A Disciple's Trust Pt 2
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Finding Your Inner Self
Did you hear about the lady who said, “I finally got a hold of my inner self and she’s just a confused as I am!”
And I think there is. Actually a few things....
There’s encouragement
There’s a struggle
There’s a picture of God’s character
Remember....God is at work to save....
God is at work to save.
Chapter 3 -
Jonah preaches. The people repent. God give grace.
Very simple. God is saying to them…here I am. Look to me. I know you’re not Israelites…but I’m here to save you too.
For Jonah…God is big enough to save even people he would consider enemies. God says…you might consider them enemies…but my grace is big enough for them too. Still Jonah is reluctant…we see this later....
Ever feel like Jonah?
Was Jonah preaching about sin and potential destruction because of sin? yes…but what else. Turn to God, repent, and you’ll see His grace. Yes, he was pointing out their wrong. But he was also pointing out God’s character…full of compassion, grace and love.
Sometimes when we talk about other people…in other situations…in our culture…we point out what’s wrong with them…but do we keep going to say…but God loves you and so do I…He loves you enough to have someone die for you. Do we go that far or do we stop in maybe anger or hate? Jonah’s caught in this struggle.
Niniveh…great city. Great city Literally “to God”....even if it isn’t to Jonah. It seems Jonah is still reluctant.
On the first day…on the first day....
Isn’t it cool, and I love this....after he preaches…the people begin to repent! the King asks all people to repent and show that through fasting and a change of behavior. People and animals. Odd? I don’t know…maybe…maybe not. We’ll see that God recognizes that both humans and animals have received his grace in just a bit here. Paul talks about all of creation groaning to receive grace and renewal. This looks to be a little picture in the big painting God’s engaged in.
6 When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink.
8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.
9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
God responds with compassion. Jesus even refers to this part of the account…saying that the people of Nineveh will stand up against the evil doers of His generation…and condemn it saying…even we knew to repent before God.
32 For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “So repent and live!
The creator seeks reconciliation with the whole world. We are the ones who get to carry this message…and help others carry it too.
Disciples who make disciple makers.
In this whole passage (book of Jonah) God pulls Jonah back into His will and shows not only a disobedient prophet but also an evil nation that He cares for them.
This is the Gospel story for an individual and a nation. This isn’t about Jonah going to a different nation or race. This is about the Gospel being taken to a people who are far from God…so that they might experience God.
Chaper 4
Jonah’s angry…
2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
This is a prayer before he leaves Nineveh...
Jonah is very open with God about his feelings…we see this with most of the prophets and writers of scripture. They’re open about their struggle with life…with the idea of justice (their view) and God’s view of grace.
4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
Do you have any right to be angry? Meaning…will your anger do any good in this situation? Will it lead to anything good?
No......but then Jonah leaves the city…goes out to a point where he can see this great city…probably a high point, and sits down to watch its’ destruction. Kinda like Sodom and Gomorrah. He covers himself with branches…he likes the shade it provides…then a miracle vine appears and shades him…but before sunrise the next day …God sent a worm to eat up the vine…it withered…Jonah’s mad again...
Do you have any right to be angray about the vine????
Let’s look back....
Jonah’s happy about the fish…he’s saved. God provided....
Jonah’s happy about the vine…some ease from a hot day…provided for by God...
But he doesn’t want those enemies of God to see any goodness in this world...
Life illustration: Vine...
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
Then God lands the plane with the last verse of this book
11 So, why can’t I likewise change what I feel about Nineveh from anger to pleasure, this big city of more than 120,000 childlike people who don’t yet know right from wrong, to say nothing of all the innocent animals?”
We want to see where Jonah goes with that response don’t we? It’s anyone’s guess.
Jonah runs…and even in his running away…God is at work…saving sailors and Jonah…and the Ninevites....in spite of Jonah’s anger…his disapproval of what God is asking him to do.
Take aways?
God doesn’t leave Jonah’s side…teaches him all along the way…saves him, puts him back on track…looks like even some pagan sailors turn to God in the middle. The whole city…even while Jonah is angry…is saved…compassion from God through a reluctant and angry prophet...
We as disciples…who’s with us all along the way?
Who’s probably providing ways out of danger we’re not even aware of? So that we can continue living out this Gospel of new life in Jesus?
Who’s working in us? People chosen to have the holy Spirit live in us? God is…Jesus’ image being recreated in us so that…other people might know Him.
Be encouraged that God will not let you go.
Know that our struggle isn’t unique…maybe unique to us…but others have gone through what we’re going through.
And remember that since the first onset of sin, we have a God who will let anything get in the way of Him doing all He can to save us and everyone else…even all of creation.
And guess what…we get to be a part of that.
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