JONAH: Running WITH God

ACTIVITY - emoji game

Exercise- (Right on this anchor words of encouragement and good Bible verse. They get you through a hard time and keeps you on the path)

V.1

God is a God of second chances!! (praise be...)

If we were to give someone a job and they didn’t do it, we find it hard to go to them a second and third time and ask them to do anything else - probably we don’t ask them to do the first thing again!

We tell our children pick up your room as many times as it takes, but with grown men and women we kind of cut our loses. That’s how we treat resteraunts when they get our order wrong, or an electrician who didn’t get the switch working. And that carries over into other things that we find it hard to give second chances, and if we do we remind them they already had a shot before!

This really leads us to a need to understand places like Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” When God forgives He forgets. Not like amnesia. He doesn’t charge it against you, the negative bank account balance is back at positive.

God gave Jonah another chance without chiding Him for the first time, but another chance that was THE EXACT SAME THING he didn’t do before.

When God forgives, He forgets. When you come before God in this life He is looking to see what you’re going to do from here. He knows where you’ve been, He knows the sin and all of that. God wants to know where you’re going, what are you going to do with this chance.

What an awesome trait of God that if we were to consider that more often it would make us want to serve Him and please Him more! None of us are worthy of the GOODNESS of God yet we have His love.

V.2

A GRACIOUS SILENCE. God didn’t bring up what Jonah did wrong. A gracious silence. Sometimes not saying something in that manner is the most profound and effective things we can do.

Notice also: God didn’t change His mission just because Jonah ran. He changed Jonah.

God still wanted to use Jonah — the same runaway, the same reluctant preacher. That tells us something big: God doesn’t give up on broken people who are ready to get up and go.

He’s wanting you to be obedient, He gives opportunities to you for that. Obedience isn’t about perfection, it’s about direction. Jonah was finally pointing the right way.

Luke 18:8 “...Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” When Jesus comes or my life ends, I won’t have lived a perfect faithful life — but will I be caught TRYING? Jesus knew we couldn’t be perfect, He doesn’t demand perfection out of us - but He does demand effort. 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” He knew we wouldn’t be able to save ourselves without Him - so He came to do the job that needed to be done. He also knew we couldn’t keep up on our own, so He stays with us and grows us and cleanses us until our job is done. He wants us to walk with Him to run with God!

“The message that I tell you”

That should be what’s in every pulpit and every bible class, and in every house with your family.

A prophet = a mouthpiece for God

2 Timothy 4:2 “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

Speak what God has already spoken.

Share what God has already shown.

And trust that God will do what only He can do with the message He gives.

V.3

Jonah learned the lesson! He obeyed. He didn’t ponder. He didn’t pray about it. He heard it, He did it, that’s FAITH.

Every day God is working with you trying to get us to learn the lesson. I’ve got to be open to being instructed every day though! And when we get that education don’t let it grow dormant or waste away over time.

Hebrews 12:6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.””

Hebrews 12:10–11 “For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

When I accept God’s instruction it makes holy and righteous!

God is trying to make us into the people HE wants us to be, not necessarily the people we set out on our own to be. SO — Be pliable!

Ninevah — This isn’t a fairy tale town. It’s real. Massive. Wicked. Terrifying.

Three-day journey through the city — archaeological evidence supports its size and prominence.

"GREAT” — another hint to help us answer the question at the end “what makes a city great in the eyes of God?”

V.4-5

3 days of this...over and over and over...

FUNNY STORY: Preacher preaches the same sermon for 4 weeks. Finally they went and talked to him about it. And he said “we’re not moving on until you get it!”

It’s actually shocking: THEY LISTENED! It’s a HUGE DEAL. A pagan nation listened and believed God!

AND not the most “moving” sermon by our standards either.

This sure is encouraging to preachers, evangelist, it should be to all of us!

Why don’t we step out and share sometimes? “Well, I don’t know what to say...I don’t know all the right words...what if they argue back, what if they ask a question I don’t know how to answer?” While we should do our best and be as prepared as we can be here’s an awesome reminder: It’s not about YOU! YOU don’t change people, God does!

Isaiah 55:11 “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” God’s word is powerful enough to get the job done! Yes, even with a poor spokesman. And we argue and say “but I can’t talk good!” Thats what Moses said. But God told Moses in Exodus 4:11–12 “Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” I made you who you are God says! AND I can use you if you’re willing to RUN WITH ME!

The funny thing about Jonah’s message...I know his heart wasn’t in it. We see that in the next chapter. He didn’t want them to repent. Yet God used Him anyway! I’m so glad that we have a God who will work with us, who will work through us, and get this — He will work despite us sometimes too.

Jonah obeys — not out of passion, but submission. He goes, speaks, walks, and watches. Sometimes running with God feels mechanical before it feels meaningful. That’s okay. Faith often walks before it runs.

BUT be actively praying to have God’s help to move you into passionate obedience. Don’t just remain apathetic and going along to get along.

They took ACTION in their belief - that’s real belief, that’s real faith!

Faith and Belief without action is no real belief at all.

Hebrews 11:6–7 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

Faith = Hearing, Trusting, & Obeying.

