God’s Grace to Jonah & Sailors
Jonah 1:4-16
“The Hound of Heaven,” by Francis Thompson
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the
arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways Of my
own mind; and in the midst of tears I hid from Him, and under
running laughter. Up vistaed hopes I sped; And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears, From those strong Feet
that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbed pace, Deliberate speed,
majestic instancy, They beat - and a Voice beat More instant than
the Feet - 'All things betray thee, who betrayest Me'.
I pleaded, outlaw-wise, By many a hearted casement, curtained red,
Trellised with intertwining charities; (For, though I knew His love
Who followed, Yet was I sore adread Lest, having Him, I must have
naught beside.)
….
“The Hound of Heaven” (2), Francis Thompson
That Voice is round me like a bursting sea: 'And is thy earth so marred,
Shattered in shard on shard? Lo, all things fly thee, for thou fliest Me!
Strange, piteous, futile thing! Wherefore should any set thee love
apart? Seeing none but I makes much of naught' (He said), 'And
human love needs human meriting: How hast thou merited - Of all
man's clotted clay the dingiest clot? Alack, thou knowest not How
little worthy of any love thou art! Whom wilt thou find to love
ignoble thee, Save Me, save only Me?
All which I took from thee I did but take, Not for thy harms, But just
that thou might'st seek it in My arms. All which thy child's mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home: Rise, clasp My hand,
and come!'
Halts by me that footfall: Is my gloom, after all, Shade of His hand,
outstretched caressingly? 'Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, I am He
Whom thou seekest! Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me.'
God’s Grace to Jonah & Sailors
Jonah 1:4-16
v. 4-5 Context
God’s call: Get up, Go, Call upon Nineveh
Jonah’s disobedience
God’s storm (to redeem Jonah, Nineveh, Sailors)
Jonah’s apathetic sleep during sailor’s emergency
(fear, crying out, jettisoned cargo)
v.6 Call of the chief sailor
“What’s with you?”
(Exclamation of incredulity/ Request for resources)
God’s command resurfaces: Get up… Call
Similar calls from people in crisis.
How should a Christian deal with being called
down by a non-Christian?
v.7 Jonah is nailed
“Cast lots” - Lit. “make stones fall”
Caution: Done by pagans in ignorance.
Truth: Prov. 16:33 “The lot is cast into the lap, but the
outcome is the LORD's.”
Point: Num 32:23 “be sure your sin will find you out.”
v.8 The sailors’ interrogation
What’s your occupation?
And from where do you come?
What’s your country?
And where are your people in it?
v.9 Jonah’s testimony
Decision: Save pagans & confess? Save pride and clam up?
I am a Hebrew, and I fear Jehovah, the God of the heavens,
who made the sea and the dry land.
1. Only answers the last question = "I am a Christian"
2. Proper name of God (LORD / Jesus) Pagans pick it up.
3. One God over ALL challenges Pantheism (I Kings 20) and Postmodern relativism.
4. Fear God (Sailors follow suite, and so should we.)
v.9 Creation Evangelism
Creation implies authority.
Reassuring for new believers leaving behind securities.
Biblical starting point for evangelism:
Genesis, Acts 14 - Paul in Lystra, Acts 17 – Paul in Athens.
EE-TAOW - Muku tribe in Papua New Guinea.
Materialists proclaim Big Bang, we proclaim creation, neither are science; it’s o.k. (ICR, AiG, CMI)
v.9 Incomplete testimony
Incomplete evangelistic presentation on Southside.
“I fear” (not worship, trust, hear, forgiven by, loved)
Behavior undermined his message.
Greek mythology about Arion.
Don’t stop short!
v.10-11 The horror of the sailors
Confession: Trying to flee from this God.
It is not too late to confess
Prov. 28:13 - He who conceals his transgressions will not
prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find
compassion.
Ps. 32:5 - I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I
did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the
LORD"; And You forgave the guilt of my sin.
v.10-11 The horror of the sailors
Confession: Trying to flee from this God.
It is not too late to confess (Prov. 28:13, Ps. 32:5)
Sailors scared to death. Fear as God’s “lever.”
“What do we do?” (Acts. 16:30 – Paul in Philippi)
Why did they have to remind Jonah of the storm?
v.12 Jonah’s crazy conclusion
“Pick me up and throw me into the sea that the sea may
cease from [tossing] you up, for I’m realizing that it’s on my
account this great storm is upon you.”
– Realizing the storm as God’s judgment for his sin.
– Realizing death is the wages of sin, but no grace.
– Not willing to obey God. Confession w/o repentance.
Solution? Distance self from sailors. (Other interpretations)
v.13-14 Sensibility of the Sailors
“O please, Jehovah, don't let us die with this man's
life, and do not put innocent blood upon us, for you,
Jehovah, have done as you pleased.”
v.13 – Attempt to row to shore
Why not follow Jonah’s advice? (Euthanasia)
Why couldn’t they get to shore? (God’s lever)
v.14 – Prayer to God
Based on God’s justice, sovereignty, & their ignorance.
v.15-16 God gets the sailors
v.15 The amazing stillness of the sea.
God’s 2 purposes for the storm fulfilled.
v.16 Sailors worship Jehovah
Fear (v.9 from instruction, v.10 from circumstances)
– Sacrifice (from common grace)
– Vow (to convert / to give to poor, common grace)
–
Conclusion
Praise God for His relentless pursuit of us!
Fear Him
Confess AND Turn Away from sin
Speak of God’s authority as creator of all
Use the name of Jesus and complete the message