God’s revelation on the boat

Intro

The story of a prophet. Unlike the other prophetic books, the book of Jonah does not recount the story of a prophecy, but rather tells the story of a prophet.

The messenger is the main subject of the book and not the message.

The Story of a Great Fish or the story of a Great God? To answer this question it is enough to consider that, in the 4 chapters that make up the book of Jonah, the name of God is mentioned 42 times in only 48 verses, while the big fish only 3 times.

We can therefore conclude that the book of Jonah has the goal of revealing who God is and how He acts.

The subdivision of the book of Jonah. Which outline should we follow to better understand the message this book contains?

We can study the book of Jonah by dividing it into the main places where the prophet Jonah finds himself along the course of his history.

In fact in the book of Jonah there are 4 main places in which God will reveal himself to His prophet.

We must not forget that our God is everywhere:

Where can I go from your Spirit?     Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;     if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,     if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me,     your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me     and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,     for darkness is as light to you (Psalm 139:7-12 - NIV).

Outline of the book of Jonah. We will therefore see, over the next few weeks, the 4 revelations of God in the book of Jonah:

God's revelation in the Boat (Jonah 1:1-16);

God's revelation in the belly of the great fish (Jonah 2:1-11);

God's revelation in the city of Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-10); 

God's revelation under the leafy plant (Jonah 4:1-11).

Outline of the sermon. Today instead we want to consider God's revelation in the boat:

Jonah's Disobedience (Jonah 1:3 - NLV);

God's Correction (Jonah 1:4 - NIV);

God's Control (Jonah 1:4, 7, 17 - NIV).

N. 1 - Jonah’s disobedience

Disobey God's call. The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are” (Jonah 1:1- 2 - NLT).

God said go, Jonah said no.

The prophet had been called to preach the word of God but he refused to fulfill his responsibilities.

The Lord today more than ever reminds the Church of Jesus Christ that there is a world that dies, desperately in need of the message of the Gospel: “You are the salt of the earth. If salt loses its taste, how can it be made to taste like salt again? It is no good. It is thrown away and people walk on it. 14 You are the light of the world. You cannot hide a city that is on a mountain (Matthew 5:13-14 - NLV).

Like Paul we want to be obedient to God's call: So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven (Acts 26:19 - NIV).

Helps to disobey God. Jonah immediately found a ship directed towards Tarshish (Jonah 1:3).

In this rebellious world against the Lord, we will always find a "ship", a "home" or a "friendship" that will help us disobey God.

One of Jacob's sons, Judah, also decided to flee from the Lord and his responsibilities.

We find this escape in chapter 38 of the book of Genesis.

Judas too, like Jonah, found various "helpers" to continue walking against the will of the Lord.

Judas found a home, a friend, a wife, and a new family.

At the end of the chapter, however, Judas had to bury his wife and 2 of his 3 children. Lord we want to refuse any help that encourages us to disobey You.

The disobedience's price. The journey of disobedience will cost a lot to Jonah:

his peace of mind;

his clear conscience;

his honor before the sailors;

his life.

Even to Judge Samson the cost of his disobedience seemed like a good deal, yet Samson's disobedience cost the judge of Israel far more than he thought: Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him (Judges 16:20 - NIV).

Our banking account will not be sufficient to pay the debt produced by our disobedience.

Lord we want to be obedient to Your perfect will: The eye that makes fun of a father and hates to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the young eagles (Proverbs 30:17 - NLV).

N. 2 - God’s correction

The instrument of God's correction: STORM. The 3 most beautiful words of the book of Jonah are found in verse 4 of chapter 1: "But the Lord ..."

At this point God responds to Jonah's disobedience and reveals Himself to the prophet as the God who disciplines those who disobey him.

The Lord sends a strong wind against the prophet's boat.

In this regard, I would like to consider 2 types of storms that God uses to correct our life:

The storm to perfect us. This type of storm is used by God to mature us: Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 28:23-27 - NIV). Through this storm, Jesus wanted to correct His disciples not to live guided by fear, but by faith.

The storm to discipline us. In the case of Jonah, however, the prophet reaped what he sowed: he sowed disobedience and reaped discipline: They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7a - NIV).

The reason for God's correction: LOVE. We must never forget it: the Lord disciplines us because He loves us!

(See also: Trials)

When God takes away correction, damnation enters the doors.

Thomas Adams

The Lord is not indifferent to our rebellion because we are precious to Him: And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son (Hebrews 12:5-6 - NIV). No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11 - NIV).

N. 3 - God’s control

The tools of control. When God's correction comes, the sailors begin to be afraid in the boat (Jonah 1:5).

These sailors had now realized that they no longer had control of the boat. Although the sailors were not in control, the captain of the ship was no longer in control and the prophet was no longer in control, in this chapter surrounded by storm and wind, God never loses control.

Indeed, God is always in control! In fact, God controls:

The Wind (Jonah 1:4 - NIV): The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:27 - NIV);

The casting of lots (Jonah 1:7 - NIV): The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord (Proverbs 16:33 - NIV);

The Animals (Jonah 1:17 - NIV): When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break (Luke 5:6 - NIV).

God controls everything:

Remember the former things, those of long ago;     I am God, and there is no other;     I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning,     from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ (Isaiah 46:9-10 - NIV).

Maybe your home is out of your control, or your family or marriage, your career or your school career is no longer in your control.

You must know that among us there is Jesus who is in control! He is not unprepared for the storm you are experiencing because He is seated on the throne, He rules, He is in control.

When we learn of God’s control, we learn to trust in God’s plan and his providence.

John Frame

Conclusion

The 2 saddest words in the book of Jonah. I believe there is no doubt in saying that the 2 saddest words in the book of Janas are: "But Jonah..." (Jonah 1:3).

Jonah decides to take control of his life, decides to disobey God by paying the consequences.

Because his rebellion, in that boat the prophet will realize God's discipline realizing that his God is in control of everything, always!