Jonah 1:1-17
I. Jonah’s Story – Are you familiar with Jonah’s story? Here’s what happens:
Jonah is called to go and preach
to the great city of Nineveh…and promptly turns around and goes in another
direction. Caught in storm at sea, he is thrown overboard and ends up in the
belly of the fish. There, Jonah prays, repents, and goes to Nineveh. The city
repents and turns to God. But, Jonah is angry and resents God for doing what
God does best—God is good. The story in Scripture doesn’t really end—it’s
open-ended with no resolution.
II. Our Story – we, too, are
Jonah. Jonah is not an example for us; he is an example of us. God calls us as
well. Perhaps we’re not called to preach to a city but called to be kind to a
co-worker, to make peace with a family member, or to follow God into missions
or ministry. Whatever the call, at some time in our lives, we have heard the
call or felt the nudge of God’s Spirit, and we took off running in the other
direction.
Perhaps we didn’t take a ship to
a place like Tarshish. Perhaps our “Tarshish” was a coffee shop, a new office,
a transfer, or weekend office duty. Maybe it was ESPN—anything to keep from
having to talk, or to listen. We have run away—geographically or internally.
And, like Jonah’s story, the
ending of our stories is simply unsure. TBD.
III. God’s Story – We may hear
Jonah’s story, see ourselves in this story, but we often fail to see our
amazing God in this story. Let’s take a look.
After God calls Jonah and he runs
away, what does God do? God doesn’t let go. God is persistent. God stays with
Jonah. When Jonah gets on the ship and starts across the sea, God is with him. When
the storm hits and Jonah is thrown overboard, God is there to catch him. When
Jonah cries out in prayer, God hears him. When Jonah goes to preach in Nineveh,
God is there and gives Jonah the message to proclaim … and God hears the
repentant cries of the people and saves them. And, when Jonah is angry, God is
right there … talking with Jonah and listening to Jonah. God is persistent. God
does not let go of Jonah…or us.
IV. Why is God Persistent? – Why
does God stick doggedly to Jonah? Why is it so important for Jonah—Jonah!—to
preach to Nineveh (and not someone else)?
When God calls Jonah to do
something, when God calls or nudges us to do something, God may change the
situation or the people God calls us to, but God definitely wants to change us.
God wants Jonah to do this because doing this will impact Jonah’s life. God
wants you to respond to the calls and nudges in your life because God wants to touch
your life, change your life.
V. God Stays with Us – At the end
of the story, Jonah remains a bitter man. He is seemingly unchanged. Nineveh
has changed. Even the sailors on the boat are changed. But Jonah? Not yet.
Still, God is there with him. And, God is with us. No matter. Our God is a
persistent God who loves us deeply, who longs for our change more than
anything. This is Good News for us today.
Sunday,
November 10, 2024
“Old Stories-New Life: God’s Persistence”
Watch/Listen: HERE
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