WEBVTT 00:00:00.580 --> 00:00:03.240 Why do you ask questions? 00:00:04.600 --> 00:00:06.480 You think, well, it's obvious, isn't it? 00:00:07.560 --> 00:00:12.660 Well, in most situations, we ask questions because we don't know the answer. 00:00:13.780 --> 00:00:16.260 We want to get some certain information. 00:00:17.420 --> 00:00:19.219 If I ask you, what time is it? 00:00:20.140 --> 00:00:21.940 I want to know the time. I don't know it. 00:00:23.379 --> 00:00:27.359 Now, all questions are not seeking information, as we all well know. 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:36.259 If it gets about 10 or 11, 40, somebody stands up and says, do you know what time it is? 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:39.820 They're not trying to get information. 00:00:40.460 --> 00:00:42.000 They're trying to tell me something. 00:00:43.219 --> 00:00:44.560 That's how God asks questions. 00:00:45.820 --> 00:00:54.679 In every situation, when God asks a question in Scripture, He is not seeking information. 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:56.820 He knows. 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:02.799 For an example, when God asked Adam, where are you? 00:01:03.420 --> 00:01:07.760 Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat? 00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:15.700 It was not a question about where was Adam literally. 00:01:16.659 --> 00:01:17.180 God knew. 00:01:18.180 --> 00:01:21.500 It was not a question about did you really do it? 00:01:21.500 --> 00:01:23.500 God knew. 00:01:24.859 --> 00:01:29.900 In asking Cain, where is Abel, your brother? 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:37.379 It was not because God didn't know where Cain was. 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:41.620 And the fact that he had killed his brother. 00:01:41.620 --> 00:01:54.840 God asked questions, not because he doesn't know the answers, but to confront us about issues in our lives that we need to deal with. 00:01:55.680 --> 00:02:01.439 God asked Adam those questions to drive home the severity of his sin. 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:09.560 To help him to understand that by his disobedience, Adam had broken fellowship with God. 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:19.060 God asked Cain that question to confront him about his sin, the first murder in creation. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:34.060 Commentator Peter Williams says that God's questions are meant to teach us something or to expose us, our inner self, or expose to us our inner selves when we are guilty of sin or disobedience. 00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:42.539 So whenever we read the Bible and come across God asking a question, we ought to ask ourselves, is God addressing that question to me? 00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:46.800 And if so, what am I to learn from it? 00:02:47.420 --> 00:02:55.560 Today we're going to conclude our study in the book of Jonah by looking at three questions that God asked Jonah. 00:02:55.560 --> 00:03:01.319 Jonah chapter four, Jonah chapter four, only 11 chapters. 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:02.319 I want us to look at it. 00:03:02.620 --> 00:03:09.580 We looked at the first four last week, but for the benefit of those who were not here last week, or maybe if you don't know the story, 00:03:10.900 --> 00:03:18.240 in chapter three, God sent Jonah to preach to the city of Nineveh a message of judgment. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:25.340 In 40 days, God was going to destroy them, that city. 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:31.819 But they took that as a warning, and they believed God. 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:39.099 They turned from their sin, and they demonstrated their repentance, and God relented, it says. 00:03:40.140 --> 00:03:45.539 God chose to forgive them and not destroy them. 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:47.120 Good news, right? 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:50.599 Well, yes, to everyone but Jonah. 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:57.659 Look now what happened after God was not going to kill the people of Nineveh. 00:03:57.840 --> 00:03:58.759 4-1. 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:03.840 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:10.680 And he prayed to the Lord and said, O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:22.400 That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 00:04:23.259 --> 00:04:30.620 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live. 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:36.100 The Lord said, do you do well to be angry? 00:04:37.180 --> 00:04:39.819 Are you right to be angry at Jonah? 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:41.439 Verse 5. 00:04:42.019 --> 00:04:51.840 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth or a shelter, like a little lean-to, for himself there. 00:04:52.379 --> 00:04:57.860 He sat under it in the shade till he could see what would become of the city. 00:04:57.860 --> 00:05:09.100 Now the Lord appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah that it might be a shade over his head to save him from his discomfort. 00:05:10.080 --> 00:05:14.360 So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:23.240 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant so that it withered. 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:32.560 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:38.420 And he asked that he might die and said, it is better for me to die than to live. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:44.220 But God said to Jonah, do you do well to be angry for the plant? 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:50.120 And he said, yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die. 00:05:50.120 --> 00:06:00.160 And the Lord said, you pity the plant for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 00:06:00.939 --> 00:06:14.959 And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle? 