><> Pouting Prophet

Preaching rePentance Stormy lAttitude: Jonah 1:1-2:10 Mercy Transcends Disobedience: God’s mercy consistently transcends man’s disobedience. Biblical characters and modern men encounter God’s mercy regardless of rebellion, sin, and error common to mankind. The ability to hear and understand God’s message is also common. However, many pretend not to hear, understand, or stubbornly ignore Him. Jonah understood God’s message. He didn’t wanna! God said “Hang a right, Jonah. Go northeast to Nineveh and preach repentance.” Jonah’s stormy attitude answered, “I’ll go left”. He preferred a Mediterranean cruise northwest to Tarshish for good reason. History records Nineveh as a large metropolitan area, notoriously wicked, and racial prejudice spelled violent cruelty to Israelites. Angry Attitudes: A bad attitude toward others and anger at God for His compassion on them results in disobedience. Running from God seemed good. Jonah wanted God to zap ‘em. Hate in his heart and vengeance on his mind, he slept confident that God would destroy the city without a preacher. Unwavering faith in God’s mercy and His intolerance of sin defines Jonah. Faith coupled with racial hatred resulted in attempted misuse of God’s power. Jonah preferred vengeance over fellowship with his Lord. Sin’s Consequences: Disobedience is sin and has consequences for the sinner and those near him. God sent a storm threatening the ship. Seamen prayed to their gods. Survival of shipwreck was unlikely. In desperation, the captain woke Jonah insisting that he pray. The crew demanded to know whose sin caused the storm. Jonah’s faith appears in the face of opposition admitting that he is at fault and God alone can rescue them if they throw him overboard. The sailors attempted to return to shore and save Jonah, but the storm grew worse. Submission Salvation: Submission to God results in blessings for the repentant sinner and salvation for others. The sailors prayed to God and threw Jonah into the angry waves. The pagan crew prayed to God. Big “G” God…the one true God! They asked Him not to blame them for Jonah’s death and to spare their lives. Jonah went for a terrifying swim and the storm ended immediately. The sailors suffered a frightening night, but it ended in true worship. Jonah plunged through the raging water with no possibility of survival. Deliverance Disguised in Disaster: God’s deliverance is often disguised as disaster. Inability to save one’s self often becomes the means of reconciliation with God. God appointed a great fish to swallow the helpless prophet in spite of his rebellion. After three days, Jonah prayed for forgiveness, which stirred God’s heart and moved His hand. Deliverance through a fish--God’s mercy in physical form. At God’s command the fish safely transported the prophet from the stormy cruise of rebellion to the safe road to obedience. God put him on the right track, but Jonah had to decide which way to go. Disaster may be God’s discipline giving the sinner time to think and pray. Like Jonah, most people allow pride to separate them from fellowship with God spending unnecessary days or years in fear and turmoil. A second chance is just a prayer away! The key is total dependence—total repentance. People really haven’t changed. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose, Romans 8:28 (NAS). Becky Strong