WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.759 Good morning, Watermark. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Graham, and I used to be a primary school teacher, and now I work for the Hong Kong Education Department. 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:21.780 But I still enjoy a good teaching analogy and a good teaching story, and I'm going to share one with you this morning that came from an all-boys school out of the UK. 00:00:21.780 --> 00:00:32.060 And one day, a teacher was giving a lesson in religious instruction, and he asked the boys the question. He said, who knocked down the walls of Jericho? 00:00:32.579 --> 00:00:38.280 And it was absolute silence. And he said, come on, boys, I want to know who knocked down the walls of Jericho. 00:00:38.900 --> 00:00:45.760 Again, absolute silence. Boys, I want to know who knocked down the walls of Jericho. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:52.939 Eventually, Smith puts up his hand. He says, please, sir, I didn't. 00:00:54.259 --> 00:01:02.679 So the headmaster, the teacher, anyway, he sees this quite amusing, and a little bit later, he's in the staff room, and he sees the headmaster. 00:01:02.819 --> 00:01:06.120 He says, oh, headmaster, very interesting thing happened in class today. 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:10.219 I asked the boys, who knocked down the walls of Jericho? 00:01:10.219 --> 00:01:14.120 And Smith put up his hand and said, please, sir, I didn't. 00:01:14.120 --> 00:01:18.820 And the headmaster said, well, I know Smith, and I know his family. 00:01:19.140 --> 00:01:21.600 And if he said he didn't do it, he didn't do it. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:27.620 So anyway, the teacher explains to the headmaster, and then he gets it, and he sees the funny side of it. 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:36.920 A little bit later, the superintendent is visiting the school, and the headmaster is taking him on a school, a visit of the school premises, walking him around. 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:40.680 He says, oh, superintendent, a very interesting thing happened in class today. 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:45.020 One of the teachers asked the boys, who knocked down the walls of Jericho? 00:01:45.520 --> 00:01:49.400 And Smith put up his hand and said, please, sir, I didn't. 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:54.220 The superintendent said, well, it's probably too late to find out now who did. 00:01:55.260 --> 00:01:57.360 Best get it repaired and send in the bill. 00:01:58.740 --> 00:02:05.620 Now, you're probably thinking this morning, what on earth does the story of Jericho and Jonah have to do in common? 00:02:05.620 --> 00:02:16.539 And the truth is, both of them are treated as a story, a nice fable, something we teach the kids in Sunday school. 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:24.420 But actually, outside the book of Genesis, the book of Jonah has been attacked more than any other book. 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:29.340 Because we want to look at it as sort of nonfiction, a great little story. 00:02:29.340 --> 00:02:33.939 We might learn something from it, but it's really, it's not true. 00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:35.439 It's just a story, right? 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:43.340 But I want to begin this morning by telling you three reasons why the book of Jonah is indeed true. 00:02:43.480 --> 00:02:48.879 It's about an historical figure, and it's an historical event that took place. 00:02:49.740 --> 00:02:54.379 Reason number one is that the book of Jonah is actually presented as history. 00:02:54.379 --> 00:03:01.019 It's the same way the book of Kings, Chronicles, Samuel, it's presented in exactly the same way. 00:03:01.799 --> 00:03:06.659 Reason number two is that Jonah himself actually appears in the book of 2 Kings. 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:12.419 And there he's called the son of Amittai, and in the book of Jonah he's called the son of Amittai. 00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:23.120 But the third and most important reason is that Jesus himself taught and believed that Jonah was an historical figure and an historical fact. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:30.539 He said, as Jonah was three days in the belly of the fish, so I will be three days in the belly of the earth. 00:03:31.460 --> 00:03:34.640 Now you might think, why is this so important? 00:03:34.819 --> 00:03:40.120 Why do we begin this way by, is it fact, is it fiction, you know, we don't need to worry about? 00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:58.200 If it is indeed fiction, just a story that helps us with some things in life, then we have no choice but to decide that Jonah is the main character in the story and what we can learn from Jonah. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:05.520 But if it is fact, then God is the main character in the story. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:13.120 And I want to tell you today that the book of Jonah is actually written not to tell you about Jonah, it's written to tell you about God. 00:04:13.320 --> 00:04:21.819 What God did, why he did it, how he did it, and it's to teach us about his nature and his character. 00:04:23.400 --> 00:04:30.699 You see, I think one of the reasons people don't believe in the book of Jonah is that it contains miracles. 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:35.399 You know, the one we think of is Jonah getting eaten by the big fish or the whale, right? 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:42.019 Now the problem is if you don't like miracles, then pretty soon you start ripping out all other books in the Bible too. 00:04:43.459 --> 00:04:48.759 And Jonah itself contains eight nature miracles. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:51.860 Okay, most of us just think of Jonah and the whale, right? 00:04:51.939 --> 00:04:54.339 But there's actually eight nature miracles. 00:04:54.339 --> 00:05:03.939 And what that means is that God has the power to intervene in nature and circumstances in our lives. 00:05:05.859 --> 00:05:11.179 And most people don't really like that idea because we really want to be in control in our life. 00:05:11.259 --> 00:05:12.879 We want to be in control of our circumstances. 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:16.019 I'm the master of my own fate, the captain of my soul. 00:05:16.419 --> 00:05:20.120 We don't like the idea that there is a God and that he can be in control. 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:28.459 But if there is a God and he is sovereign and he can intervene in our lives, he can intervene in nature, 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:30.939 well then that changes everything, right? 00:05:31.660 --> 00:05:34.939 It changes how I think about him. 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:41.280 There's a God, I probably need to fear him and above all I need to change. 00:05:42.280 --> 00:05:44.519 So Jonah is a book about greats. 00:05:45.160 --> 00:05:46.759 There are four greats in the book of Jonah. 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:50.480 The great wind, the great storm, the great fish, and the great city. 00:05:51.159 --> 00:05:55.379 But actually there's two more greats in the book of Jonah that are not written, 00:05:55.659 --> 00:05:59.079 but they are like a thread throughout the whole book. 00:05:59.899 --> 00:06:04.560 And the first one is that it's a story of great grace. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:11.800 And the second one, it's a story about a great God. 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:18.680 And if you get nothing else out of today and out of this time, that's really what I want you to take away, 00:06:18.900 --> 00:06:25.900 is that it's a story about great grace and it's a story about a great God. 00:06:27.259 --> 00:06:30.040 Okay, so let's jump into this. 00:06:30.580 --> 00:06:33.199 Jonah, he's a preacher. 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:34.860 More than that, he's a prophet. 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:40.319 But he's called by God and God has every right to tell him what to do. 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:44.660 One day God comes to him and he gives him a sentence. 00:06:44.960 --> 00:06:46.620 This is the sentence he gives him. 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:47.000 He says, 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:51.720 Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, 00:06:52.379 --> 00:06:55.139 because its wickedness has come up before me. 00:06:55.900 --> 00:06:59.319 Now, the first word in that sentence is the word go. 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:01.099 In some versions, it's a rise. 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:05.899 But the word go comes from a Hebrew word, halach. 00:07:06.159 --> 00:07:08.360 Okay, I just like the sound of that word, halach, right? 00:07:08.599 --> 00:07:11.120 And halach is like a, it's a command. 00:07:11.300 --> 00:07:12.819 It's like a non-negotiable. 00:07:12.980 --> 00:07:16.579 He didn't come and say, Jonah, you know, I've got this, would you be interested? 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:19.659 It was go, all right? 00:07:19.699 --> 00:07:23.759 It's the kind of word used by an army captain speaking to his soldiers, right? 00:07:23.899 --> 00:07:24.259 Halach! 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:26.079 And they stand up and yes, and they're gone. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:35.240 You know, every parent wishes they had one word that would get their kids up and moving on a Sunday morning, right? 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:36.000 It's that one word. 00:07:36.060 --> 00:07:39.300 When you go in there, guys, please, time to get up, and it's slow, processed, 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:40.419 and you just want to get them out of the wall. 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:45.379 Every parent wishes they had one word that they would just jump out of bed, be ready, 00:07:45.599 --> 00:07:46.680 waiting at the door in two minutes. 00:07:47.099 --> 00:07:48.659 This would be that word. 00:07:49.159 --> 00:07:50.740 Okay, maybe you guys can try that, right? 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:51.240 Halach! 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:52.339 And get moving. 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:53.459 So that's the first word. 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:54.719 He comes to Jonah. 00:07:54.720 --> 00:08:02.860 And in less than 20 words, he tells Jonah where to go, what to say, and why to say it. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:06.460 Okay, so first of all, he tells Jonah where to go. 00:08:07.400 --> 00:08:10.420 And Jonah hears this word, I want you to go to Nineveh. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:13.340 Jonah hears that word, the first thing he's thinking, Nineveh. 00:08:13.460 --> 00:08:13.820 Whoa! 00:08:14.660 --> 00:08:15.180 Nineveh? 00:08:15.820 --> 00:08:20.540 God, do you realize Nineveh, that's like the capital of Assyria. 00:08:20.540 --> 00:08:23.080 It means it's full of Assyrians. 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:25.580 Okay, you guys can get that, right? 00:08:25.640 --> 00:08:26.580 It's full of Assyrians. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:27.700 Okay. 00:08:28.780 --> 00:08:37.779 We know from chapter 4 that there were at least 120,000 children in the city of Nineveh 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:42.019 who were not old enough to discern their right from their left. 00:08:42.019 --> 00:08:51.639 But archaeologists tell us that the city of Nineveh was between 1.5 and 2 million people. 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:57.240 It takes you three days to walk through the city of Nineveh. 00:08:57.240 --> 00:09:02.299 Now, to put that into perspective, it doesn't take us three days to walk through the whole of Hong Kong. 00:09:02.860 --> 00:09:04.860 It was a great city. 00:09:04.860 --> 00:09:15.659 They had 1,500 pillars surrounding the city, each 200 feet high. 00:09:17.419 --> 00:09:21.919 And these people were very wealthy. 00:09:22.060 --> 00:09:23.460 The Assyrians were very wealthy. 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:28.039 And they got wealthy by plundering everyone else around them, right? 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:34.439 They just went and stole, took everything, and then they built up the great city of Nineveh. 00:09:35.839 --> 00:09:39.039 And hence the reason they had to put pillars all around them, right? 00:09:39.059 --> 00:09:40.319 Because they were protecting themselves. 00:09:40.419 --> 00:09:45.819 They figured if we go out and plunder people, someone might have the idea and come and plunder us. 00:09:46.059 --> 00:09:49.839 But above all, Jonah would have heard this word and he would have understood, 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:52.199 those are the bad guys. 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:59.120 It's kind of like, to put it in perspective, just imagine Jonah's an American and God comes to him and says, 00:09:59.160 --> 00:10:03.100 Jonah, I want you to go to Pyongyang, North Korea, right? 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:03.780 Wow! 00:10:04.040 --> 00:10:08.400 Okay, that's what he would have heard and thought when he heard the word Nineveh. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:14.759 Okay, secondly, he tells Jonah what to say. 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:22.639 He says, Jonah, you're going to preach against Nineveh. 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:28.259 And we know from later in the book of Jonah that the message he was supposed to preach, 00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:30.679 which was one against them, is to say to them, 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:34.779 you are going to be destroyed in 40 days. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:36.240 And you know what, Jonah? 00:10:36.860 --> 00:10:38.759 The Israeli army is not going to go with you. 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:42.179 There's going to be no Facebook event to advertise this. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:43.399 There's going to be no posters. 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:45.740 You're not going to have a stadium to preach in. 00:10:45.959 --> 00:10:51.159 It's just you, this little Jew, walking through the city, preaching a message. 