Jonah 1:17-2:10 | Part 3
Jonah Part 3
- As God calls us to get up, to go, and to speak, we must come under the authority of our call in Christ Jesus, not our emotions/feelings. This can only be accomplished by focusing on the cross, and hoping in the future
- emotional decisions always affect those around you
Habitual disobedience of God brings Pain, Problematic situations, and unpleasant circumstances. Obedience to God brings His positive attention, His help, and His care
Please stand for the reading of God's word
Jonah Chapter 1:17-2:10
17 The Lord appointed 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 belly of the fish, 2 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. 3 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. 4 Then I said, 'I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.' 5 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head 6 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. 7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. 8 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. 9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!" 10 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.
Jonah’s Prayer
- Finally, Jonah prays. He did not pray on the boat, but now in the fish, he prays
- Jonah did not pray for the sailors while on the boat or in the fish
- Jonah prayed out of his distress, not of his love for God
What NOT to do in times of need:
Pray only when you get in trouble. Wait until it’s really bad (vs. 1)
Pray out of your distress, not from a deep love relationship (vs. 2)
Blame the Lord and not yourself for your present circumstances (vs. 3,4)
Demean others in your self righteousness (vs. 8)
Boast about yourself in your prayers. Tell God the good things you have done (vs. 9)
Make promises you probably will not keep (vs. 9)
- Even though Jonah’s prayer is selfish and much of it is purely emotional, he speaks truth of who God is and what he does:
What God does in our time of need when we turn to him:
God hears us (vs. 2)
God answers back (vs. 2)
Psalm 34:17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
God is merciful AND just (vs. 3)
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Let’s be clear
Jonah’s situation was his fault. He disobeyed, disregarded, and ran from God
His hardness of heart got him into this mess
Matthew 5:44-45
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Hardness of heart, habitual disobedience -> Difficult Situations
Difficult Situations/Suffering -> Hardness of heart, habitual disobedience
God is a God of great salvations (vs. 6)
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
God’s love is steadfast, unchanging, forever (vs. 8)
Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
All of creation must submit to God’s authority (vs. 10)
Mark 4:39-41 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
Outro: The God of the Old Testament is the God of the gospel in the New Testament.
C.S. Lewis, famous author, brilliant philosopher, follower of Christ said this:
"But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." - C.S. Lewis