Jonah - The Half Repentant Prophet.

Jonah 1:17 NKJV

Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 2:1–10 NKJV

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, And He answered me. “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple. “Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy. But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Introduction:

Today, I will speak to you about Jonah once again, but this time, a different side of Jonah that is all too familiar in Christian circles.

This morning I want you to look at this half repentant man of God.

And the reason I want you to see this side of Jonah, is that it is so reminiscent of us.

I. God changes Jonah’s circumstances.

A. He derails his plans.

As we remember when God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, he went the other way.

He didn’t like the Assyrians, and justified his disobedience.

He was heading to another place altogether, yet, I’m not convinced that he thought he would get away with it.

He seems to eager to appease the mariners and relinquish himself to this fate.

There are many moments in our lives where we have probably found God changing our situation.

We may have found our plans also derailed and have been perplexed by the whole thing.

After all, we like Jonah make plans that really don’t line up with what God has planned for us.

Another way God changes Jonah’s circumstances other than derailing his plans is bringing him to the brink of death.

B. He brings Jonah to the brink of death.

He knew that the only way the mariners were going to survive is if they threw him into the sea.

Don’t we act like that sometimes?

Aren’t we occasionally aware of what God wants from us, but we are too stubborn to give in, until it’s too late?

From that moment on, a series of events occur that bring Jonah closer and closer to death.

You know, when circumstances in our lives produce hopelessness, like seeing death right in front of us, or no way to get out of it ourselves, that is when many people turn to God.

There’s an old military saying, “there are no atheist in the foxhole.”

Remember when we were attacked on 9-11, the following week saw unprecedented numbers attending church.

Why?

Because this is when people are most desperate.

And in their desperation, they turn to God.

Many times God brings circumstances in our lives to cause us to rethink what we are doing or where we are going.

What else do we see about this half repentant prophet?

II. Jonah changes his mind.

A. He trusts against all hope.

It is in our text this morning that we see a most beautiful prayer of trust and devotion.

I do not doubt for a minute the genuineness of Jonah, however, I also can see the motivation that prompted such an heartfelt outpouring.

We must also beware of the trap of hopelessness.

Which for you and I truly never exists.

For we, are never hopeless in Jesus.

The prophet’s prayer comes through the emotions of a man suddenly faced with the prospect of death.

This does not diminish the genuineness of it, as I said, and because God brought these events upon him for this very thing, we know it is true.

However, it stands as a warning, I think, to everyone to search their own hearts as to the validity and genuineness of their own plea and prayer to God in like situations.

Not to mention, the vows.

And so…

B. He gives thanks even in despair.

This is a pivotal moment for Jonah.

He, although now faced with certain death (as it seems to those who do not know God), is thanking God for His power and attributes.

Jonah 2:9 NKJV

But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.”

Oh! that we would be like Jonah here, in all our circumstances.

That we would praise and thank Him just because He is God!

If we meditate upon who it is that saved us and gave Himself for us, then we would be better able to thank Him in every situation.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

III. God makes good on His mercy to Nineveh.

God is merciful, and true to His word.

He will not be moved to change His mind regarding His promises.

2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

This book demonstrates clearly that God can be trusted to do what He says He will do, regardless of any prophetic person’s protest.

Let me ask you a question.

Have you found yourself thinking or feeling that God does not always keep His promises?

Be honest about this.

I have seen many Christians loose heart and/or faith in God’s promises because of what they experienced.

Much of which is wrong thinking or understanding.

For many, the experience of hard times, failed health, loss of job, broken relationships, all contribute to a persons loss of hope in the promises of God.

Why?

Because they focus on the problem and the way it’s affecting them, rather than the power and sufficiency of God.

The Lord promises to never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5), so why should we feel lonely from a broken relationship?

He promises to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house (John 14:2), so why would we blame Him if we loose our home here?

He promises us eternal life with a new resurrection body that will never experience sickness or death (John 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:42), so why do we fret and grow weary over our physical limitations?

No, God makes good on all His promises.

As He made good on His promise to Nineveh.

But...

IV. Jonah is unconvinced.

What happened to the man that was in the fishes belly praising God, making vows, and giving thanks?

It seems now that he is out of danger and what frightened him into repentance is no longer present, he reverts back to his old self!

Is this what we do?

Do we only praise God and give Him thanks when things are not going well for us?

Why do we revert back to our old selves so easily?

Some would say we can’t help it for it is the old nature rearing its ugly head once again, and giving in to this defeated attitude.

But God expects us to learn from it and strive to be different.

I cannot speak for Jonah, but I can certainly testify how easy it is to focus on something else when the most important isn’t right before my eyes.

You see, when God brings something into my life that threatens my plans, or allows me to suffer physically, that one problem has my undivided attention.

Just like sinking into the depths as Jonah experienced.

I will do just about anything to get relief from my curse.

I will pray like crazy!

I will make vows to God!

I will sound like the most spiritual being on earth!

Here’s the real question though -

Do I look to God because of who He is, or because I need help from my circumstances?

In the case of Jonah, I truly believe that he is just as sincere in his prayer from the fish’s belly.

There is no wavering in his faith of God.

For me, I am truly sincere when I plead with God in my distress, yet, I fail later not because it wasn’t real, but because I don’t continue to walk in His presence.

I do not set Him right before my eyes always.

Like Jonah, I let prejudice and selfishness rule my emotions and my heart.

My friends, we cannot remain like Jonah, for we have what he never did, the abiding Spirit of God living within us.

We must walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal. 5:16).

We must sit at the feet of Jesus as Mary did and not be consumed with all the work before us as Martha did.

We must drink of the living water that Jesus gives, and not desire the water that makes us thirst again, as Jesus told the Samaritan woman in John chapter four.

We must be ready to forgive others as God forgave us.

We must love our neighbor as ourselves, and love our enemies.

We must abide in the vine that we would produce much fruit.

Romans 12:9–21 NKJV

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

So there you have it`, Jonah the half repentant prophet!

Let it never be said about us that we are half hearted Christians.