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:54.139 Hey guys, you're going to be destroyed in 40 days. 00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:59.600 Now, in case you haven't got it, it's not the best way to win friends and influence people, right? 00:11:00.220 --> 00:11:02.759 Have you ever tried preaching against someone? 00:11:03.579 --> 00:11:06.740 Yeah, try doing that with your enemies and see the reaction you get. 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:08.559 So Jonah's hearing this, right? 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:16.379 But in it is the first glimpse of God's grace. 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:24.219 Because he tells Jonah, tell them in 40 days their city will be destroyed. 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:29.519 Now, in biblical terms, the number 40 is a number for testing, right? 00:11:29.680 --> 00:11:31.680 The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness. 00:11:31.920 --> 00:11:33.399 Jesus spent 40 years in the desert. 00:11:34.019 --> 00:11:38.740 If God planned to destroy them, just like that, why tell them? 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:39.600 Just do it. 00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:43.879 But he gives them 40 days. 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:47.660 It's almost like God is giving them a chance to respond. 00:11:47.659 --> 00:11:51.079 We see the first glimpse of God's grace. 00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:56.120 And he says, Jonah, this is why I want you to say this. 00:11:57.079 --> 00:12:01.120 Okay, so first you're going to go to the bad guys and then you're going to tell them they're going to be destroyed. 00:12:01.439 --> 00:12:04.159 And this is why I want you to do it. 00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:09.120 Okay, now we might think God has been a little bit extreme here, right? 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:14.039 Destroying a city of between 1.5 and 2 million people. 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:20.579 But I'm going to tell you a little bit more about the Assyrians and then you tell me how you feel about them. 00:12:22.539 --> 00:12:27.059 There was another prophet that came after Jonah called Nahum. 00:12:27.179 --> 00:12:30.199 And this is how Nahum described the city of Nineveh. 00:12:30.319 --> 00:12:30.719 He said, 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:52.180 Many casualties. 00:12:52.179 --> 00:13:16.419 You see, the Assyrians were busy people. 00:13:16.419 --> 00:13:22.639 You know, like when you meet someone in Hong Kong and you ask them how they are, nine times out of ten you're going to get the answer, I'm busy. 00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:23.479 Okay? 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:26.099 The Assyrians would have said exactly the same thing, right? 00:13:26.219 --> 00:13:28.919 But they were busy with violence. 00:13:29.059 --> 00:13:30.279 They were busy with deception. 00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:32.299 They were busy with murder. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:46.019 And these people, they were bullies who used their power to intimidate and steal from everyone else around them. 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:49.220 And for fun, they tortured people. 00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:50.559 They enjoyed it. 00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:52.819 They tortured people to death. 00:13:53.919 --> 00:14:01.019 And more than the fact that these Assyrian leaders were cruel, they actually boasted of their cruelty. 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:07.100 They thought they were really good at being bad and they wanted to tell everyone just how good they were. 00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:14.040 So they, on those big pillars surrounding the city, they wrote these, like, monuments to themselves. 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:17.180 Now, those monuments exist in museums today. 00:14:17.420 --> 00:14:18.360 You can go and see them. 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:22.980 But I'm going to read you some of the quotes that they had written about themselves. 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:26.720 This is the Assyrians boasting about what they do. 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:31.100 I cut off their heads and formed them into pillars. 00:14:31.100 --> 00:14:34.139 Okay, just get a picture of that. 00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:38.480 Three thousand captives I burnt with fire. 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:42.399 Their corpses I formed into pillars. 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:47.019 From sun, I cut off their hands and their fingers. 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:52.540 From another, I cut off their noses, their ears, and their fingers. 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:56.600 Of many, I put out their eyes. 00:14:56.600 --> 00:15:01.680 In case you haven't got it, these are not the nicest people. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:08.420 But in God's grace, He cares for them. 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:12.580 He wants to send someone to warn them. 00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:16.659 He wants them to turn from the evil that they're doing. 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:21.440 And He promises them justice if they will not act. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:28.280 This is God offering them mercy because He cares. 00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:33.480 And this is God promising them justice because He's holy. 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:38.080 You see, the Jews knew that God cared about them. 00:15:38.660 --> 00:15:39.840 God had sent them prophets. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:40.860 He protected them. 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:41.660 He rebuked them. 00:15:41.820 --> 00:15:48.540 God, they knew the little nation of Israel knew they were loved and cared for and protected by God. 00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:52.500 But here we see God caring about the Gentiles. 00:15:52.939 --> 00:15:55.959 And even more than that, the bad Gentiles. 00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:59.519 You know, I can kind of see Jonah asking God, 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:01.500 The Assyrians? 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.000 And God's saying, Yes, Jonah. 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:06.379 Even the Assyrians. 00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:17.700 You might be thinking, How can preaching against people be grace? 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:19.059 How can that be grace? 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:29.179 You know, sometimes in life, the most gracious thing we can do for someone is to tell them what's wrong, 00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:38.719 to tell them how it's hurting themselves and how they're hurting others and what the consequences will be. 00:16:40.839 --> 00:16:44.879 My four-year-old, a little boy, he loves coming into the kitchen. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:49.199 And I was in the kitchen the other day and I was making myself a sandwich. 00:16:49.459 --> 00:16:53.219 And my wife makes this really amazing homemade bread. 00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:58.639 So I had the knife and I'm busy cutting the bread and I cut a slice of bread and I put the knife down. 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:02.220 And my four-year-old comes in and he picks up the knife. 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:08.100 Now, any four-year-old with a knife in his hand is only thinking one thing. 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:12.100 This is a sword and any bad guy is going down. 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:18.519 And considering I'm the only other guy in the kitchen, I'm taking the role of the bad guy here, right? 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:24.299 So he's got the knife in the hand and the first thing he does is pull it up and he's just about to lick the knife. 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:33.299 Now, if at that point I had done nothing, you would have said, what a terrible, terrible parent I am. 00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:35.059 You know, just let him. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:36.500 He's enjoying himself. 00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:37.839 Let him be. 00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:38.480 He's okay. 00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:40.680 But I didn't. 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:42.920 I preached against him, okay? 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:49.580 Admittedly, I had a little bit of self-preservation in mind because I knew after he had licked the knife, I was next in line. 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:51.400 But I preached against him. 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:54.039 I explained to him, you know, you are going to hurt yourself. 00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:57.000 And when you're finished, you're probably going to hurt me. 00:17:57.600 --> 00:18:01.060 So how about you put the knife down and I'll make you a sandwich instead? 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:05.279 But that's just kind of like a silly story. 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:20.559 But really, sometimes the gracious thing we can do is to tell people what's wrong, how they could possibly hurt themselves and hurt other people around them. 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:29.960 Here's God reminding Jonah that he is holy and that he sees everything. 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:32.980 Nothing is hidden from God. 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:42.899 You see, we might, like he's saying to Jonah, you know, you only hear about their reputation. 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.700 You know, you only hear the stories. 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:47.819 Maybe you read the newspaper and you hear what the Syrians have done. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:50.620 Or you read one of their little boasts on the thing. 00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:54.319 Jonah, I see all of that. 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:57.660 Did you guys ever think about that? 00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:59.759 That God sees everything? 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:04.960 You know, he's not just attending nice services like this today. 00:19:05.840 --> 00:19:09.600 He sees every murder. 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:12.120 He sees every rape. 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:15.319 He sees every act of injustice. 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:17.059 He sees every act of cruelty. 00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:18.819 Every bit of gossip. 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.179 Every bit of cheating. 00:19:20.379 --> 00:19:23.479 Envy, greed, slander, malice. 00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:25.579 Every cowardly act. 00:19:26.659 --> 00:19:28.599 Every lie told. 00:19:28.719 --> 00:19:30.579 He sees it all. 00:19:31.959 --> 00:19:34.439 He's seen me do some of those things. 00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:38.079 And he's seen you do some of those things too. 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:42.759 And yet, God cares. 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:52.079 He cares enough to send someone to tell them the truth and offer them grace and redemption. 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:55.119 And Jonah's the man. 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.740 He's chosen to do that. 00:19:58.220 --> 00:20:00.000 But Jonah runs away. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:06.299 Now, one of the most important questions we have to ask is, why did Jonah run away? 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:10.119 It really is like a key that unlocks the book of Jonah. 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:12.180 Why did Jonah run away? 00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:14.519 We're going to get to that a little bit later. 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:22.000 But I want to describe it to you in four steps. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:24.440 Jonah chooses a path. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:26.740 And they're four steps that Jonah takes. 00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:29.000 Four steps down. 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:34.240 The first step down for Jonah is one of disobedience. 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:38.960 Instead of going east, Jonah goes west. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:42.000 He's trying to get away as far as possible. 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.339 And it's deliberate. 00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:47.759 It says he found, he bought, he boarded, he sailed, he fled. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:50.240 Jonah knew what he was doing, right? 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:53.259 He was fully aware of what he was doing. 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:55.039 He was trying to get away. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:21:00.099 Now, all Jonah had to do to be disobedient was just stay where he was. 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.759 Jonah, I want you to go to Nineveh? 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:02.139 No. 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:03.180 I'm staying here. 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:05.839 But Jonah ran. 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:11.059 And the reason he ran is because he wanted to get away from God. 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:13.720 He wanted to get away from everything that reminded him of God. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.839 There's the temple. 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:15.680 I don't want to see it. 