Jonah 3 (God of 2nd Chances)

Parker Lee Smith

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The God of 2nd Chances

Two weeks - we began our current series on the book of Jonah.

I hope you are enjoying this series thus far.

Last time we were together - we talked about Jonah’s disobedience and Jonah’s pursuit.

Jonah 1–2 ESV

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.” And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, 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 flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’ The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!” And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

God’s grace is not only for those outside the church, but also inside the church... that means His grace is still for us!

That God is still pursuing us - even when we disobey Him Lastly, that sometimes His grace comes through circumstances that don’t feel like grace.

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This Morning we are discussing the idea of God’s work and 2nd chances

I. The God of 2nd Chances I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase - “Hindsight is 20/20”?

What do we mean by that? Well, what we mean - is that after we experience something

- looking back we might have done some things differently. I wish I hadn’t dated him or her...I wish I hadn’t even gone there...

I wish I would have just stayed home. I wish I would have never __________________.

You get the picture - but we are all in that same boat. (we all would want 2nd chances)

Here in the last 6 months - I’ve been reflecting upon my last 9 years in the ministry and overall they have been well - I’ve made some good decisions and learned from others...

but there are also a lot of things I would do differently....

The same is true in my time of ministry here - over the past 3 years, I would have done some things differently....

It’s the reality - that we aren’t perfect - we make mistakes and hopefully, learn from them. The same is true in life...in relationships with family, and friends....

The idea of a 2nd chance is far and distance reality.

YET - Jonah received a 2nd chance! Now if you read the book of Jonah (I hope you have) You know this!

Nineveh - Tarshish .......God could have wrote Him off.... could gotten someone else! But God choose to use Jonah!

Jonah 3:3 ESV

So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.

Jonah 3:1–2 ESV

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.”

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.”

Now consider your self in Jonah’s place - disobeying didn’t really work out for you too well.

But Jonah - had been changed -

What you see in chapter 2 is Jonah repentance - inside the belly of a fish and being spit out again...is a picture of new birth - a new creature...it would be the picture of baptism in the New Testament (not that Old Testament Baptism was via fish bellies) but the symbolism within the act.

For us - receiving life in Christ - just as Christ was buried and 3 days later rose again!

But Jonah - learned a valuable lesson - and I hope you’ve learned it throughout this series thus far. It’s that when we are given 2nd chances - spiritually....

and we have bene given 2nd chances and 3rd chances...by God. Here is the principle - this one is free tonight (we’ll hit it and move on)

Doing life God’s way is ALWAYS best. (you’re not God....He knows better)

For Jonah - doing it God’s way allowed Him to see amazing things happen...and will for us too. When we are given 2nd chances - this is the best principle to remember and apply.

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Jonah 3:1–10 ESV

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Here are a couple of things Jonah experienced and learned along His journey of a 2nd chance.

The People of Nineveh Repent 6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Here are a couple of things Jonah experienced and learned along His journey of a 2nd chance.

II. Jonah Learned What Matters to God

The city of Nineveh is called great in chapter 1:2 and chapter 3:2

both times - the word “ga-dol” is used to indicate that the of either significants or size. quite honestly - there is mystery around the the city at the time Jonah was there....of whether it was

a capital city or truly a city of great significants though the history of the city indicates it was. still the city was relatively large ....

spanning its ares of about 50 miles....and home to about 120,000 people! The city - for it’s day could certainly be considered great.....yet the language changes in verse 3.

Discussing of it’s size - it would have taken someone three days to travel the width of the city. But the verbiage changes when the city is mentioned to be “exceedingly great”

Jonah 3:1–3 ESV

Jonah 3:3 ESV

So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.

3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.

(ir-ghdol...L-elohim) the literal verbiage used in this phrase. (a great city - to God)

Some of you might have a note in your bible or a mark indicating Regardless of it’s physical size and population - something else mattered...it mattered to God.

maybe Jonah wanted to a larger place of ministry...maybe more influence...

I don’t think that was it....but I know that’s what we want sometimes.... ultimately, that is not what matters....

What matters is that Nineveh and the people of Nineveh meant something to God. He saw value in them - even in their disobedience, God cared for them!

Here is what I do know - Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh because it wasn’t what He wanted!

This city mattered to God - but it didn’t matter to Jonah

Jonah was called there, but He would rather have something different!

All you life - you will wrestle with this in your life ....what you desire and what God desires That you surrender your desire for what God is truly calling you to do....

Even if it seem weird or awkward or counter to your flesh

Turn to

Jeremiah - wasn’t a popular minister - He was called to minister among people that hated him and did not listen to him.....constantly (the weeping prophet) struggled with his esteem in ministry... he wasn’t accepted. (as the same of all the prophets)

Isaiah 6:8–11 ESV

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste,

8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” 9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people:

“‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” 11 Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste,

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William Carey - led the way for the Modern Missions Movement in the 1800’s....missionary to India - and was convicted of God’s love for the “heathen”....

spent 7 years in India before seeing a single convert!

“Expect great things from God, attempt Great things for God!” (devote to the call)

Adoniram Judson (The Father of American Mission’s Movement)- spent 5 years before seeing any converts in Burma.

Lottie Moon - spent 20 years in Chine before seeing converts in China....even then there were few!

“If I had 1,000 lives I’d give them all to China!“ ..... What contrast to Jonah, huh? ————————————————————-

Look - so often we look to so many other things to justify the things we do how we serve the Lord.

All to often - we are seeking to justify our own work and leading.... we want to do what we want to do...what makes us happy....rather than the Lord.

For Jonah - He wanted to do what he wanted.... Nineveh wasn’t on his priority list, but it was for God!

And at the end of His life - what I hope we desire for our lives is not that we manage success by the world’s standards, but that we did as the Lord called and we were focused on His priorities not our own!

What is the Lord calling you to do? Are you ducking because it might not be popular or flashy!?

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God using you powerfully doesn’t always mean God using you publicly

(that is with numerical influence - flash - popular - or easy)

William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Lottie Moon

Make disciples - it’s not flashy (popular or quick or easy!), but what we are called too!

What are you doing right now that you feel, truly matters to God? What are the things/people around that matter greatly to God?

III. Jonah Learned God works beyond our ability

Jonah 3:3–10 ESV

So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

The Task -

To go to a pagan land - a land content living in wickedness against the Lord

The Person God choose to Use -

Jonah - a disobedient prophet!

The Scope of Jonah’s Call

Jonah was to go a three day’s journey into the city....but He only makes it 1 day....

One commentary said it this way -“it’s as though the prophet tired and weary to carry the task he had been called to, - the tiny figure of hope, Jonah can go no further - drops to his knees and cry out against the city even though he was far from His destination!”

Jonah 3:3–4 ESV

Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

📷

and through difficult circumstance.... things didn’t seem to fit in place like we would want them to.

A lack of fortune, a less than perfect messenger (who didn’t really want to be there), and more than daunting task!

Jonah 3:6–10 ESV

The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Jonah 3

God brought about Transformation! And Jonah saw God move in a powerful way!

Here is what it teaches us -

God does His best work, not when we are perfect, but when we simply obey.

1 Corinthians 15:9–10 ESV

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

1 Corinthians 15:3–10 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Ephesians 3:7–10 ESV

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

The work we are called to do is not based upon our own strength or ability but upon His power and strengths.

You are not the cause but a vessel - God is not looking to you to be the solution, but to be a part of His work.

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The Gospel —— 1. we are given 2nd chances....oh how we are given chances! 2. We see - that sinners mattered greatly to God! 3. God does His best work through weakness (humanity, servant, humility, death)