Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Beginning a series in Jonah
  • Last week – looking at the context of Jonah
  • It is important to understand the context of Scripture
    • Scripture does not change
    • Our understanding around Scripture changes – e.g. about Assyria
  • We see Jonah’s prejudice towards Gentiles / the Ninivites
    • We can see reasons for his prejudice
    • We can see our own prejudices
• Looking at the first few verses

Jonah’s/Our Reaction

• v2 – We are reminded of God speaking to Abraham re Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18)
  • Abraham intercedes for these people
  • Jonah flees in the opposite direction
• Jonah’s reaction
  • What a stroke of luck he finds a boat in the opposite of direction!
    • He can be characterised as a silly man
    • How about us?
• Many of us find ourselves in Joppa looking for a boat
  • Matt 28 – the great commission
    • We can understand Jonah’s fear at preaching destruction
    • We are commanded to proclaim good news
  • How often does the fear of man affect us?
    • We cannot have an answer to every question
    • We are not sent in our own strength

God’s Strength

• Christ does not leave us in our own strength
  • Mark 13:11
  • It is through seeing Christ that people are saved
  • Christ is with us till the end of the age
• It is a good thing to obey God’s command: God is good and the command is good

God’s Commands

• How do we know what does God want us to do?
  • No audible voice
  • Not purely in the circumstances of our life
    • God can use our waywardness – though He is still sovereign
  • By His Word – the Scriptures
    • Read the Bible
    • Pray
    • Learning verses and biblical truth
    • Romans, John 14:26
  • We read our situations in light of God’s word

God’s Hand

• v4 – God did not let Jonah go
  • Jonah was fast asleep when the storm came
  • He awoke and recognised God’s hand – He had not let go, He was angry at him
    • v9 – he recognised God’s true status
  • Jonah put the boat crew at risk
    • They try to preserve his life
  • Jonah sees the judgment of God
    • Yet God is gracious and merciful towards him
    • God has a plan to restore him

Closing Remarks

• Are we asleep in a storm?
  • Pray for strength
  • Look to our hope
• If not saved
  • Decide now
  • Do not wait for a crisis – you will not be able to decide in a crisis
  • The time is now
• We see God’s mercy and compassion
  • Even when people fail him
  • So we can come to God
  • So we go on
  • So we have a bright and glorious future
• Closing prayer