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.839 It reminds me of God. 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:18.180 They're the people of God. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:19.039 They remind me of God. 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:20.259 I just want to get away. 00:21:21.620 --> 00:21:23.500 And you know, we can be like that too. 00:21:24.560 --> 00:21:28.000 When we're in a state of disobedience and we know we're doing something wrong, 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:31.940 the last thing we want to do is spend time with God. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:35.880 The last thing we want to do is be with the people of God. 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:38.360 And we can run away too. 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:45.679 Jonah found out as he starts this journey that he actually received plenty of help. 00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:49.479 You know, there were sailors just waiting to take his money. 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:53.500 There was a ship just waiting to sail. 00:21:54.199 --> 00:21:57.539 You know, the way of sin has help, right? 00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.459 It has companions. 00:21:58.939 --> 00:21:59.839 And you'll find that out. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:04.240 When you walk along the path of sin, there might be plenty of people cheering you on. 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:09.480 But there's another side to that coin, and it is a beautiful promise for believers. 00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:16.599 And that is one, is when you choose to walk the journey and walk the path with God, 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:19.140 you will not only find companions who want to take your money, 00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:22.380 but you will find brothers and sisters, family. 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:24.299 You will find empowering grace. 00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:25.339 You will find protection. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:32.160 You will find divine providence in your life helping you on the journey with God. 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.640 That is an amazing thing. 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:39.220 The second step down for Jonah is one of distress. 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.200 Peace goes. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:46.819 And God lets you go so far and no further. 00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:53.279 See, Jonah thinks, I'm going to go on a nice sail on the Mediterranean. 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:57.400 You know, I might even order a cocktail, sit on deck, enjoy the sunset. 00:22:58.200 --> 00:23:02.400 And then you get one of the key words in the book of Jonah, and it's this word, but. 00:23:03.140 --> 00:23:04.660 But Jonah, but God, right? 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:09.420 And it's kind of like we're looking down on this, and it's this great game of chess. 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:14.380 Jonah makes his first move, and now we're going to see God make his first move. 00:23:14.820 --> 00:23:18.500 And when God makes a move, it's usually a great move, right? 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.319 And it is. 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:20.980 In this case, it's a great wind. 00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:26.539 God sends a great wind, which, as we know, becomes a great storm. 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:38.039 And what I find here is that the first people to suffer from Jonah's disobedience was not Jonah. 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.980 It was others, right? 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:44.400 The sailors were the first people to suffer from this distress. 00:23:44.860 --> 00:23:47.900 Their ship was being tossed around, and the storm was ranging. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:52.000 And it's often the same with us, right? 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:58.200 We think we can sin secretly or sin safely, and no one else will know. 00:23:58.819 --> 00:24:00.620 But it doesn't work that way, right? 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:02.960 And Jonah needs to learn this lesson. 00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:05.160 It's one of distress. 00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:10.880 Notice, the sailors go down. 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:14.860 The captain goes down, and they find Jonah, and he's asleep. 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:17.180 He thinks he's gotten away with it, right? 00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:21.240 They wake him up, and they said, Jonah, pray. 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.660 Pray, come on, wake up, pray. 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.519 We're all praying. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:25.940 You know, we're just hoping we're going to get something. 00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:26.620 We're in trouble. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.279 We're in panic. 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.080 Now we pray. 00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:29.779 We don't know really who we're praying to. 00:24:29.840 --> 00:24:32.980 We're just kind of doing a shotgun approach, hope we hit something, 00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:34.980 and then our prayers will be answered. 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:37.340 And isn't it incredibly sad? 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:45.940 The only person who knew the true living God was the only person who wasn't praying. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:49.920 Everyone else was praying, but the man of God wasn't. 00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:58.600 Third step down for Jonah is one of disgrace. 00:24:58.599 --> 00:25:03.500 Be sure your sins will find you out. 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:10.279 I went to an all-boys high school in South Africa. 00:25:10.379 --> 00:25:13.579 It was a very traditional school, very sporting school. 00:25:13.719 --> 00:25:20.939 And in my first winter at the school, I signed up to play field hockey. 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:22.900 And I really enjoyed playing field hockey. 00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:25.559 But there was a lot of pressure to play rugby. 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.940 It was a big rugby school. 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:29.380 And I felt like I was missing out. 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.759 You know, I wanted to be one of the boys. 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:36.420 And so I went home, and I said to my mom, Mom, I'm quitting hockey, and I'm going to play rugby. 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:39.279 And she said, Oh, no, you are not. 