RUNNING FROM THE LORD – PART 2
‘RUNNING FROM THE LORD” – PT. 2 (JONAH 1:4-17)
INTRO: Jeff Jones’ “Jonah Experience” video
THE STORM: (V.4-5)
A. “But the Lord…” (4) (He is in control and over all creation…sends the wind, stirs up a storm to do His work)
- storms arise suddenly in the Medeteranian Sea – “Euroclydon”
B. The Sailors’ response: (5a) NATURAL & NAUTICAL
1. captured by fear: seasoned sailors – overwhelmed at the storm, realize a supernatural hand involved, fearing the worst.
2. crying out to their gods: (gods of the sea, gods of men, gods of society & country & upbringing) (anything & everything implored for help)
- God created man a “spiritual being” with the inclination to worship. But because of sin man worships the creation over the Creator…blinded in his heart & mind.
Rom. 1:20-23,25 (NLT)
“From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes. Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen.
- In distressing times men will cling to their god for security (though it be not the true GOD). But these gods are powerless to save as these sailors will find out.
3. casting things into the sea: NATURAL & NAUTICAL RESPONSE – lighten the ship to sail better (their cargo, their food for the journey, their tackle, their profits all tossed overboard)
- These sailors are doing everything in their known power and experience at sea to secure their safety. (Real weight was not on deck, but bellow…sin is heaviest load to carry.)
C. Jonah’s response: (5b)
= sleeping “fast asleep” (out cold…sawing logs…) Why? Grief, remorse over actions… “sleep it off” (depressed within himself)
- The storm is slapping and rocking the boat, the sailors are crying out to gods, but none of it phases Jonah. (lullaby) (there in the lowest & darkest corner Jonah has been lulled to sleep by sin – keeping him from his duty to his God – keeping him in that carnal state – keeping him insensible to the danger at hand)
= Sad picture: world is crying out in despair for help while the servant of God is sleeping.
Eph. 5:14-16 “Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
The storm was sent after Jonah to turn him around to do God’s work, and yet the sailors would be the ones that make the first step toward change…
THE SAILORS & GOD’S SERVANT: (V. 6-16)
Call upon your God: (6)
- Sent by the hand of God this captain confronts Jonah.
“What meanest thou?” (what’s wrong with you? Sick? Diseased? At a time like this why aren’t you praying?)
As long as there was life, there was hope; and in hope there is room to pray.
It’s always a sad case when the world is telling the Christians to do what the Christians should be telling the world to do. (pray @ work…)
This captain believed that only divine intervention could keep them from perishing, only God could show mercy & favor. Their gods failed, maybe Jonah’s God could help.
Casting lots to find the cause of the problem: (7)
They connected the storm to some act of judgment. Someone was guilty of some heinous crime and the gods were punishing him… (Paul – Acts 28:4 – bitten by snake “… No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.”…changed minds when he didn’t die!)
They all were suffering because of that one person. No one claimed responsibility and so they cast lots. (Way to know divine will – discovery, discernment, determination to do it.)
Acts 1:26 (early Church practicing lots, fruitless) “And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
Today: we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to lead us into truth. We have the full counsel of God’s Word.
- Lot fell to Jonah – Jonah didn’t own up to his sin, so God exposed him….he is the cause of the terrible storm.
Prov. 16:33 “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”
Confronting with questions that demand answers: (8-10)
- They don’t rush to throw him overboard (walk the plank!), but want to know the cause in his life for such turmoil and suffering from this storm.
(8) under examination to illicit a confession, judge him by his own words.
they want to know who he really is (murderer, thief, sorcerer – black magic). They want understand his flight. They want information to make a clear judgment in this case….right thing to do!
How quick we are to rush to judgment when we should be questioning the cause before us. (ex. guy on the corner with a sign) ** People fail…do I really care to know why? The heart of Jesus is to find the heart of the matter.
(9) Jonah gives them the true answer: 1) Hebrew (God’s chosen people) 2) fears the LORD (occupation, religious duty to draw near to Him, not from Him… I worship the Lord… not just any god of man, but Creator of all; not isolated to a country “God of the Jews”, but everywhere & over all things.)
Jonah now uses this opportunity to tell them about the LORD, His personal relationship with the living God (not powerless gods of men). (TURNING POINT: sea accused him, lots exposed him, & now he realizes his failure – sorrow, shame in voice as he confesses.)
(10) They’ve seen His power through the storm, they’ve heard Jonah’s witness, and now they ask “why”…”why would you turn from such a powerful God, absurd to run when you have His favor?”
before He was just “a god”, one of many…who cares if Jonah runs; but now they see He is the Only True God. (powerful, real)
They are reproving Jonah for acting so foolishly. Rebuked by the world. (Abraham – Genesis 20 – trying to save himself, rebuked by worldly men)
* World asks the same questions to God’s people – “Why? You profess, but not practice. Claim to know Him, and yet your life is no different than mine…worse.”
- Jonah is humbled by the godless.
Casting Jonah into the sea: (11-15)
(11-12) What shall we do to you? How do we fix the problem…right the wrong you’ve done? (good inquiry: knowing the cause, we need to act!)
Jonah’s answer: “Toss me into the sea. I’m guilty.” (sin brought me here, sin has raised this storm, must be dealt with for peace – confessed, cleared, cleansed…toss it overboard….get it out of the boat….deserves a death sentence.)
Jonah wasn’t thinking he could swim to shore, or he could take a life raft and find another boat, he saw the end. (humbled, broken, falls into the hands of God – surrender, deal with my sin.)
We must do the same (ex. David’s Census -2 Sam. 24:14 – “let me fall into the hands of the LORD”)
(13-14) Though they tried hard (dug in) to save Jonah, they eventually succumbed to his desires and recognized God’s will.
Psalm 135:6 “Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places.”
But first clearing their guilt of bloodshed (14). “innocent of this issue” (feared this GOD – if running causes a storm with Jonah…what about us?”
(15) When sin is dealt with righteously, then peace is restored…impacted these men.
Converting to the LORD: (16)
- They feared the Lord (heart change…gods gone, only One God) ;offered sacrifices (thanksgiving, cleansing from sin); made vows (not a wishy washy experience, but true changes following)
* God sent a storm to get one man and brought a multitude of men to Himself through it. (toy story – “the claw”)
- If God could save these guys through Jonah’s disobedience, how much more in Ninevah through his obedience?
THE SEA CREATURE: (V. 17)
Prepared by the Lord: “to weigh out, allot, enroll”
(pic) God chose this fish to do His will… capture His man, compress His man, and carry him back to do His will. (He isn’t done…though Jonah thinks so)
(personally – God is still working, moving you in His plan. That fish experience will be used by God to further His work in your life.)
Preserving Jonah:
- 3 days and 3 nights in that belly…what do you do? Play cards (solitaire, go fish, no… you pray! Ch. 2 – Jonah recalls God’s word in that belly and refocuses on God’s character.
Prophetic picture:
- Jesus uses this to declare His death and resurrection: (Matt. 12:39-41)
- Connection: Jesus became sin for us (1 Cor. 5:21) and was given a death sentence (crucify, throw overboard) that peace might come to others… He went to the grave (just as Jonah was), He was 3 days & 3 nights in the heart of the earth (just as Jonah passing through the lowest parts of the sea); He would rise again (just as Jonah would be given new life – spit out) and He would take God’s message to the world (just as Jonah would to the Gentiles of Ninevah)