WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.980 Well, we are jumping into a brand new series today. 00:00:04.219 --> 00:00:06.379 I will give you one guess what it's on. 00:00:07.560 --> 00:00:09.380 Y'all are smart people, man. 00:00:09.540 --> 00:00:10.500 It is on Jonah. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:12.480 So if you would take the word of God with me 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:16.879 and turn to the book of Jonah in the Old Testament. 00:00:19.980 --> 00:00:22.179 And we will begin in chapter one. 00:00:22.280 --> 00:00:24.660 This is a four-part series. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:27.519 If you need help finding it, 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:30.079 Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah. 00:00:34.619 --> 00:00:35.960 Jonah chapter one. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:40.640 And before we get started reading in the text, 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:42.500 I'd like to give you a little bit of a background 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:44.480 on what is going on. 00:00:44.579 --> 00:00:49.480 So the Assyrian army is one of the greatest military forces 00:00:49.480 --> 00:00:51.980 the world has ever seen in the history of the world. 00:00:52.760 --> 00:00:57.039 They were very fierce, ferocious, 00:00:57.520 --> 00:00:59.880 kind of took no prisoners type of army. 00:01:00.400 --> 00:01:03.359 They were feared greatly by all their enemies 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:05.060 or prospective enemies. 00:01:05.500 --> 00:01:07.240 When the Assyrians came in, 00:01:07.700 --> 00:01:10.020 you knew that you were probably going to lose 00:01:10.020 --> 00:01:13.579 or at least have a very bloody long fight on your hands. 00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:16.000 Nineveh was their capital city. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:21.159 And it was a great city in the ways of the world. 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:22.920 It was very populated. 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:24.340 It was very advanced. 00:01:24.700 --> 00:01:25.700 It was beautiful. 00:01:26.379 --> 00:01:31.420 And it was the kind of city that could just never be conquered by an enemy. 00:01:31.900 --> 00:01:33.579 So that was their reputation. 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:38.719 And one of their great opponents was the nation of Israel 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:40.620 or the tribe of Judah, the nation of Judah. 00:01:40.620 --> 00:01:46.740 And so back in this day, in the context of Jonah, 00:01:47.740 --> 00:01:52.660 the Assyrians or the Ninevites, which was their capital city, 00:01:53.260 --> 00:01:58.100 those people were at odds with the people of Israel, God's people. 00:01:58.300 --> 00:02:01.520 So that's the context in which we find this. 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:04.380 Jonah is a prophet. 00:02:04.379 --> 00:02:09.620 You know what I don't have on me right now is my little clicker. 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:11.539 So I'm really sorry. 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:12.719 Would you mind? 00:02:13.379 --> 00:02:15.699 I might have left it back in my office. 00:02:16.379 --> 00:02:20.439 But until then, would you mind just clicking through these slides with me? 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:22.939 And I'll try to tell you when to advance them. 00:02:23.460 --> 00:02:27.060 So Jonah, as we open up, Jonah chapter 1 and verse 1. 00:02:27.939 --> 00:02:31.620 This is not the first time we've heard of the prophet Jonah. 00:02:31.620 --> 00:02:37.620 There was another time back in 2 Kings when it's talking about King Jeroboam, 00:02:38.480 --> 00:02:43.620 an evil king, the son of King Joash, who was actually a great king who feared God. 00:02:44.020 --> 00:02:48.080 But his son, Jeroboam, did not continue in that faith. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:52.620 And he did, the Bible says, what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 00:02:52.620 --> 00:03:02.259 And so King Jeroboam, in this previous instance in which we find Jonah mentioned in the Old Testament, 00:03:02.939 --> 00:03:05.219 King Jeroboam is getting ready to go to war. 00:03:05.620 --> 00:03:11.960 And he calls in two prophets of God to try to tell him how this war is going to go. 00:03:12.659 --> 00:03:14.620 And the first prophet was Jonah. 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:18.360 And Jonah tells him, don't worry, king, you've got this. 00:03:18.740 --> 00:03:20.780 You're going to see a mighty victory today. 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:24.560 And then the other king was Amos. 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:28.439 And if you happen to know your Bible a little bit, 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:33.379 you'll know that there is an entire book of the Bible dedicated to the words of Amos. 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:36.460 A great prophet in God's eyes. 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:40.460 And unfortunately, Amos tells him, Matt, you're a hero. 00:03:43.460 --> 00:03:45.120 That's not what Amos told him. 00:03:46.460 --> 00:03:47.840 That was a little side note. 00:03:48.020 --> 00:03:48.599 Thank you, Matt. 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:50.599 All right, we're good now. 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:58.379 Amos gave the exact opposite prophecy from Jonah. 00:03:59.060 --> 00:04:04.000 And he said, king, not only are you going to lose, but you're going to die today. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:07.500 And his prophecy came true. 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:12.919 So we already have an instance of Jonah being unreliable. 00:04:13.060 --> 00:04:22.100 You could maybe even call him a false prophet, willing to say what is necessary to please his listeners, his hearers. 00:04:22.100 --> 00:04:30.300 So Jonah, we don't have a good context for when we start reading in Jonah 1. 00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:35.920 So if you're there, Jonah chapter 1, if you're able to, would you mind joining me in standing? 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:39.180 And let's read these first three verses together. 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:40.560 And then we'll go on. 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:42.600 Jonah chapter 1 in verse 3. 00:04:42.699 --> 00:04:44.520 I'm reading from the New Living Translation. 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:48.519 The Lord gave this message to Jonah, son of Amittai. 00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:52.159 Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. 00:04:52.680 --> 00:04:57.959 Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are. 00:04:57.959 --> 00:05:05.239 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. 00:05:05.779 --> 00:05:10.899 He went down to the port of Joppa where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. 00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:17.079 He bought a ticket and went on board hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. 00:05:19.459 --> 00:05:20.359 Let's pray together. 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:22.659 God, I pray that we would learn a lesson from Jonah. 00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:30.180 Over these next few weeks, God, help us to see the Jonah in us and help us to be pointed to how great you are, 00:05:30.760 --> 00:05:33.380 how in control you are, and how compassionate you are. 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:34.900 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:35.480 Amen. 00:05:35.660 --> 00:05:36.360 You may be seated. 00:05:37.900 --> 00:05:44.180 Verse 1 of Jonah starts us off like 60 miles an hour, 00:05:44.300 --> 00:05:47.640 and we're about to get up to about 100 miles an hour in this story of Jonah. 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:49.599 So he starts us off saying, 00:05:50.379 --> 00:05:54.120 Jonah, I'm about to ask you to do a scary, difficult thing. 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:58.379 Go to perhaps the most feared city of that world 00:05:58.379 --> 00:06:02.719 and tell them that they have sinned against God, 00:06:03.099 --> 00:06:05.620 and God is going to judge them. 00:06:07.399 --> 00:06:08.800 And what happens? 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:11.300 What happened? 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:14.019 He didn't do it. 00:06:14.599 --> 00:06:15.699 He did the opposite. 00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:18.300 Jonah says, 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:21.579 Okay, here's what I'm going to do. 00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:23.740 God wants me to go this way. 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:28.300 I'm going to run in this direction as far and as fast as I can. 00:06:28.699 --> 00:06:29.480 So what does it say? 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:30.279 Verse 3, 00:06:30.860 --> 00:06:36.899 Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. 00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:39.000 First of all, 00:06:39.459 --> 00:06:43.199 do you think his understanding of God was a little flawed? 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:45.680 We understand, 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:49.000 with the benefit of the whole Bible 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:54.659 and centuries of Christian teaching passed down from generation to generation, 00:06:54.659 --> 00:06:58.339 but really we just understand from God himself 00:06:58.339 --> 00:07:01.360 that God is omnipresent. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:03.680 It means he's everywhere. 00:07:04.459 --> 00:07:07.800 You can't get away from the face of the earth. 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:09.520 Back in the Old Testament it said, 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:11.280 How can I run from your presence? 00:07:11.579 --> 00:07:13.340 How can I escape from your presence? 00:07:13.939 --> 00:07:15.280 If I go over here, you're there. 00:07:15.340 --> 00:07:16.960 If I go over there, you're there. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:18.840 If I go behind closed doors, you're there. 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:20.360 You're with me everywhere I go. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:23.180 Jonah apparently hadn't wrapped his head around that. 00:07:24.019 --> 00:07:24.540 He said, 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:26.439 I'm going to get away from God 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:30.600 by going in the opposite direction of where God wants me to be. 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:33.040 Like God's over there waiting for me to get there, 00:07:33.200 --> 00:07:35.740 but I'm going to pull a little number on him 00:07:35.740 --> 00:07:37.620 and I'm going to go the other way 00:07:37.620 --> 00:07:39.640 and he's going to wonder where I am. 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:42.820 So in verse 3, 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.020 he went down to the port of Joppa. 00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:46.640 Now, 00:07:47.080 --> 00:07:49.200 let's look at this. 00:07:49.939 --> 00:07:53.640 Nineveh is about where modern day Iraq is. 00:07:53.639 --> 00:07:56.979 So he goes down to the nearest seaport, 00:07:57.180 --> 00:07:57.899 which is Joppa. 00:07:58.659 --> 00:08:01.300 And then that's a 550 mile trip. 00:08:02.259 --> 00:08:05.379 Then he's going to go all the way across 00:08:05.379 --> 00:08:10.199 to about where modern day Spain is now, 00:08:10.939 --> 00:08:11.379 Tarshish. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:14.300 So these were kind of the opposite ends 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:16.719 of their known world at the time. 00:08:17.579 --> 00:08:19.879 You want me to be in Nineveh, 00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:21.980 but I'm going to go as far as I can 00:08:21.980 --> 00:08:24.339 to get to Tarshish. 00:08:25.699 --> 00:08:26.860 So overall, 00:08:28.459 --> 00:08:29.360 this is a, 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:32.059 somebody do the math for me here. 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:34.779 3,000, 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:37.340 3,050 mile journey. 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:37.879 Thank you. 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:39.500 I was an English teacher, 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:40.240 not a math teacher. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:40.600 Okay. 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:42.500 It's not my strong suit. 00:08:43.820 --> 00:08:44.259 Well, 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:46.960 I happened to actually look that up ahead of time 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:47.519 and I said, 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:50.079 what's about that far away from Henrietta, Texas? 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:51.539 And it's about Juneau, Alaska. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:53.659 So if y'all decided, 00:08:54.220 --> 00:08:55.679 God wants me in Henrietta. 00:08:55.819 --> 00:08:56.120 Instead, 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:57.419 I'm going to jump in my car 00:08:57.419 --> 00:08:58.919 and I'm going to drive all the way 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:00.360 to Juneau, Alaska. 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:00.980 Well, 00:09:01.019 --> 00:09:02.139 you'd be pretty far, 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:02.720 wouldn't you? 00:09:04.019 --> 00:09:05.899 But you think you'd outrun God? 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.299 Think you'd be able to get away from God? 00:09:08.379 --> 00:09:10.139 Think God be waiting for you in Juneau? 00:09:10.779 --> 00:09:11.539 Sure he would. 00:09:12.019 --> 00:09:13.860 Think God is everywhere. 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:17.000 So here's a question for us. 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:18.179 Why do we run? 00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:20.740 Why do we run? 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:23.379 We do it all the time. 00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:24.580 Maybe not as physically 00:09:24.580 --> 00:09:25.740 or as drastically 00:09:25.740 --> 00:09:27.480 as what Jonah did. 00:09:27.620 --> 00:09:29.639 Although maybe there have been times 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:30.279 in your life 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:31.519 and maybe you're in one now 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:34.320 where you are actively living 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:36.100 in an opposite way 00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:37.960 of how you know God wants you to live. 00:09:38.700 --> 00:09:41.559 Maybe you know God wants you somewhere 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:43.720 or wants you to be doing something 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:46.100 and instead of following God, 00:09:46.180 --> 00:09:48.639 you're going in the exact opposite direction 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:50.720 because you don't trust 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:53.680 that God is good, 00:09:54.220 --> 00:09:55.360 God is right, 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:58.060 and God knows what's best. 00:09:58.740 --> 00:10:00.100 You don't trust that. 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:02.740 It's hard for us to trust that. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:06.379 It's easy for us to say that. 00:10:06.560 --> 00:10:08.420 It's easy for us to sing that. 00:10:08.420 --> 00:10:10.820 But it's much, much harder 00:10:10.820 --> 00:10:13.620 for you and for me to live that. 00:10:15.060 --> 00:10:16.519 Do our actions, 00:10:17.040 --> 00:10:18.040 do our thoughts, 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:19.519 do our choices, 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:23.079 does the trajectory of our life 00:10:23.079 --> 00:10:25.819 back up that we believe 00:10:25.819 --> 00:10:27.059 that God is good, 00:10:27.259 --> 00:10:28.259 he is right, 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:29.840 and he knows what's best? 00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:33.480 Or are we a little bit more like Jonah 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:35.019 than we would care to admit? 