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:47.079 You have committed to play for that hockey team, and you will play for that hockey team for the rest of the season. 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:50.879 Make sure when it's a new season, then you can play rugby. 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:53.680 I listened to that, and I thought, Hey, that's great advice. 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:55.799 So I did exactly the opposite, right? 00:25:55.879 --> 00:25:59.220 Didn't tell her, but I quit the hockey team, and I played rugby. 00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:04.539 Every time it was rugby practice, I'd take my hockey stick, and she would think I was going to go play hockey, 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:07.980 and put on my hockey shirt, and then I would change into rugby gear. 00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:11.079 And for three weeks, it was amazing. 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.159 I loved it, right? 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.619 I was playing rugby. 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.559 I was enjoying it. 00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:16.700 I was one of the boys. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:20.159 And then something happens, which often happens if you play rugby. 00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:25.019 We were having a practice match against another team. 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:30.799 And I got tackled, and I landed awkwardly, and I could feel the bone in my arm go. 00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:33.339 Didn't feel too good. 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:36.980 So I went off the field, and I showed the coach, and he said, Yeah, that doesn't look too good. 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.179 I think you've broken it. 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.500 Go to the school nurse. 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:45.199 So I went to the school nurse, and by this time, it's starting to swell a little bit, 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:48.079 and she looks at it, and she says, Yeah, that doesn't look good. 00:26:48.179 --> 00:26:49.500 That looks like it's broken. 00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:50.740 You're going to need to go to hospital. 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:53.759 And she starts putting the bandage on, and I say, No, no, wait. 00:26:53.959 --> 00:26:57.819 I've got to take my rugby shirt off and put on my hockey shirt here, right? 00:26:58.119 --> 00:26:59.220 And she's like, Why? 00:26:59.299 --> 00:27:00.399 And I said, You don't know. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:02.159 I just need to do this, right? 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:03.240 So there I am. 00:27:03.320 --> 00:27:05.180 She's helping me pull off my rugby shirt. 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:08.800 My arm's in pain, and I put on my hockey shirt, and it's bandaged up. 00:27:09.800 --> 00:27:14.880 Then I walk in, and it's after practice, and my mom is now waiting in the car to pick me up. 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:19.980 So I open the door, and I get in, and my mom sees my bandaged up arm, and she says, What happened? 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:30.360 And I said, Well, I was playing hockey, and I fell awkwardly, and the nurse thinks I've broken my arm. 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:38.660 My mom is just about to start the car when one of my rugby teammates rushes up, sticks his head in the window, 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:40.779 and he says, Buddy, I saw you. 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:42.880 That tackle just looked horrible, right? 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:45.500 And you landed funny, and your arm was all thing. 00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:49.700 And I'm feeling distress, okay? 00:27:49.800 --> 00:27:56.720 I'm looking at him going, And my mom looks, and she goes, He did what? 00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:00.500 He was playing what? 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:06.240 And at that point, disgrace hits me, right? 00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:07.100 She starts the car. 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:10.140 We're driving out, and Mom, I'm really sorry. 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:11.259 I should have told you. 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:18.440 And she says, No, no, I think you've shown that you're more than capable of making your own decisions, 00:28:19.100 --> 00:28:22.740 and therefore I think you should be able to find your own way to hospital. 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:31.359 And we went, and we picked up my sister, and then we drove home, and we lived about 10 kilometers outside of town, 00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:33.279 so it wasn't like I could just walk to the hospital. 00:28:34.120 --> 00:28:37.299 And for the next three hours, I am repenting. 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:38.319 I am pleading. 00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:41.079 I am crying about this broken arm. 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:47.859 Eventually, eventually, at about 8.30 that night, my mom relents, and she takes me to the hospital, 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:51.120 and my arm was indeed broken and all that kind of stuff. 00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:52.399 But you know what? 00:28:52.779 --> 00:29:02.979 The pain I felt of a broken arm was not nearly as much as the pain I felt of disgrace after that. 00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:10.359 The fourth step down, as I said, that's the third step, right, is one of disgrace. 00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:20.079 It amazes me that in this scenario, the sailors knew that this was something supernatural, what was going on here. 00:29:20.199 --> 00:29:22.899 There has to be a cause for this going on. 00:29:22.959 --> 00:29:24.979 They didn't just see it as a normal storm. 00:29:25.179 --> 00:29:26.879 There was something going on here. 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:29.139 So they cast lots. 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:30.059 Let's throw lots. 00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:31.919 And it comes up to Jonah, right? 00:29:32.459 --> 00:29:36.740 And they get Jonah, and they say, Jonah, listen, and they ask him all these quick questions. 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.759 What is it done? 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:38.559 Who are you? 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.539 What are you doing? 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:40.740 Why is this happening? 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:45.400 And then Jonah gives this seemingly great confession. 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:49.900 But actually, when you read between the lines, it's a very vague confession. 