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Sermons

Sermons

Lessons from the Story of Jonah

Seth McDonald
11/17/24 - Sunday AM Worship

A blue whale with a person sitting on the back Description automatically generated

 

The Story of Jonah

  1. Chapter One: A Man Running From God
    1. The Story
      1. The word of the Lord
        1. Beginning (1.1-2), middle (3.1-2), & how the book ends (4.10-11)
        2. Unique book that doesn’t tell us God’s message, but a story about a prophet.
      2. Background
        1. Jonah, a prophet in Israel (northern kingdom) during the reign of Jeroboam II  
        2. Israel is soon to be taken into captivity by the brutal Assyrians. – 2 Kings 8.16
        3. Ninevah was the capitol of Assyrian empire.
      3. Jonah is commanded to preach against Ninevah, but flees. – 1.1-2
      4. God sends a storm & controls the lots. – 1.3-7
      5. Jonah’s odd statement – 1.8-16
        1. The sailors are more righteous than God’s prophet
        2. Jonah asks the sailors to kill him (further running away from God)
      6. God’s mercy – 1.17
    2. Application
      1. You can’t ignore words of God because you dislike them. – Isa 30.10; 2 Tim 4.3-4
      2. No one can flee from the presence of the Lord-Proverbs 15.3; Hebrews 4.12-13
      3. Claiming to worship God, does not guarantee you are righteous.

 

  1. Chapter Two: A Man Running To God
    1. The Story
      1. Jonah prays, God answers. – 2.2
      2. God punishes and causes Jonah to acknowledge God. – 2.3-6a
      3. God rescues & Jonah vows to obey. – 2.6b-9
      4. The LORD commands the fish, and it vomits Jonah onto dry land.
    2. Application
      1. Some trouble comes because of sin. Use it as a motivation to repent.
      2. Some need to hit rock bottom so they can “come to themselves” - Luke 16:15-20
      3. In all sufferings and hardships, we need to turn to God - 1 Peter 5:6-7
      4. Although undeserving, God saved Jonah. God still saves. – Romans 5.6-8

 

  1. Chapter Three: A Man Running With God
    1. The Story
      1. God’s message comes again, unchanged. – 3.1-2
      2. Without further hesitation or argument, Jonah obeys. 3.3a
      3. Jonah preaches a five-word (in Hebrew) to the large city of Nineveh. – 3.3b-4
      4. The King, people, & animals repent at the preaching of Jonah – 3.5-9
      5. God gives mercy. – 3.10
    2. Application
      1. God’s message does not change.
      2. You never know who will listen to preaching.
      3. God values humility and repentance. – Proverbs 28.13
      4. Results ≠ faithfulness
        1. Noah was a “preacher of righteousness” (2 Pet 2.5) for 120 years (Gen 6.3), but only saved his family.
        2. Jonah reluctantly preached for one day and saved 120,00+.
           
  2. Chapter Four: A Man Running Ahead of God
    1. The Story
      1. Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious. – 4.1
        1. Jonah wanted Nineveh destroyed but he knew God’s character.
        2. Jonah says he would rather die than with a God who would spare his enemies.
      2. Jonah and the plant.
      3. God questions Jonah about what is more valuable.
    2. Application
      1. We do not always have a “right to be angry.” – 4.4  
        1. Righteous anger arises when we witness an offense against God or His Word.
        2. Human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness – James 1.20
      2. Do you want a God who loves your enemies?
        1. We are commanded to love our enemies. – Matthew 5.44; Romans 12.20-21
        2. This book is a mirror to the reader for us to see our own faults. – James 1.
        3. Aren’t you glad that God loves His enemies? – Romans 5.10
      3. God Rules
        1. Story is less about a big fish, more about a big God.
        2. He is the one that: sent the wind, made sure the lots were cast on Jonah,  calmed the waves, provided the fish, provided the plant, sent the worm, & gave second chances.

 

Discussion Questions

    1. 2008 Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani said, "The reality is, I believe it, but I don't believe it necessarily literally true in every single respect. I think there are parts of the Bible that are interpretive; I think there are parts of the Bible that are allegorical…I don't believe every single thing in the literal sense of Jonah being in the belly of the whale."
      How should a Christian see Jonah in light of what Jesus says in Matt 12.39-41?
       
    2. How do you feel about God being merciful to evil people?
       
    3. What part of Jonah’s story is disappoints you the most about his character?
       

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