A.K.A. #5 - Jonah and the Wayward Prophet
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Grace Church holds a Meet & Greet for those who are newer to Grace Church on the 4th Sunday of each month. Our next Meet & Greet will be Sunday, July 27th following the service in CJ's coffee shop. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you! Contact Leslie Booher if you have any questions ([email protected]).
Sunday, June 29th - Chris & Tonia Webster
Monday, June 30th - Jeff & Mary Burpee
Tuesday, July 1st - Gene & Diane Snook
Wednesday, July 2nd - Paul & Kelly Adrianson
Monday, June 30th - Jeff & Mary Burpee
Tuesday, July 1st - Gene & Diane Snook
Wednesday, July 2nd - Paul & Kelly Adrianson
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Our series this month is entitled ALSO KNOWN AS or A.K.A.
This abbreviation is meant to indicate an alternative name, nickname, alias, or stage name for a person, place, or thing.
Our series takes a look at five Old Testament characters.
This abbreviation is meant to indicate an alternative name, nickname, alias, or stage name for a person, place, or thing.
Our series takes a look at five Old Testament characters.
So far we've covered OG the giant king in week one. Week two was Jehu the Madman. Week three we learned about Jael the Terminator. Last week was Ezekiel the Bone Rattler.
Supernatural stories...is the story of Jonah and the Big Fish one of them?
Are you bold enough to stand on the book of Jonah as truth?
This well known story is about God, not about the Great Fish God prepares to do His work. The book of Jonah is about the will of God and how we respond to it. It's about the love of God and how we share it with others. It's about running from God, the consequences of disobedience, and second chances.
Are you bold enough to stand on the book of Jonah as truth?
This well known story is about God, not about the Great Fish God prepares to do His work. The book of Jonah is about the will of God and how we respond to it. It's about the love of God and how we share it with others. It's about running from God, the consequences of disobedience, and second chances.
The story of Jonah begins with him running from God. But Jonah soon discovers that "he could run, but he couldn't hide!"
Instead of going to Nineveh like God asked him to do, he headed to Tarshish instead. Although he was God's prophet, Jonah was choosing to run from God and not do His will. It's the same for many of us today. As Christians, we know what God wants us to do, but we've decided not to obey.
We read about the problem with running from God in Psalm 139:7-12.
Instead of going to Nineveh like God asked him to do, he headed to Tarshish instead. Although he was God's prophet, Jonah was choosing to run from God and not do His will. It's the same for many of us today. As Christians, we know what God wants us to do, but we've decided not to obey.
We read about the problem with running from God in Psalm 139:7-12.
Psalms 139:7-12
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7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea,
10 even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”—
12 even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.
8 If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea,
10 even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”—
12 even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.
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Background:
- Jonah was the only Old Testament prophet that God sent to a Pagan nation with a message of repentance.
- We see Jonah mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25
- Jonah is a real person and a prophet and was mentioned three times in the New Testament by Jesus (Matthew 12:38-41,16:4; Luke 11:29-32)
- The story takes place between 800-750 BC
- The Assyrian Empire was at its peak and its capital, Nineveh, was the most magnificent city in the world.
- There were more than 30 temples for worship of everything under the sun.
- Estimated to be a population of about 600,000 people
- Nineveh was about 550 miles NE of where Jonah lived
- The Greek word for fish is "ketos" and is used to describe not a whale but any large fish or a great sea monster.
- Two marine scientists from Sea World in San Diego believe it was probably a Great White Shark that swallowed Jonah.
- Jonah was the only Old Testament prophet that God sent to a Pagan nation with a message of repentance.
- We see Jonah mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25
- Jonah is a real person and a prophet and was mentioned three times in the New Testament by Jesus (Matthew 12:38-41,16:4; Luke 11:29-32)
- The story takes place between 800-750 BC
- The Assyrian Empire was at its peak and its capital, Nineveh, was the most magnificent city in the world.
- There were more than 30 temples for worship of everything under the sun.
- Estimated to be a population of about 600,000 people
- Nineveh was about 550 miles NE of where Jonah lived
- The Greek word for fish is "ketos" and is used to describe not a whale but any large fish or a great sea monster.
- Two marine scientists from Sea World in San Diego believe it was probably a Great White Shark that swallowed Jonah.
2 Kings 14:25
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25 This Jeroboam restored the boundary of Israel from Lebo-hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word that the LORD, the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.
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Matthew 12:40
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40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
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Jonah runs from God because he doesn't want to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to the people as God commanded him. He feels they are his enemies and wants God to carry out his threat to destroy this city.
So instead, Jonah boards a ship to Tarshish which is going in the opposite direction.
He falls asleep on the ship and a storm begins to rage. The crew believes that Jonah is the problem so they throw him overboard.
The Lord prepared a Great Fish to swallow up Jonah. He is in its belly for three days and three nights. Jonah prays and repents of his sin and the great fish vomits him out onto dry land.