00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:52.079 And he really admits to very little. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:54.079 Jonah stands up and he says, 00:29:54.400 --> 00:30:01.859 I'm a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:02.759 Really? 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.119 Really? 00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:05.319 I worship the Lord? 00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:07.839 And you're running away? 00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:11.599 You see, here's a man who has the right words. 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:16.940 He's got the right creed, but his life doesn't match up to it, right? 00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:20.920 And Jonah, actually, he really admits to very little. 00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:25.000 He wants to, you know, not really say what he's done at all. 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:34.359 As a teacher, one of my greatest joys and greatest privileges is catching students out, right? 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:40.700 You know, I'm convinced that primary school kids think that their teachers are idiots. 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:46.160 And so, you know, when you catch them, they know you know what they've done, right? 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:49.279 And still, when you ask them, what did you do? 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:54.320 First thing out of their mouth, well, you know, Jack over there, he did it. 00:30:54.380 --> 00:30:55.240 He helped me. 00:30:55.320 --> 00:30:57.120 I had a bad breakfast this morning. 00:30:57.360 --> 00:30:58.980 I didn't go to sleep last night. 00:30:59.140 --> 00:31:01.980 They're always looking for an excuse, right? 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:08.560 They're trying to admit to as little as possible to avoid any trouble and any blame. 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:13.519 And I just sensed Jonah, the one thing God wants Jonah to do is just own your stuff. 00:31:14.139 --> 00:31:15.240 Just own your stuff. 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:16.839 You know, I did it. 00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:18.419 It was me. 00:31:18.679 --> 00:31:19.339 I'm a worm. 00:31:19.639 --> 00:31:20.299 That's it, right? 00:31:20.379 --> 00:31:22.419 Just own your stuff. 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:26.299 And Jonah, he's kind of giving this vague confession. 00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:32.259 And it gets down to his fourth step, and that is one of disaster. 00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:38.920 Jonah says, listen, the only way to solve this problem is you need to kill me. 00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:42.039 You need to throw me overboard. 00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:45.279 And did Jonah do the right thing? 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:50.940 Is Jonah doing the right thing when he said, throw me overboard? 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:58.059 See, I have a feeling that the one thing God was looking for was for Jonah to say, 00:31:59.099 --> 00:32:00.359 God, I will go to Nineveh. 00:32:00.359 --> 00:32:02.699 I will do this for you. 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:07.939 Instead, Jonah, the great escape artist, wants to look for a way out. 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:10.199 And he says, you know, kill me. 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:12.099 Just throw me overboard. 00:32:12.219 --> 00:32:13.279 That's my way out of here. 00:32:13.339 --> 00:32:16.019 Even death is better than going to Nineveh. 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:19.500 Yes, it'll save you sailors, but just being. 00:32:20.439 --> 00:32:23.719 And God has to deal with Jonah. 00:32:27.079 --> 00:32:28.839 What was Jonah running away from? 00:32:28.839 --> 00:32:34.959 You see, I believe every Christian has their Nineveh. 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:37.959 A place that is hard. 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.379 A place that is difficult. 00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:41.939 A place that you do not want to go to. 00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:44.720 A place that you certainly do not want to be a Christian in. 00:32:44.939 --> 00:32:48.039 You do not want to bring the gospel to a place like that. 00:32:48.179 --> 00:32:52.419 Maybe it's your work and your colleagues. 00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:55.660 Maybe it's the business that you run. 00:32:55.660 --> 00:33:01.120 Maybe it's your family or your university or your school. 00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:06.360 Everyone has their Nineveh that they're afraid to go to. 00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:16.819 But despite everything that was wrong with the people of Nineveh, God wanted to reach out to them. 00:33:17.899 --> 00:33:21.099 And he wanted to use Jonah to do it. 00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:29.219 You see, at the center of the Christian faith is this word grace. 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:34.660 And it's the one thing that makes us different to any other religion. 00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:37.839 Because every other religion says something like this. 00:33:37.900 --> 00:33:39.240 It says, do right. 00:33:39.600 --> 00:33:40.200 Be right. 00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:41.100 Be holy. 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:42.600 God will accept you. 00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:45.759 And then we get grace. 00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:52.000 And grace says, I accept you as you are. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:57.319 Now that is great news to sinners. 00:33:58.680 --> 00:34:00.640 That is great news to sinners. 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:07.319 That means my bad deeds, my sin needn't ever keep me away from God. 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:11.260 I don't need to be kept away from the presence of God. 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:13.000 I can go to heaven. 00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:16.000 But there's another side to that too. 00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:21.400 It means that your good deeds will never be good enough to get you there either. 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:27.820 See, I have a feeling that that's really what Jonah was unhappy about, right? 00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:35.000 He certainly didn't like this idea that grace could be shown to bad people. 00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:39.500 See, the word grace comes in the Greek. 00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:41.579 It's this word charis, right? 00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:45.079 It just sounds like you're sick and you got flu when you say it, right? 00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:46.860 But it's a great word, charis. 