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:21.620 Jonah is asked three questions by God. 00:06:22.139 --> 00:06:30.339 And what I want us to do is look at these questions because they're the kind of questions God asks of us. 00:06:30.859 --> 00:06:35.779 Number one, some of God's questions are designed to confront us over our sin. 00:06:36.039 --> 00:06:37.399 That's what the first question is about. 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:39.599 Do you do well to be angry? 00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:43.319 Is it right for you to be angry of what you're angry about, Jonah? 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:47.339 Jonah, my gracious salvation of all these people? 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:55.860 Well, that question was designed to confront Jonah over his unjustified anger. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:58.500 That's what we looked at last week. 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:00.839 We're not going to go into the details. 00:07:01.620 --> 00:07:06.579 If you weren't here, I want to encourage you to go online and listen to that. 00:07:06.579 --> 00:07:12.779 I had more positive feedback about that message than any I've had in a long time, so it struck a nerve. 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:15.560 All of us. 00:07:15.659 --> 00:07:16.560 Let me rephrase that. 00:07:17.339 --> 00:07:18.540 Many of us. 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:22.040 We have to battle anger. 00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:24.819 All of us deal with it from time to time. 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:28.139 But that would be a good message. 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:31.740 The danger of anger to go back and listen to. 00:07:31.740 --> 00:07:33.860 But we, I want to just say this. 00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:34.920 We learned last week. 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:49.100 All of us would profit from guarding against developing and expressing unjustified anger when things don't go our way. 00:07:49.100 --> 00:07:52.780 When life's not everything we want it to be. 00:07:52.780 --> 00:07:58.240 We need to guard against just always flying off the handle. 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:00.960 Saying things we shouldn't say. 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:04.680 Causing more damage than anything else. 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:12.759 But Jonah's real problem and ours is his selfishness and self-centeredness. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:21.319 See, Jonah was unhappy and angry because God had shown his grace to the people of Nineveh. 00:08:22.139 --> 00:08:24.939 And decided not to destroy them. 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:28.600 And that was just totally contrary to what Jonah wanted. 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:34.700 You see, he thought those people, they were Assyrians, he thought they don't deserve mercy. 00:08:35.420 --> 00:08:39.740 They're ruthless, brutal, evil, wicked people. 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:44.279 Some of the most barbaric people of that day. 00:08:45.019 --> 00:08:47.639 They shouldn't have the opportunity to be forgiven. 00:08:48.300 --> 00:08:49.500 And they were pagans. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:50.800 They were not Jews. 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:57.720 Jonah thought that God should only be gracious to people like him. 00:08:57.720 --> 00:09:00.000 His kind of people. 00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:02.740 Have you ever thought like that? 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:10.399 Do you ever think me and mine are special? 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:13.420 Me and my family. 00:09:14.680 --> 00:09:16.120 Me and my country. 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:18.860 Me and my race. 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:23.200 Me and my class of people. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:26.220 You see, that's what Jonah thought. 00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:29.639 Jonah certainly appreciated God's grace. 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:31.899 When God forgave him, gave him a fresh start. 00:09:33.019 --> 00:09:40.740 But he couldn't stand the thought of God forgiving these people who they were and what they'd done. 00:09:41.779 --> 00:09:44.600 Now, you note that Jonah did not answer God's first question. 00:09:46.060 --> 00:09:49.759 And as you go on and read, evidently he didn't even think about it. 00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:51.500 Much less pray about it. 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:54.680 He just stayed angry. 00:09:54.679 --> 00:09:55.879 Look what he did in verse 5. 00:09:55.959 --> 00:09:56.939 He left the city. 00:09:57.819 --> 00:10:03.359 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:08.219 He sat under it in the shade till he should see what would become of the city. 00:10:08.719 --> 00:10:11.739 Evidently, Jonah was hoping God would change his mind. 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:14.379 Destroy them anyway. 00:10:14.379 --> 00:10:18.799 Or maybe these people, their repentance would be, it wouldn't last. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:23.539 And so God would destroy them because they became unfaithful. 00:10:23.579 --> 00:10:31.839 Whatever the reason, after God did his great work of saving so many people, seeing change in their lives, 00:10:32.079 --> 00:10:38.859 instead of being happy about it, he's mad about it, he goes out, maybe on a hill, to look down and hope. 00:10:38.860 --> 00:10:44.740 Maybe God will destroy this city like he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:47.500 And I want to be here to see it. 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:54.680 Can you imagine that heart, that lack of heart, that attitude that Jonah had? 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:59.019 Well, in anger, he left the city and in so doing, he quit his job. 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:03.440 See, he was God's prophet to that city. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:05.780 God sent him there to preach like he had. 00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:13.000 And the way the people responded, Jonah, a normal person, a normal preacher, a normal prophet, 00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:18.160 would have just been thrilled, excited, and would have been happy to stay there 00:11:18.160 --> 00:11:21.940 and teach these people more about God because they didn't know much about him. 00:11:22.400 --> 00:11:23.420 Teach his word. 00:11:23.940 --> 00:11:26.240 Help them to get grounded in their faith. 00:11:26.780 --> 00:11:27.860 But not Jonah. 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:32.920 Jonah didn't like what God did. 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:36.540 He got mad at God and he quit. 00:11:37.760 --> 00:11:41.120 He didn't do the responsible thing that God had called him to do. 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:43.880 Now, think about this. 00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:51.860 Do you see anything familiar in Jonah's attitude or his actions? 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:57.140 Do you ever see that picture of Jonah when you look in the mirror? 00:11:57.139 --> 00:12:06.159 You know, our selfishness and self-centeredness often makes us angry, doesn't it? 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:12.379 And a lot of times when it's all about us, we don't get our way, we get angry. 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:14.740 But we also are miserable. 00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:19.440 We're not, we're just miserable. 00:12:19.620 --> 00:12:20.299 We're not happy. 00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:21.320 We're not content. 00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:30.460 Any normal human, not just preacher or prophet, any normal human being would be happy to know 00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:37.560 that 120,000 men, women, and children, the population of Nineveh, had been saved from destruction, 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:40.199 but not Jonah. 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:47.539 Jonah hated what God loved, the people of Nineveh. 00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:52.519 Do you ever hate anyone or anything that you know God loves? 00:12:55.259 --> 00:13:00.899 Are there some people in your life, you would have to admit, I know God loves them, but I hate them. 00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:11.259 There are some things about your life, things about people's life that you are related to, involved with. 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:14.819 You just actually hate it. 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:18.819 But you know, God is pleased by it. 00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:26.559 If you do, if you hate what God loves, you better get used to being angry. 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:34.359 You better get used to being a miserable person because God will never allow you to be right with Him, 00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:41.659 to be right in your own soul if you hate the things He loves. 00:13:42.199 --> 00:13:47.159 If you refuse to try to find joy in the things that please God. 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:53.819 Well, also, I want you to see that our selfishness and self-centeredness also makes us useless. 00:13:53.820 --> 00:14:02.540 Jonah's anger led him to quit serving God and become a spectator out on the hill. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:10.800 I want you to understand that God doesn't call anyone to be a spectator in the game of life. 00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:19.100 When God calls us to Himself, when He saves us, He puts His Spirit in us. 00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:21.820 He puts us in a spiritual family. 00:14:21.820 --> 00:14:26.120 And God calls us to be in the game. 00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:28.820 Be an active participant. 00:14:29.940 --> 00:14:34.820 Be a team player for the rest of our lives, really. 00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:42.879 The New Testament clearly tells us some of the ways we need to be participating. 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:47.000 We're to be the Lord's witnesses, Jesus said in Acts 1-8. 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:52.240 We are to be about the disciple-making process, helping people not just to come to know Jesus, 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:55.580 but be able to grow and mature in their faith. 00:14:56.100 --> 00:15:05.120 We are to serve the Lord in and through His church and in our community with the gifts and talents and abilities that He's given us. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:08.440 A lot of you in here, you know the analogy in Scripture. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.879 The church is like the body of Christ. 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:17.279 And all of us are some body part, and we all need all the body parts. 00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:23.039 Are you serving the purpose that God has you in this church to do? 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:26.579 How are you actively involved? 00:15:27.579 --> 00:15:30.360 Never be content to sit on the bench. 00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:34.259 Never be content to be a spectator. 00:15:36.339 --> 00:15:37.039 Think of ways. 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:42.459 Ask God to help you to see ways that you, wherever you are in life, 00:15:43.719 --> 00:15:47.279 whatever your talents and gifts and abilities are, whatever time it is you have, 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:50.100 serve Him. 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:55.299 Be involved, because that's God's plan for you in some way. 00:15:56.139 --> 00:16:00.919 And when I say that, it doesn't have to be something major, 00:16:01.579 --> 00:16:02.799 like standing up here and singing. 00:16:03.839 --> 00:16:06.620 It doesn't have to be where you're out front doing something, 00:16:06.699 --> 00:16:10.860 even every day, or even every Sunday. 