Jonah 1:4-16

God’s Mercy and Grace Extends to All

Running Away from Responsibilities

Introduction:

How does it feel to be rebuked by an unbeliever?

Have you been rebuked by an unbeliever because they think and act like Christ more than you, a follower of Christ?

I. God’s Response to Jonah’s Rebellion (1:4)

Jonah 1:4 NASB95

4 The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up.

God is serious in His mission to save people, He will use every means to bring about his purposes.

God’s sovereignty over nature and creatures

Jonah’s rebellion causes harm to others (sailors and people of Nineveh)

II. Jonah Rebuked by Unbelievers (1:5-13)

a. Man’s ignorance of God (Superstitions of the sailors) (1:5-6)

Jonah 1:5–6 NASB95

5 Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep. 6 So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”

The unbelievers attitude when in need or danger - call on their “gods”.

They may call on their “man-made gods” but those objects cannot save them.

Man comes to God only when in need.

Christian, when do you call on God? Only when in need? If so, your behavior shows that you are ignorant of God.

b. The Hypocrisy of Jonah (1:7-9)

Jonah 1:7–9 NASB95

7 Each man said to his mate, “Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us.” So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us, now! On whose account has this calamity struck us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” 9 He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.”

By divine providence, the lot fell on Jonah - this is not by chance!

This is the hypocrisy - I fear the LORD God - did Jonah feared the Lord?

Hypocrisy is saying one thing but doing the opposite.

I fear the Lord but you are not afraid to disobey.

I love the Lord but you are not reading His Word.

I love the church, but you are rarely seen in the church.

I love my family, but you are treating them rudely.

The unbelievers were more concerned of their lives and of others, while Jonah was not.

Jonah slept well (v.5)..

Notice the contrast of character - Jonah and the sailors. Who is more godly?

Jonah was not concern of the welfare of those in the boat, he did not care to preach the message of repentance to them, Jonah did not care if they will die and perish in hell.

Christian, are you concern over the welfares of others? especially their souls?

Do you care for their souls eternal destiny?

if they will not believe the Gospel of Christ, they will suffer eternity in Hell.

Jonah 1:9 NASB95

9 He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.”

God wants to display His mercy and grace to all.

Jonah declared who God is to the sailors - Yawheh the God of heaven, creator of the sea, and dry land - Yawheh is not just the God of Israel - He is the God of the World! He is the Almighty God!

c. The unbelievers rebuked Jonah (1:10-13)

a. First rebuke, “How could you do this?”

Jonah 1:10–11 NASB95

10 Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 11 So they said to him, “What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy.

b. Second rebuke, they are concern of Jonah’s life while Jonah was not concerned if they die.

Jonah 1:12–13 NASB95

12 He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” 13 However, the men rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them.

“the men rowed desperately to return to land”

when the unbeliever is more God-fearing than the believer.

They were afraid to take Jonah’s life, a complete opposite to Jonah’s mindset.

They don’t know Jonah, but they believed the God of Jonah…how do we know this? look at verse 14.

III. God made converts in the Sea (1:14-16)

Jonah 1:14–16 NASB95

14 Then they called on the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased.” 15 So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

The sailors (unbelievers) became believers as they have witnessed the sovereignty of God over nature.

Again we find, God’s mercy and grace to Jonah and to the people in the boat to Tarshish

God’s purposes cannot be thwarted by humans.

No one can escape from God.

Here we see that God’s divine intervention made it possible for the sailors to be saved.

In human history, God’s divine intervention is the reason why the Israelites were saved from total destruction.

In human history, God intervened by sending the 2nd Person of the Trinity - Jesus Christ - His innocent blood became the sacrifice so that those who believe in Him will receive eternal life.

By God’s grace we are saved, like the unworthy and pagan sailors and the hypocrite Jonah, God gave us grace and faith to believe.

Praise God for that!

Proper Response:

A. Escaping from God-given responsibilities will result to miserable consequences.

B. Avoid hypocrisy so that you will not be rebuked by unbelievers.

C. Cooperate with God, and trust God to fulfill His purposes in your life.