Jonah 1e

Turn to Jonah 1.

It’s interesting – the more I read Jonah the more I see my story. I think most of us, if not all, can find ourselves in Jonah in some manner. So, I encourage us to find ourselves in the story in whatever context that fits our lives and allow God to not only reveal Himself, but to reveal who we are.

Remember,

The main theme is God’s love and mercy extends to all people. Like Jonah, we are God’s agents of mercy and love - even to “those people.”

The story begins with God telling Jonah to go to Nineveh, to “those people,” but Jonah disobeyed and boarded a ship going to Tarshish. From Jerusalem to Tarshish is roughly the same distance from here to Maine. He wanted to get away from God. So, he tried, but God sent this massive storm, not to punish Jonah, but to redirect him toward a people that God wanted to save.

Jonah 1:5 CEB

The sailors were terrified, and each one cried out to his god. They hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to make it lighter. Now Jonah had gone down into the hold of the vessel to lie down and was deep in sleep.

Last week we noted that these sailors, who were just doing their job, paid a price for Jonah’s sin. Remember,

There is always a cost to sin and disobedience.

Always a ripple effect.

Jonah 1:6 CEB

The ship’s officer came and said to him, “How can you possibly be sleeping so deeply? Get up! Call on your god! Perhaps the god will give some thought to us so that we won’t perish.”

Notice something – this Gentile man (we’ll call him an “outsider”) told the Jonah, God’s prophet, this “insider” to get up, which was exactly what God told Jonah in v2.

We’re beginning to see some Divine repetition in Jonah’s life.

We’ll see this again in chapter 3. Briefly, understand that God takes no pleasure in judgment. God often provides repeated warnings prior to judgment – this is because of His love. So, if you’re in a Jonah situation, running from God and you’re hearing or seeing a repeated message – you better pay attention. My story!

Last week I mentioned that we all need someone in our lives who can say hard truths and point out things about us that we can’t see. If you’re a follower of Jesus and you don’t think you need someone like that in your life, be careful. Obviously, Jonah did not have that person, so God kindly provided one - the officer.

God can use “outsiders” or even “those people” to show us our inconsistencies.

That’s humbling … but it’s for our benefit.

Remember, the author is emphasizing a broad contrast between God’s people and outsiders. Let’s be honest, sometimes those outside the Christian faith can be more consistent and devout and more attuned to the spiritual than those who know Jesus.

Think about the contrast that’s taking place. The sailors were doing their job. Jonah was not. The sailors were working. Jonah was sleeping. The sailors wanted to survive. Jonah didn’t care. The sailors were terrified. Jonah was apathetic. The sailors were praying and seeking their gods. Jonah ignored Almighty God. Quite a contrast … and the inconsistency of Jonah. Something to think about.

Jonah 1:7 CEB

Meanwhile, the sailors said to each other, “Come on, let’s cast lots so that we might learn who is to blame for this evil that’s happening to us.” They cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

God has a way of uncovering our false identities and “secret” sins.

Never to shame us – but to heal us and make us whole …. To those God loves He says, “I love you too much to let you get away with this.” Again - my story. “Chad, if you don’t confess, I will.” And He did. He blew my cover. He exposed the charade. And sooner or later, if you’re playing games with God, He will expose you. Jesus said,

Luke 12:2–3 ESV

Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Jonah 1:8–9 CEB

So they said to him, “Tell us, since you’re the cause of this evil happening to us: What do you do and where are you from? What’s your country and of what people are you?” He said to them, “I’m a Hebrew. I worship the Lord, the God of heaven—who made the sea and the dry land.”

I imagine there was a gut-wrenching feeling as Jonah came to his senses, and he’s like, “Who am I fooling? I can’t hide or run from God.”

I like

Jeremiah 23:23–24 ESV

“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

Jonah 1:10–12 CEB

Then the men were terrified and said to him, “What have you done?” (The men knew that Jonah was fleeing from the Lord, because he had told them.) They said to him, “What will we do about you so that the sea will become calm around us?” (The sea was continuing to rage.) He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea! Then the sea will become calm around you. I know it’s my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

Reminder from last week, as Jonah began to confess and accept responsibility for His actions,

Confession is often the beginning of the end of the storm and our healing.

Wasn’t over yet, but it was the beginning of the end.

Let’s imagine an alternate scenario. Jonah could have said, “OK, I’ll go to Nineveh. Guys, I’m sorry I caused all this and got you involved, sorry about the cargo but if you turn the ship around, the storm will stop. Take me back to Joppa.” I believe if Jonah had done that, the storm would have stopped. But what did Jonah do? He did what too many of us do? He said, “I made this mess. I’ll solve it.”

Being tossed overboard was Jonah’s human solution to a spiritual problem.

Jonah’s idea - not God’s.

Again, is my story. Rather than trusting God and dealing with my issues His way, I tried to fix it on my own. I prayed more, worked harder, I tried everything, but nothing worked. I made life worse for me and others.

Jonah’s solution may seem noble at first, but it was just another way of rebelling. It was another way of saying, “I’m not doing what God wants. I’m doing this ‘My way!’” Jonah had no intention of going to Nineveh. He would rather die than to go to “those people.” Little did he know that his decision was about to make his life worse.

Look,

Repentance and obedience is the only solution to a storm caused by disobedience.

No amount of prayer, serving the church, doing this or doing that or running will solve anything.

Jonah 1:13–15 CEB

The men rowed to reach dry land, but they couldn’t manage it because the sea continued to rage against them. So they called on the Lord, saying, “Please, Lord, don’t let us perish on account of this man’s life, and don’t blame us for innocent blood! You are the Lord: whatever you want, you can do.” Then they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased its raging.

[Can you imagine the shock and silent awe and the realization of who this God, Yahweh was? I’m sure they spent possibly hours dealing with the storm, tossing cargo, fearing for their lives … and then they tossed Jonah over, and it was over. They had never seen anything like it. This Yahweh must truly be the God of land and sea.]

And so,

Jonah 1:16 CEB

The men worshipped the Lord with a profound reverence; they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made solemn promises.

Again, there’s that contrast. The one who should have profound reverence for God didn’t!

Here’s some good news, though. Yes, Jonah caused this whole fiasco, and sadly other people paid a heavy price for his sin. Nonetheless, this amazing God revealed Himself within this storm and these Gentile men, came to know the True Living God. Their lives were forever changed because of the power and presence of Almighty God.

If God can do that Jonah’s storm, imagine what He can do with ours?

Think about something. For Jonah and the sailors, it didn’t have to be this way. Jonah did not have to run away. These men did not have to endure a storm. Jonah did not have to be thrown overboard. One act of obedience, one act of repentance and confession, one right choice could have changed everything. What is the Spirit saying to you?

Here’s some really great news – our God can calm storms, and take our messes and create beauty from ashes, and cause all things to work for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. God can rescue us from the darkest places, even when we feel like we’re drowning – we’ll talk about that next week.

If you’ve never confessed Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior …