they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 The men were seized by great fear of the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 17 The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

A. God's clear command to Jonah: Go to Nineveh and preach against it.

B. Jonah's disobedience: He flees from God's presence, boarding a ship heading in the opposite direction. Tarshish was literally the furthest point on the map from Nineveh that his people knew

C. The storm at sea and Jonah's miraculous deliverance: God commands a great fish to swallow Jonah.

D. Jonah's prayer of distress and God's mercy: The fish vomits Jonah onto dry land, giving him a second chance.

The Pursuit of the Prodigal (Jonah 2:1-10)

Jonah 2:1–10 CSB

1 Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish: 2 I called to the Lord in my distress, and he answered me. I cried out for help from deep inside Sheol; you heard my voice. 3 When you threw me into the depths, into the heart of the seas, and the current overcame me. All your breakers and your billows swept over me. 4 And I said, “I have been banished from your sight, yet I will look once more toward your holy temple. 5 The water engulfed me up to the neck; the watery depths overcame me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 I sank to the foundations of the mountains, the earth’s gates shut behind me forever! Then you raised my life from the Pit, Lord my God! 7 As my life was fading away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, to your holy temple. 8 Those who cherish worthless idols abandon their faithful love, 9 but as for me, I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the Lord. 10 Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

A. Jonah's reflection in the belly of the fish: A turning point in his journey.

B. God's relentless pursuit: Even in Jonah's disobedience, God is there, ready to extend grace.

C. The significance of God's deliverance: A foreshadowing of Jesus' pursuit of the lost and broken.

Jesus' Pursuit of the Lost (Luke 19:10)

Luke 19:10 CSB

10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

A. The ultimate fulfillment of Jonah's story in Jesus' ministry.

B. Jesus' proclamation of repentance and salvation to a lost world.

C. Jesus' sacrificial death and glorious resurrection: Offering forgiveness and reconciliation to all who would turn to Him in faith.

Embracing God's Grace Today

A. Recognizing our own tendency to run from God's call.

Maybe you’ve been running from God for a long time now

Chasing popularity

Chasing comfort

Chasing after your own human desires

Chasing worth

B. Responding to Jesus' pursuit with repentance and faith.

C. Opening our hearts to the transforming love of God.

Conclusion

A. The timeless message of Jonah's flight and Jesus' pursuit.

B. The assurance of God's relentless love and grace.

C. Encouragement to embrace the chase of grace and turn to Jesus, who seeks out those who are running from Him.