They mourn and repent. That’s what they’re showing.

Jeremiah 18:5–10 “Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.”

God says if a nation changes, I change my course of action. Jonah’s sermon told them to change. And since they did, God didn’t have to follow through on Judgment. He could instead give mercy and give good!

What we do with what God tells us is what we will be judged on! Doesn’t matter how bad and sinful you are — if you change. Doesn’t matter how good and great you once were — if you change. The condition we have with God is what place I’m at when I leave this earth. Since you don’t know when that is, what’s the lesson? Get right and stay there! I need to take this second chance to run TO and WITH God.

V.6

Even the King lowered himself...

Real change starts by removing pride. When we read scripture we’re looking for how to better align myself with God by getting rid of what I need to be rid of and doing the righteous thing God says.....Are you too proud to move off the throne you placed yourself on? If there’s any ounce of pride in yourself and your abilities and knowledge, even if its just a sliver, you will be at mercy of that instead of listening to God. Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

A king could get off his throne and repent and mourn...I think you and I can change the things in our life that ought to be. But do you want truth more than you want comfort?

Who is actually on the throne of your heart? It’s time to replace us with God and have Him seated where He rightfully deserves.

V.7-8

Even the animals! An entire city stopped dead in its tracks! No buisness! No markets! No taxes! No work! No play! NO THING except repentance and mourning!

How crazy is that! We don’t even do well at trying to bring our own lives to a halt except to worship God!

V.9

“who knows?” — Im unsure what will happen! But I know the right thing to do anyway, so I’m going to do that. I’m going to do what God wants me to do and accept whatever I have to face in this life on earth.

If He does, great! I will be faithful! IF HE DOESN’T...I will still choose faith.

Faith in God isn’t a bartering situation. It’s not transactional. But we treat it that way in our following of Him sometimes! “If God does this I’ll believe, If God does that I’ll be more faithful, If God gives me assurance of some kind I’ll step up and step out more...” That’s NOT Faith!

Faith doesn’t say “MAYBE IF”, instead real faith says “EVEN IF”. Even if this takes place, I will be faithful. Even if it doesn’t go my way, I will be faithful. Even if I’m unsure the whole way and don’t understand WHY, I still trust in God more than I trust in myself to understand.

V.10

This verse causes discomfort for some — “Wait, God changed His mind?”

No. God is always consistent with His character. He hates sin, but delights in mercy. Another prophet, Micah 7:18, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. (MERCY)”

The intended outcome was repentance, not destruction — Jonah didn’t realize that yet.

God responds to human hearts. This isn’t a contradiction — it’s compassion in action. Never think someone (or some city) is too far gone. Nineveh was primed to repent. And when they did, God responded.

God is a God of second chances!!

Jonah got a second chance. The sailors got a second chance. Ninevah got a second chance.

God is a lot better than us at giving second chances. We usually say “well see if I help you again” after trusting them one more time...

God gave Abraham another chance...He gave Moses another chance...He gave David another chance...The woman at the well with Jesus got a second chance...the woman caught in adultery got a second chance...the disciples got multiple chances....YOU AND I all get a chance to get where God wants us to be!

Our God is so good who gives us opportunities! 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Illustration: Being at a golf tournament in high school i gave someone a mulligan. A chance to do better.

We as people are so messy that every day is almost like a do over. Putting real effort into doing better.

Since we have a great God of second chances: TAKE IT!! No i don’t mean mess up on purpose and take advantage of God’s grace, that’s what Paul says not to do in Rom.6:1. What I mean is don’t think you’re too far gone, that it might be your 5th or 6th chance and so God is done with me, NO! You’re breathing, turn it around!

Second chances require you TO DO SOMETHING. Jonah obeyed and went, he took that opportunity. Ninevah took the opportunity to fast and repent. Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,” Repentance is required, and repentance isn’t about “FEELING BAD”. Repentance is to drop the sin and the excuses and take action that moves you closer to God!

Illustration: flying, at the airport they check your ID to make sure you are who you say you are on your ticket. Does the actions of your life verify who you say you are? True change requires proof, you have to grab ahold of the second chance! Repentance is not a one time thing, it’s a lifestyle! 1 John 1:8–9 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

IF God has given you a second chance, I better be offering that same thing to others. Why does God do that? Because He loves me. Why does God give others a second chance? Because God loves them. That means you love them too.

CONCLUSION: What’s the second chance that you need to take? If God put a second chance on the table and slid it over across to you, what is it that you need to take?

Whatever it is, you need to run with it, you need to run with Him. Maybe you’re caught up in the world more than you are with Him. Maybe you’re caught up in a sin like greed or pornography or gossip and divisiveness, maybe its worry and anxiety, self centeredness, and you’re thinking God won’t give me the 100th chance that I’m at...but you just read in Jonah He will. So take it.

Running with God doesn’t always mean you understand every step. It means you trust Him enough to walk the path He’s put in front of you.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

How does Jonah’s short sermon lead to such a massive response?

What can we learn from Nineveh’s response?

How do we move out of only obedience into passionate obedience to God?

How do you know your own faith in God is real - not forced, not inherited, and not routine?