Fish Jonah 1:17-2:10

In 1977, 49-year-old German brewery worker Erwin Kreuz blew his life savings on his first flight — a once-in-a-lifetime birthday trip to San Francisco. He’d seen it on TV, and he wanted to visit the Wild West. As the World Airways flight from Frankfurt stopped to refuel in a small airport in Bangor, Maine, before continuing on to California, an air stewardess who had finished her shift told Kreuz to “have a nice time in San Francisco.” Her choice of words would change Kreuz’s life.

Kreuz, who typically enjoyed drinking 17 beers a day, was a little groggy, and on hearing this, grabbed his suitcase, got off the plane, went through customs, jumped in a cab and asked the driver to take him to the city. He wandered Bangor for three days enjoying the sights and sounds that Maine had to offer. Unfortunately, Kreuz thought he was in San Francisco.

Most of us have stepped off a bus or train at the wrong stop — an embarrassing and annoying moment that involves a quick check on your phone to figure out how to get back to your intended destination. But what if a friendly face just told you that train stop was the right one, and all the signs were indecipherable, and cellphones didn’t exist, and you were three sheets to the wind? Once Kreuz got through customs in that little airport, he was certain he was in San Francisco, and he didn’t stop believing that for three very strange days. The cab dropped Kreuz in downtown Bangor where he checked into the Bangor House Hotel, walked the streets a little and found a tavern to quench his almighty thirst. At one point Kreuz was reassured by the sight of two Chinese restaurants in the town, something he knew was in San Francisco from the movies. The rusted green bridge that links Bangor to neighboring Brewer was clearly not the Golden Gate, but Kreuz carried on regardless.

Some of us are very confused about what God is doing in our lives: He’s working to bring us back to Him!

-God pursues His disobedient children so they can find His forgiveness

I. God Rescues Jonah from Danger v. 17

When we left off Jonah was in a desperate circumstance

He chose to be cast off from the boat in the storm rather than turn to God in repentance

Jonah’s decision was the final act of a rebel against God, but it was not the end of his story

It turns out, that many of us miss the importance of the great fish in Jonah’s life

The fish was not an accidental byproduct of being lost at sea, it was a messenger of God

The fish was not a punishment from God; if anything, it was a rescue

The fish is not a picture of despair, but a picture of hope

When Jonah was drowning in the consequences of his own sin, God sent a rescue that would carry him through the waters

Jonah earned destruction

God sent Jonah a Savior!

II. God Returns Jonah to His Senses vv. 1-9

From the belly of the fish, Jonah has a change of perspective

Jonah cries out to the Lord v. 2

This is something he would never do from the ship

Now, in desperation, Jonah does call on God

Jonah recognizes his foolishness vv. 3-6a

Jonah wanted to flee from God and now he seems to have gotten his wish; he is as far from God as it is possible to be

He got what he wanted and it turned out to be awful!

Jonah begins to find his hope in God vv. 6b-8

Jonah gets a right understanding of who God really is

He remembers all that God has done for him and recognizes the vanity of worshipping idols

Jonah commits to obedience v. 9

Jonah will do what God told him to do

However, it will take the mercy of God to allow it to happen

Powerful things happen when God’s people repent!

1 John 1:9

[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

III. God Restores Jonah to His Purpose v. 10

Jonah commits to the path of obedience again

God responds and Jonah finds himself released to the dry ground again!

God is the God of second chances and you will find the second chance you need as you commit yourself to Him today.

On New Year's Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played University of California in the Rose Bowl. In that game a man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for California. Somehow, he became confused and started running 65 yards in the wrong direction. One of his teammates, Benny Lom, outdistanced him and downed him just before he scored for the opposing team. When California attempted to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety which was the ultimate margin of victory.

That strange play came in the first half, and everyone who was watching the game was asking the same question: "What will Coach Nibbs Price do with Roy Riegels in the second half?" The men filed off the field and went into the dressing room. They sat down on the benches and on the floor, all but Riegels. He put his blanket around his shoulders, sat down in a corner, put his face in his hands, and cried like a baby.

If you have played football, you know that a coach usually has a great deal to say to his team during half time. That day Coach Price was quiet. No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Riegels. Then the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before playing time. Coach Price looked at the team and said simply, "Men the same team that played the first half will start the second." The players got up and started out, all but Riegels. He did not budge. The coach looked back and called to him again; still he didn't move. Coach Price went over to where Riegels sat and said, "Roy, didn't you hear me? The same team that played the first half will start the second." Then Roy Riegels looked up and his cheeks were wet with a strong man's tears. "Coach," he said, "I can't do it to save my life. I've ruined you, I've ruined the University of California, I've ruined myself. I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium to save my life." Then Coach Price reached out and put his hand on Riegel's shoulder and said to him: "Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over." And Roy Riegels went back, and those Tech men will tell you that they have never seen a man play football as Roy Riegels played that second half.