00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:51.380 And it literally means unmerited favor. 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:56.400 In other words, you don't deserve it, right? 00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:58.820 It's favor that you don't deserve. 00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:03.860 And Jonah's thinking, God, do you know about the Assyrians? 00:35:04.219 --> 00:35:06.059 They don't deserve your grace. 00:35:06.059 --> 00:35:13.079 But it's amazing that Jonah thought that he did, right? 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:14.980 And here is God showing Jonah. 00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:16.239 He says, Jonah, you know what? 00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:19.659 You need my grace. 00:35:19.659 --> 00:35:28.639 This prophet of God, this Jew who keeps the law, who knows God. 00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:33.059 You need my grace as much as the bad guys do. 00:35:33.379 --> 00:35:39.719 As much as the murderers, the rapists, the plunderers, the healers, they need my grace. 00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:49.219 You see, throughout everywhere the gospel's being preached, it's always much easier to receive the gospel if you know that you are bad. 00:35:50.239 --> 00:35:50.399 Right? 00:35:50.459 --> 00:35:53.899 It's when you think, well, you know, I'm pretty good. 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:55.679 I'm certainly better than the next guy. 00:35:55.679 --> 00:35:58.940 That's when it becomes tough. 00:35:59.339 --> 00:36:07.659 And Isaiah tells us, he tells us, he says, my good deeds, the things that I've done right are like filthy rags. 00:36:08.699 --> 00:36:12.019 And often when we talk about the Christian faith, we talk about repenting. 00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:12.779 Right? 00:36:13.179 --> 00:36:15.639 Repenting of the bad things you've done. 00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:21.000 But it's also repenting and letting go of the good things you've done. 00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:27.019 Because that's often what keeps us away from God far more than the bad things we've done. 00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:30.639 And Jonah really needed to get this lesson. 00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:33.359 He needed God. 00:36:33.500 --> 00:36:39.099 He needed God's grace as much as the Assyrians needed God's grace. 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:48.779 Now listen, before we get too harsh with Jonah, I see myself in Jonah. 00:36:49.339 --> 00:36:51.599 You know, I want to run away from my Nineveh. 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:58.880 I have run away from the many things God has asked of me and called me to. 00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:04.960 But it all comes down to this question today. 00:37:05.019 --> 00:37:06.199 And the question is this. 00:37:06.199 --> 00:37:12.539 What has God asked of you that you are running away from? 00:37:14.859 --> 00:37:21.699 What has God asked of you that you are running away from? 00:37:27.879 --> 00:37:30.199 I want to finish this morning with hope. 00:37:30.199 --> 00:37:33.159 Because the story ends with hope. 00:37:33.259 --> 00:37:36.139 It's the most amazing end to what we've read today. 00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:45.759 And that is, despite Jonah's disobedience, despite his distress, despite his disgrace, 00:37:46.099 --> 00:37:52.799 despite his disaster, God was still able to use Jonah. 00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:58.139 He was still able to take all of that rubbish and turn it into something good. 00:37:58.139 --> 00:38:07.400 And we know that because the sailors, these were men that would have never come into contact with Jonah if he hadn't have run away. 00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:15.779 They finished the story that we read today by making vows to the God of heaven and earth. 00:38:17.859 --> 00:38:25.259 Making vows mean they were making promises, declaring, giving their lives to the God who only exists, the only God. 00:38:25.260 --> 00:38:29.980 That would have happened if Jonah had gone straight away. 00:38:32.300 --> 00:38:35.760 And the same is true for me and it's true for you too. 00:38:36.020 --> 00:38:49.040 In my disobedience, in my distress, in my disgrace, in my disaster, in all those things that are not good, God is able to take them and turn them for good. 00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:51.059 And he's able to use you. 00:38:51.119 --> 00:38:55.279 You might think, you know what, Jonah was a bad guy and he blew it and he turned away from God. 00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:56.840 I've done far worse than Jonah. 00:38:57.800 --> 00:38:58.659 You know what? 00:38:59.559 --> 00:39:01.340 You can't outrun God. 00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:04.599 Jonah tried and he failed. 00:39:05.699 --> 00:39:12.900 God ran ahead of Jonah and brought him face to face with himself and showed him what he really needed. 00:39:12.900 --> 00:39:20.059 Jonah is a story of great grace. 00:39:20.740 --> 00:39:25.900 But it's an amazing story about a great God. 00:39:26.920 --> 00:39:29.260 I'd like to pray for you all this morning. 00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:32.260 So if you don't mind standing with me. 00:39:32.260 --> 00:39:32.320 Thank you. 00:39:32.320 --> 00:39:32.380 Thank you. 00:39:42.900 --> 00:39:52.519 Lord Jesus Christ, we come to you this morning with praise and thanksgiving. 00:39:52.660 --> 00:39:58.119 We thank you that you are the maker of heaven and earth. 00:39:59.059 --> 00:40:04.480 We thank you that you are a God of power and a God of grace. 00:40:05.900 --> 00:40:08.500 Father, I pray for all of us in this room. 00:40:08.500 --> 00:40:17.980 I pray that we not only learn from the book of Jonah and many of us will identify with him, Lord. 00:40:18.139 --> 00:40:25.820 But Lord, that we will be filled with the same courage and the same boldness as he was to eventually turn to you and say, 00:40:25.940 --> 00:40:27.820 I will do what you've called me to do. 00:40:28.900 --> 00:40:36.119 I pray for those of us, me included, who are struggling with what God has called us to do. 00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:38.619 I thank you that you are patient and you are kind. 00:40:40.920 --> 00:40:45.639 And Lord, above all, that you are gracious towards us and that you use us. 00:40:45.839 --> 00:40:49.380 You use our disasters and you turn them for good. 00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:59.319 I pray that we might be filled with boldness as we walk out of this meeting and we go into the world on a Monday morning. 00:40:59.320 --> 00:41:06.940 I pray, Lord Jesus, that we will face our Ninevehs knowing it's not anything that we do that's so great, 00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:16.360 but that we have God behind us, a God who fills us with grace and who wants to impart grace to other people. 00:41:18.019 --> 00:41:19.640 Lord, I pray, use us. 00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:23.440 And I ask this in Jesus' name. 00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:23.500 Amen. 00:41:23.500 --> 00:41:23.539 Amen. 00:41:23.539 --> 00:41:23.620 Amen.