PURSUIT: THE BOOK OF JONAH
Notes
Transcript
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”
But Jonah arose 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 from the presence of the Lord.
He restored the territory of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which He had spoken through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet who was from Gath Hepher.
Jonah was a real prophet.
Nineveh was the capital of Assyria which had been struggling for many years. Experiencing a great famine. Natural catastrophe’s happening.
Main Idea: God pursues people.
Main Idea: God pursues people.
Key Question: How is God pursuing you and others around you?
Key Question: How is God pursuing you and others around you?
1. God pursues the man of God for His will. (1:1-3)
1. God pursues the man of God for His will. (1:1-3)
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”
But Jonah arose 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 from the presence of the Lord.
Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
john 8 28
2. The man of God pursues God through prayer. (1:17-2:2)
2. The man of God pursues God through prayer. (1:17-2:2)
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.
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.
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
I will return again to My place Till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
3. God pursues the Ninevites through the man of God. (3:1-2)
3. God pursues the Ninevites through the man of God. (3:1-2)
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying,
“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
4. God pursues the man of God’s heart. (4:1-4, 9)
4. God pursues the man of God’s heart. (4:1-4, 9)
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.
So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.
Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”
Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!”
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The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.
So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.