When God is Too Good

Read Jonah 1–2

Jonah 1:3–4 “But Jonah arose 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 from the presence of the Lord. But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.”

Why did Jonah run away from God?

It’s because he knew how loving God is (seen in Jonah 4)

God was going to extend his mercy to Nineveh an enemy of Israel who were brutal murderers.

And Jonah hated the idea of them getting saved.

So he goes to Tarshish.

I want to remind you that Tarshish is the end of the world at this point of history.

Jonah went the complete opposite direction of where God told him to go (tarshish pic)

It’s like if God said go to Canada but you instead go to Antartica.

And yet God ran after Jonah the entire 2500 miles that Jonah went in.

Psalm 23:6 (LSB)

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of Yahweh forever.

Why does love pursue those who go away?

Because love never gives up.

If you are a Christian, you can’t run from God because He loves you.

Jonah 1:5 “Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.”

Why do you think Jonah was asleep during a hurricane?

Jonah was asleep because he did not sleep for days.

He travelled by foot to Joppa which took multiple days.

Then he had to find a ship going to Tarshish.

There are no daily ships to Tarshish. That’s like finding tickets to Antartica. You know how difficult that is?

Fights to Antartica are charter flights meaning that it is not on an airline’s normal schedule to go there.

For Jonah to find a ship once he got there means he found some random cargo ship and bargained with the sailors to go with them.

This kind of behavior is what some paranoid criminal would do, afraid the police are just around any corner to get him.

Full of anxiety, and days without rest, Jonah was asleep.

Sin puts you to sleep.

The sin the people of Nineveh put them to sleep of the fire that’s in their house, the sin of Jonah put him to sleep to the hurricane right outside the boat.

And yet God lovingly woke both Nineveh and Jonah up.

Do either Nineveh or Jonah deserve to be saved?

No.

But it’s because of God’s love they are.

How will you respond to God’s love that He shows you everyday?

1. When God is loving (ch. 1-2)

Read Jonah 3

Jonah 3:3–4 “So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!””

Imagine going into the deepest cave.

Verovkina cave which takes 4 days to get to the bottom. (cave pic)

How hard would it be for you to leave if you only went 1 day in?

Very hard!

You can’t just get up and leave.

It’s going to take a very long time, a journey, just to get out.

The only way you will go into this cave is if you are determined.

And Jonah was determined.

We know because he went a full day in.

Into this massive city full of darkness.

Where there is not a single believer, just him surrounded by paganism,

child sacrifice, temple prostitution, homosexuality, etc.

Why was Jonah able to go so deep into darkness?

Because he knew God was so merciful to him in the fish.

Where it would have been complete darkness.

God prepared him.

But God was with him the entire time.

Whatever dark place God will bring you: school, work, online, places that are full of sin or sinful influences, remember that God is with you.

Psalm 23:4–6 (ESV)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Remember God is with you.

Jonah 3:10 “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.”

God brought his mercy upon Nineveh.

And God wants you to also share His mercy with the world.

Share God’s good news with others.

2. When God is merciful (ch. 3)

Read Jonah 5

Jonah 4:6 “And the Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant.”

After Jonah just reacted as a jerk toward God’s kindness why does God give him a plant for comfort?

Because of grace.

What does grace mean?

Undeserved favor.

Most of the time in the Old Testament when the Israelites disobey Him, what does God do?

He punishes them!

He pours out His wrath on them.

He smites them!

The only thing God smites in Jonah is a plant!

Jonah 4:11 “And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?””

Why does God call the Ninevites, who are brutal, torturous people, ‘who cannot discern their right hand and their left’?

Because God is full of grace. He see them rather as brutal enemies, instead with compassion and understanding of their pitiful state without God.

God would never call the Israelites that, because they know better, they have the Bible.

But the Ninevites, while not innocent, God is showing unusual grace towards them.

And we also see God’s grace when he mention livestock!

Jonah was sad when God killed his plant.

But God is saying, ‘if don’t want hundreds of thousands of human souls to be saved, what about animals?’

‘Because you care about a plant, surely you’ll care about the cattle right?’

It’s as if God is bargaining with Jonah!

Since when does God ever bargain with people? Never!

He doesn’t need to bargain anything, everything belongs to Him!

The only bargaining with God is when Abraham asked God to spare the souls of righteous people in Sodom and Gommorah.

Genesis 18:27–33 (NKJV)

Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?”

So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?”So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?”So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”

Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”

And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

What’s amazing here is as if with Jonah, God swaps the roles, and becomes the bargainer to show how graceful He is!

When you see how graceful God is and you sin against him, how foolish do you look!

We think Jonah looks so stupid here, but the reality is that we look just as stupid when God shows His wonderful grace, and then go sin.

So don’t be foolish and ignore His grace, but follow Him when He shows His grace!

3. When God is graceful (ch.4)