Jonah completes the trip to Nineveh and proclaims "40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown." The Ninevites repent and rather than be thankful, Jonah becomes angry.
God uses a leafy plant to create shade, a worm to eat the plant, and then a hot wind that caused Jonah so much discomfort and anger towards God, he just wanted to die!
The story ends with a cliffhanger. Did Jonah finally accept God's unlimited grace and forgiveness or did he spend the rest of his life angry at God?
The ending of this story should cause us to ask ourselves, "What would I do if I were Jonah?"
So instead, Jonah boards a ship to Tarshish which is going in the opposite direction.
He falls asleep on the ship and a storm begins to rage. The crew believes that Jonah is the problem so they throw him overboard.
The Lord prepared a Great Fish to swallow up Jonah. He is in its belly for three days and three nights. Jonah prays and repents of his sin and the great fish vomits him out onto dry land.
Jonah completes the trip to Nineveh and proclaims "40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown." The Ninevites repent and rather than be thankful, Jonah becomes angry.
God uses a leafy plant to create shade, a worm to eat the plant, and then a hot wind that caused Jonah so much discomfort and anger towards God, he just wanted to die!
The story ends with a cliffhanger. Did Jonah finally accept God's unlimited grace and forgiveness or did he spend the rest of his life angry at God?
The ending of this story should cause us to ask ourselves, "What would I do if I were Jonah?"
Prophets are truth tellers. Isaiah, Jeremiah and others received similar calls from God telling them to confront injustice and hold spiritual leaders accountable. Every time God called His prophets, they answered the call no matter what...and then we get to Jonah, the only Old Testament prophet who runs from God!
Today we're going to ask three questions:
Are you running from God?
Jonah 1:1-3
Psalm 128:1
Are you running from God?
Jonah 1:1-3
Psalm 128:1
Jonah 1:1-3
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1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying,
2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”
3 Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”
3 Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
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Psalms 128:1
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1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!
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Is God sending you a wake up call?
Jonah 2:1
Psalm 46:1
Jonah 2:1
Psalm 46:1
Jonah 2:1
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1 From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God,
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Psalms 46:1
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1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
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What will you do with your second chance?
Jonah 3:1-3
1 John 1:9
Jonah 3:1-3
1 John 1:9
Jonah 3:1-3
BSB
1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time:
2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you.”
3 This time Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, in accordance with the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, requiring a three-day journey.
2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you.”
3 This time Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, in accordance with the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, requiring a three-day journey.
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1 John 1:9
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9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant is a nice parallel to the message of Jonah. A theme that runs from Deuteronomy through the prophets and on into the New Testament is that God wants His people to love Him wholly and love their neighbors as themselves.
Where do you stand today concerning God?
Just like God prepared a great fish to swallow & save Jonah, He has also prepared a way for you to know Him.
It's as simple as saying your ABC's:
A - Admit you are a sinner and separated from God
B - Believe that Jesus paid the penalty for your sin by dying on the cross
C - Choose the free gift of salvation by asking Christ to forgive you of your sins and come into your life
The ABC's is about a relationship with a living God, not a religion.
Contact Jeff Burpee, or any elder if you want to know more about this.
Just like God prepared a great fish to swallow & save Jonah, He has also prepared a way for you to know Him.
It's as simple as saying your ABC's:
A - Admit you are a sinner and separated from God
B - Believe that Jesus paid the penalty for your sin by dying on the cross
C - Choose the free gift of salvation by asking Christ to forgive you of your sins and come into your life
The ABC's is about a relationship with a living God, not a religion.
Contact Jeff Burpee, or any elder if you want to know more about this.
As you read the book of Jonah, you could ask yourself the question, "Am I okay with the fact that God loves my enemy?"
The book of Jonah holds up a mirror to whoever reads it. In Jonah we see the worst parts of ourselves magnified, which should generate humility and gratitude that God does love His enemies and puts up with the Jonah in all of us.
The book of Jonah holds up a mirror to whoever reads it. In Jonah we see the worst parts of ourselves magnified, which should generate humility and gratitude that God does love His enemies and puts up with the Jonah in all of us.
Application:
1. Did you ever try and run away from your shadow as a kid? You cannot run from God either. When God tells you to go somewhere, listen and go!
2. Stay alert and pay attention to what God is trying to teach you. Too often we wait until we are deep in trouble before we pray. Don’t wait, pray continually keeping your head tuned into the Lord.
3. Don’t live a life of complaining. Complaining will only contaminate your life. Live a life of gratitude. When we see God’s mercy on our lives and the lives of others, be grateful.
1. Did you ever try and run away from your shadow as a kid? You cannot run from God either. When God tells you to go somewhere, listen and go!
2. Stay alert and pay attention to what God is trying to teach you. Too often we wait until we are deep in trouble before we pray. Don’t wait, pray continually keeping your head tuned into the Lord.
3. Don’t live a life of complaining. Complaining will only contaminate your life. Live a life of gratitude. When we see God’s mercy on our lives and the lives of others, be grateful.