00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:12.620 Let me give you an example. 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:15.899 There was a guy when I was pastor at Utica Baptist Church in Seneca. 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:18.740 He was a sharp man, had a responsible job. 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:22.179 He did one thing in our church. 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.059 He did very well. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:29.079 He was, we didn't have any kind of titles, but he was the lead usher. 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:35.579 And he stood in the foyer and outside every single Sunday morning, 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.480 unless he was out of town. 00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:40.899 He greeted people genuinely, wholeheartedly, 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:44.699 got to, you know, ask their name, told them his name. 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:50.780 He truly made people feel like, I am so glad you're here today. 00:16:51.140 --> 00:16:54.500 It gave them the best first impression they could get of our church, 00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:56.020 just him doing that. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:57.560 And you say, well, how do you know that? 00:16:57.680 --> 00:16:58.480 People told me. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:02.440 I've never had people, I mean, over and over and over again, 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:04.200 different people, different ages, different groups, 00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:05.059 tell me. 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:07.720 His nickname was Bug. 00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:10.579 And a lot of times they'd say, 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:14.799 Bug made me feel like I'd always been here before. 00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:18.720 I've even heard somebody say, I came back because of Bug. 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:21.919 He did one thing. 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:24.740 He just did it on Sunday morning. 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:27.319 But he did it well. 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.919 And God blessed it. 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.179 God used it. 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:34.639 Would you do one thing if you're not involved? 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:40.779 And put your heart into it and do it well? 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.539 To serve God? 00:17:43.679 --> 00:17:44.740 To honor Him? 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.799 To meet a need? 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:50.200 To help us be the church that God's called us to be? 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:50.279 To meet a need? 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:59.380 Some questions God asks to teach us about ourselves. 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:04.200 But we also see that some of God's questions are designed to teach us something about God. 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:06.539 Look at verse 9. 00:18:06.840 --> 00:18:08.720 It's very similar, but there's an addition. 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.740 But God said to Jonah, 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:14.940 Do you do well to be angry for the plant? 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:18.860 And he said, Yes, I do well to be angry. 00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:20.699 Angry enough to die. 00:18:21.699 --> 00:18:29.319 This question came to Jonah after his frustrating experience with the plant in verses 6 through 8. 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:36.839 I want us to look and think about what God teaches Jonah and us through that experience. 00:18:36.979 --> 00:18:40.459 Number one, God teaches us that He is sovereign. 00:18:41.199 --> 00:18:42.099 He's in control. 00:18:42.899 --> 00:18:47.299 Throughout the book of Jonah, God's been in control of everything. 00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:53.279 And it is written in a way to make that very strong, clear. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:19:02.519 For an example, we have seen in chapter 1 that God hurled a great wind at Jonah's ship. 00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:10.500 Then the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah, and he was cast into the sea. 00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:16.799 Here in chapter 4, God appointed a plant to shade Jonah. 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:22.859 God appointed a worm that attacked the plant so that it withered. 00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:27.319 God appointed a scorching east wind. 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:32.519 God is really making it clear, isn't He? 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:35.099 He's in control. 00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:39.799 Things don't just happen. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:49.559 Things don't just happen for no purpose, for no reason. 00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:52.039 God is in control. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.480 He is appointing. 00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:55.419 He is guiding. 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.359 He is allowing. 00:19:56.359 --> 00:20:03.299 He is using all things for His glory and ultimately our good. 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:08.859 If we don't learn anything else, you need to understand when you read the book of Jonah, 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:14.980 God's wanting everyone to know, I am sovereign God of this world. 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:19.919 You and your life and your situation are in my hand. 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.099 Trust me. 00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:25.299 He's not only a great God, He is a good God. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:28.839 Number two, God teaches us that He is patient. 00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:33.939 Throughout this chapter, Jonah is angry every single time that he talks to God. 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:42.079 He is mostly acting in a selfish, self-righteous, hard-hearted way. 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:50.639 He has a terrible attitude toward God, toward people, and life in general. 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:54.800 The only time he's happy, now think about this. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:21:06.120 The only time he's happy in this whole book is when God graciously and miraculously provided the plant to give him shade. 00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:07.500 Now think about that. 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.140 Look at verse 6. 00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:18.220 Now the Lord appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah that it might be a shade over his head to save him from his discomfort. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:20.860 So Jonah was exceedingly glad. 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:22.420 There's a big emphasis there. 00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:23.600 He's just thrilled. 00:21:24.520 --> 00:21:29.520 Happy as he can possibly be because of the plant. 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:35.920 Seeing what made Jonah happy is very revealing, isn't it? 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:44.640 It shows just how far from God and God's priorities he has fallen. 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.880 But God's dealing with him very patiently. 00:21:49.320 --> 00:21:51.220 God is not giving up on him. 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:55.720 God, you know, if you were God, wouldn't you just smack him? 00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:59.380 Wouldn't you just knock him down? 00:22:01.100 --> 00:22:02.200 Shake him up. 00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:04.140 Call him a fool. 00:22:04.140 --> 00:22:06.000 Because he is. 00:22:06.840 --> 00:22:09.160 But God does not do any of that. 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:14.200 God patiently listens. 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:32.160 And God uses this little life lesson using an insignificant plant and worm and wind and sun to teach him what he needs to teach. 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:40.900 You know, the fact that we're here right now alive and well, able to be here this morning means that God is patient with us. 00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:45.540 If you are battling with God like Jonah. 00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:49.060 If there's something going on in your life and you're just mad. 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:51.180 You don't like it. 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:53.540 You don't like what God has either done or allowed. 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:56.060 You may not have said it to him. 00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:58.420 But you think it and he knows it. 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:08.220 Or maybe you're just mad because of what some people in your life either are or are not doing to you or for you. 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:17.059 It may be that, as we've looked at this all along, it may be that you're running from something God's telling you that he wants you to do. 00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:19.980 But you're putting it off. 00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:21.460 Trying to ignore him. 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:23.440 Trying to get away from it. 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:31.400 The fact that you're here, you're alive and well right now, you know God is being patient. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:34.920 So thank him, number one. 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:39.360 And then confess to him, number two. 00:23:40.820 --> 00:23:42.320 Your sin of anger. 00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:44.460 Hardheartedness. 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.279 Selfishness. 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:48.700 Or whatever it is you're guilty of. 00:23:49.819 --> 00:23:54.639 And look to God, not in anger, but in love. 00:23:55.639 --> 00:23:58.420 Turn from your sin and tell him, confess your sin. 00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:02.019 Come back close to him with a new commitment. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:07.899 Tell him that from now on, I don't want to have this kind of attitude. 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:12.539 I want to hear you because I want to obey you. 00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:13.460 I want to serve you. 00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:15.680 I know that's your way is the best way. 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.740 Do that if that's your problem. 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:20.559 There's one more thing that God teaches us in these verses. 00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:23.619 God teaches us that he is wise. 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:27.160 And in this section, he is wise in dealing with people. 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:38.500 God used the whole plant episode to show Jonah just how petty and ridiculous he had become. 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.720 I mean, it's absurd. 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:44.039 If it was in a movie, everybody would laugh at Jonah. 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:47.039 But this is not a joke. 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:49.579 Think about it. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:59.420 Jonah got excited and happy about a plant miraculously coming up to give him shade. 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:06.980 But he became angry and miserable when God saved 120,000 men, women, and children. 00:25:09.300 --> 00:25:13.039 What kind of things make you miserable? 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:17.720 What kind of things do you get angry about? 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:21.800 Maybe make other people's lives miserable. 00:25:23.800 --> 00:25:24.640 Think about this. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:27.240 Are they things that really matter? 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:36.080 Are they things that truly make a difference in your life or somebody else's life? 00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:43.420 Or are they trivial things that a week from now or a month from now, you're not even going to remember? 00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:55.039 I used to get so mad at my son Michael for keeping a pigsty room when he was a teenager. 00:25:57.100 --> 00:26:04.820 His clothes, his books, any papers, his sports equipment was all piled up in the floor. 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:08.820 And I'd get so mad and jump on him. 00:26:09.300 --> 00:26:10.820 Animals don't live this way. 00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:12.539 Nobody does this. 00:26:12.639 --> 00:26:13.619 Pick this stuff up. 00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:15.019 Your mother's washed this. 00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:15.679 It's been iron. 00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:16.779 You got it laid in the floor. 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:19.639 It went on for quite a while. 00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:22.700 But one day, Lisa came up with a solution. 00:26:24.159 --> 00:26:25.220 Close his door. 00:26:26.399 --> 00:26:27.399 I'm serious. 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.460 Let it go. 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:35.139 If he's happy, we'll be happy. 00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:38.779 And we did that. 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:44.940 And just to give him a little bit of credit, when he got out on his own, he didn't do that. 00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:52.139 It was not a hill worth spilling blood on. 00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:54.819 Lisa helped me to see that. 00:26:56.039 --> 00:27:01.240 I think situations like that and just life and the grace of God have helped me to understand. 00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:03.299 And this is hard for me to say. 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:06.259 Everything doesn't matter. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:09.960 Most of my life, everything mattered. 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:14.019 And everything mattered to be done the way I thought it ought to be done. 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:21.640 And I have spilt no telling how much blood on anthills. 00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:25.879 Things that really and truly didn't matter. 00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:41.000 And I'm going to guess, if you'll be honest, you get ticked on a regular basis about things that absolutely are just as or more petty and ridiculous than what Jonah did. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:45.000 We make mountains out of anthills. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:51.019 We make mountains out of anthills in our minds a lot of times when things don't go our way. 00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:53.000 When we don't get our way. 00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:55.019 When we can't be in control. 00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:59.240 It's part of our fallen sinful nature. 00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:03.700 We need to learn to recognize it. 00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:07.579 We need to learn to deal with it. 00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:10.799 And we need to ask God to give us wisdom. 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:13.759 To know how to better respond. 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:16.779 How to pick and choose our battles. 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:20.420 And to know what really is important. 00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:23.000 One final question in this passage. 00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:23.859 Now verse 11. 00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:29.059 Some of God's questions are designed to teach us something about other people. 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.759 And the Lord said, 00:28:30.919 --> 00:28:33.399 You pity the plant for which you do not labor. 00:28:33.879 --> 00:28:37.659 Nor did you make it grow which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 00:28:37.919 --> 00:28:38.799 And here's the question. 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:42.819 And should I not pity Nineveh. 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:47.419 That great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons. 00:28:47.959 --> 00:28:50.179 Who do not know their right hand from their left. 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:52.119 And also much cattle. 00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:56.219 God was trying to help Jonah get a better perspective. 00:28:56.519 --> 00:29:04.179 God was trying to get Jonah to adopt his perspective on what was going on around him. 00:29:04.939 --> 00:29:06.259 God was saying in effect, 00:29:06.459 --> 00:29:14.299 Jonah, you've allowed your anger and your prejudice to blind you to reality. 00:29:14.459 --> 00:29:15.539 To what's really important. 00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:17.619 You're all torn up. 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:19.359 And this shows you something about it. 00:29:19.479 --> 00:29:20.439 You're all torn up. 00:29:20.439 --> 00:29:21.359 It's like God was saying. 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.599 God was saying. 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:24.919 Over the death of a plant that gave you shade. 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:28.039 Insignificant nothing. 00:29:29.959 --> 00:29:31.759 But you have absolutely no compassion. 00:29:32.959 --> 00:29:35.619 For all these men and women and children. 00:29:36.619 --> 00:29:37.699 In Nineveh. 00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:40.659 Who were created in my image. 00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:46.919 God wanted Jonah to have compassion on these spiritually lost people. 00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:48.820 That's what the phrase means. 00:29:48.820 --> 00:29:50.940 Who do not know their right hand from their left. 00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:54.640 They didn't have the advantage that Jonah and the people of Israel did. 00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:56.019 They didn't have God's word. 00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:00.240 They hadn't been taught all their lives about God and the things of God. 00:30:00.800 --> 00:30:03.080 Now they were responsible for their evil actions. 00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:06.440 Paul tells us in Romans chapter 1 and Romans chapter 2. 00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:13.740 That God reveals enough of himself and his will to us that we innately know some of it. 00:30:14.820 --> 00:30:16.720 And when we violate our conscience. 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:23.400 We violate this innate God-given ability to discern general right from wrong. 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:25.460 We are actually sinning against God. 00:30:25.880 --> 00:30:27.100 And Paul says in Romans 1. 00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:28.279 God holds us accountable. 00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:31.420 We are without excuse. 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:34.500 Romans 1.19 tells us. 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:37.960 Jonah. 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:41.059 He didn't have any compassion for these people. 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:46.160 He didn't care about these people. 00:30:47.660 --> 00:30:50.639 Even after they repented of their sins and trusted God. 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:54.720 I want to go back to the time when Jonah was happy. 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.740 The only time he was happy. 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:59.980 When the plant provided him shade and made him comfortable. 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.720 Here's what I want us to think. 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:05.779 What makes me happy? 00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:11.339 What does it take for you to be happy? 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:14.380 Can you only be happy when you're comfortable? 00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:15.960 Satisfied? 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:18.380 Getting your way? 00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:23.559 Does it make you happy when you see someone else? 00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:25.660 Comfortable. 00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.859 Satisfied. 00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:30.920 Getting their way. 00:31:30.920 --> 00:31:42.799 Are you ever happy to sacrifice for someone in your life to have their needs met? 00:31:43.380 --> 00:31:45.220 So that they can be comfortable. 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:47.759 So that they can know joy. 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:52.660 The answer to the question, what makes you happy? 00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:55.640 Says a lot about our character. 00:31:57.859 --> 00:31:59.180 Our maturity. 00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:02.039 And our spiritual condition. 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:06.920 The fact that Jonah was only happy when things were going his way confirms 00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:13.360 just how far he had fallen from a right relationship with God. 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:15.980 Let's be honest. 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:19.920 If you have to have everything your way to be happy, 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:27.120 then you have fallen far from God and a right relationship with him as well. 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:31.579 Well, did you notice that Jonah did not answer God's last question? 00:32:31.919 --> 00:32:34.479 In fact, the book ends with this question. 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:37.619 So what did Jonah do? 00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:40.399 How did he respond? 00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:43.420 Why does this book end this way? 00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.519 Is this a flaw? 00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:46.040 Well, no, it's by design. 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:50.600 This is actually a good ending. 00:32:52.040 --> 00:32:57.200 The book of Jonah ends this way so that we can provide our own conclusion. 00:32:57.200 --> 00:33:01.880 Because in many ways, we are like Jonah. 00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:09.680 And so we've got to decide how this book will end. 00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:12.400 Do you care about people? 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:15.779 Do you care about people's relationship with God? 00:33:17.100 --> 00:33:20.059 Do you care about the people in your life who are not Christians? 00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:21.400 Well, how do you show it? 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:25.759 Do you really and truly pray for them? 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:29.640 That God will work in their lives to save them? 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:34.080 Have you ever just simply invited them to church? 00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:37.140 Have you ever told them or asked them, 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:39.299 why don't you come to church with me? 00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:42.860 Have you ever shared the gospel with any of these people? 00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:47.220 Are you willing to share the gospel with these people? 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:52.240 You know, the sad thing is we conclude this. 00:33:52.340 --> 00:33:55.120 Jonah was more concerned about plants than people. 00:33:57.200 --> 00:34:01.620 Are you more concerned about things than people? 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:05.240 Well, just look at your life. 00:34:06.080 --> 00:34:07.400 What do you think about the most? 00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.639 Someone or something? 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:15.099 What do you spend most of your time on or with? 00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:18.159 How do you spend your money? 00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:26.539 Is your money going mostly to satisfy you and your accumulation of things 00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:33.400 or to meet the needs of people that you're supposed to love and care about? 00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:38.960 What makes you truly happy? 00:34:40.780 --> 00:34:42.619 Well, God calls us as His children 00:34:42.619 --> 00:34:50.639 to wholeheartedly care more about people than things. 00:34:51.639 --> 00:34:56.400 And He calls us to care especially about people's spiritual lives. 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:59.980 How does the book of Jonah end? 00:35:01.200 --> 00:35:02.519 You complete it. 00:35:03.740 --> 00:35:06.119 Your attitude and actions about people 00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:12.220 and what you are doing to lead them to a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ, 00:35:12.740 --> 00:35:16.519 that is the end of the book of Jonah for you. 00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:18.259 Let's pray together. 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:21.079 Dear God, 00:35:22.460 --> 00:35:25.739 help us to not leave here today 00:35:25.739 --> 00:35:31.719 having written with our lives 00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:36.699 a sad or angry 00:35:36.699 --> 00:35:42.940 or just wrong with you 00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:44.880 ending to this book. 00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:47.119 But help us, Father, 00:35:47.860 --> 00:35:51.059 like Jonah, 00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:52.579 we are so much. 00:35:53.240 --> 00:35:54.099 Help us, Father, 00:35:55.519 --> 00:35:57.140 to resolve that we will 00:35:57.140 --> 00:36:00.140 love people 00:36:00.140 --> 00:36:02.039 more than things 00:36:02.039 --> 00:36:04.840 and that we will take an interest 00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:07.160 in the spiritual condition 00:36:07.160 --> 00:36:08.640 of people around us 00:36:08.640 --> 00:36:11.760 and look to you 00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:12.940 to use us 00:36:12.940 --> 00:36:14.780 to truly 00:36:14.780 --> 00:36:17.159 impact their lives 00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:20.480 with the gospel, 00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:23.039 with our own witness 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:24.139 and example. 00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:27.559 Help us, Father, 00:36:28.280 --> 00:36:30.099 to write the ending to this book 00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:32.320 as people who are 00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:35.579 happy about the things 00:36:35.579 --> 00:36:36.139 you're happy 00:36:36.139 --> 00:36:39.799 and reaching out to people 00:36:39.799 --> 00:36:40.920 because we care 00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:42.579 like you do. 00:36:43.839 --> 00:36:45.199 And in an attitude of prayer, 00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:46.739 you just do what God's telling you to do. 00:36:47.579 --> 00:36:48.859 Respond to Him in obedience. 00:36:49.359 --> 00:36:50.219 That's the goal 00:36:50.219 --> 00:36:51.239 of this whole message, 00:36:51.319 --> 00:36:51.879 every message. 00:36:53.099 --> 00:36:54.159 I'd be happy to pray with you 00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:54.779 during this time 00:36:54.779 --> 00:36:56.299 right here at the front 00:36:56.299 --> 00:36:57.599 during the next few minutes. 00:36:58.219 --> 00:37:01.639 which was 00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:03.519 we are going to Aqua 00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:05.579 to Pourquoi the effect 00:37:05.579 --> 00:37:06.000 of the motive 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.799 and teachings 00:37:06.799 --> 00:37:07.980 for us 00:37:07.980 --> 00:37:08.779 to be one of companies 00:37:08.779 --> 00:37:09.599 where we are 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:10.699 ident이� ? 00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.279 We want your voices 00:37:11.279 --> 00:37:12.679 to the people 00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:13.659 of this community 00:37:13.659 --> 00:37:13.980 I'll reveal 00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:14.460 how do people 00:37:14.460 --> 00:37:15.279 with this 00:37:15.279 --> 00:37:15.980 and FRED 00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:16.779 how are we 00:37:16.779 --> 00:37:17.659 or to hug 00:37:17.659 --> 00:37:18.159 what Memphis 00:37:18.159 --> 00:37:18.659 and suddenly 00:37:18.659 --> 00:37:25.380 he緊