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:36.960 Have we said, 00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:38.179 I don't think so. 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:41.419 I don't like those people 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:42.799 in Jonah's case. 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:47.000 Why in the world would I go 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:49.259 and warn them of God's coming judgment 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:51.639 why doesn't he just smite them down 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:52.519 and destroy them? 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:55.000 Why doesn't he just wipe them out? 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:57.860 They don't deserve to be forewarned. 00:10:57.860 --> 00:11:00.139 They don't deserve a chance to repent. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:03.279 That was Jonah's hang up. 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:04.840 That was his problem. 00:11:05.319 --> 00:11:08.059 That was his lack of faith in God, 00:11:08.379 --> 00:11:09.159 God's goodness, 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:10.460 God's justice, 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:13.419 and God knowing what was best. 00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:15.720 So, why do we run? 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:17.500 You ever seen the movies 00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:21.659 where they're usually movies about police 00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:24.980 or maybe a prison guard or something, 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:26.059 and all of a sudden, 00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:29.899 you see the guy who's trying to get away 00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:31.120 sneak out, 00:11:31.320 --> 00:11:33.120 or you see a cop come up 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:35.179 and approach somebody on the street. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:38.259 Sir, I need you to put your hands behind your back, 00:11:38.299 --> 00:11:38.940 and what do they do? 00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:41.200 They run. 00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:42.259 They take off running. 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:45.059 And what does the policeman or the security guard 00:11:45.059 --> 00:11:46.600 or whatever inevitably say? 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:55.200 We got a runner. 00:11:56.340 --> 00:11:57.480 We got a runner! 00:11:58.500 --> 00:12:01.019 Inevitably, there's a microphone 00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:03.200 or they've got a walkie-talkie or something, 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.179 and they say, 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:04.899 we got a runner, 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:06.279 and then the chase is on. 00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:08.100 And for the next five minutes or so, 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:08.899 there's a chase, 00:12:08.899 --> 00:12:10.840 and you know that at some point, 00:12:11.019 --> 00:12:12.519 the guy is going to get caught, 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:15.500 and justice will prevail. 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:19.639 That picture really has nothing to do 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:20.679 with anything else in the sermon. 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:21.620 It was just too good, 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:22.639 and I had to put it in there. 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:23.079 So, 00:12:23.319 --> 00:12:26.379 some high-speed, 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:28.000 high-stakes car chase 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:29.319 like you see in the picture there. 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:32.240 I really want to know the story. 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:33.460 Is that photoshopped, 00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:35.460 or did that really happen right there? 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:36.860 Amazing. 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:39.600 Can we just run out and grab the kid and stuff? 00:12:41.300 --> 00:12:42.340 Anyway, that was fun. 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:43.320 Why do we run? 00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:46.480 Well, we run because of our lack of faith. 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:48.519 Maybe we run in those movies 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:51.620 because their lack of faith in the justice system. 00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:52.500 If I get caught, 00:12:52.940 --> 00:12:54.840 I'm going to get in trouble for what I did. 00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:56.759 Or maybe if they're wrongfully accused, 00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:57.620 if I get caught, 00:12:57.899 --> 00:12:59.440 no one's going to be able to get me 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:03.220 off of the charges that I've been accused of. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:04.100 Whatever it is, 00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:05.040 and so they run 00:13:05.040 --> 00:13:07.000 because they have a lack of faith 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:08.460 in surrendering. 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:09.500 Well, you and I 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:11.279 also often run 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:12.980 because we have a lack of faith 00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:14.360 in surrendering to God. 00:13:14.540 --> 00:13:15.920 So, we actually have a little bit 00:13:15.920 --> 00:13:17.100 in common with Jonah there. 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:18.420 Say, 00:13:18.580 --> 00:13:20.540 we can easily look at Jonah 00:13:20.540 --> 00:13:20.899 and say, 00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:22.040 man, why didn't you just do 00:13:22.040 --> 00:13:23.200 what God told you to do? 00:13:23.420 --> 00:13:24.500 Because it was scary. 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:27.040 Because Nineveh's not a place 00:13:27.040 --> 00:13:27.800 you wanted to go, 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:28.879 especially if you're preaching 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:31.000 a counter-cultural message. 00:13:32.439 --> 00:13:33.620 Nineveh's not the place 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:35.299 as an Israelite 00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:37.360 to walk in and say, 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:39.659 you guys aren't following the right God. 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:41.299 You need to follow our God. 00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:42.620 And he says, 00:13:42.700 --> 00:13:43.259 you're wrong 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:44.820 and he's going to destroy you. 00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:45.399 Well, what do you think 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:46.220 is going to happen to him? 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:47.860 So, he's scared 00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:49.919 and he's got a legitimate concern. 00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:52.940 But instead of surrendering that to God 00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:53.440 and saying, 00:13:53.900 --> 00:13:54.960 I am your prophet. 00:13:55.800 --> 00:13:56.240 Literally, 00:13:56.520 --> 00:13:58.000 my mission and commission 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.360 is to go out 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:00.960 and preach your message 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:02.600 to those who will hear. 00:14:03.900 --> 00:14:05.960 So, instead of just surrendering to that, 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:07.000 he runs. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:09.620 Tim Keller, 00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:11.640 the late Tim Keller, 00:14:11.900 --> 00:14:12.980 died just last year, 00:14:13.020 --> 00:14:13.660 I believe it was. 00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:16.640 Great pastor up in New York City area 00:14:16.640 --> 00:14:19.400 and wrote a lot of very helpful books. 00:14:19.760 --> 00:14:20.820 This one came from 00:14:20.820 --> 00:14:22.160 the prodigal prophet on Jonah. 00:14:22.280 --> 00:14:22.580 He said, 00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:23.480 Jonah concluded 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:25.420 that because he could not see 00:14:25.420 --> 00:14:27.060 any good reasons 00:14:27.060 --> 00:14:28.300 for God's command, 00:14:28.660 --> 00:14:30.000 there couldn't be 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:31.139 any good reasons 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:32.420 for God's command. 00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:33.720 Jonah doubted 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.259 the goodness, 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:34.879 wisdom, 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.840 and justice of God. 00:14:37.160 --> 00:14:38.220 How many times 00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:39.000 have you and I 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:40.120 done the same? 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:42.860 Doubted God's goodness, 00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:43.960 wisdom, 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:45.379 and justice. 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:48.420 I think sometimes 00:14:48.420 --> 00:14:52.060 we find ourselves doing it 00:14:52.059 --> 00:14:55.559 almost without 00:14:55.559 --> 00:14:57.939 consciously making that choice. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.299 Just our subconscious 00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:03.879 surrenders to our flesh 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:05.279 instead of surrendering 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.239 to the Holy Spirit, 00:15:06.619 --> 00:15:08.039 and we doubt 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:08.879 that God is good, 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:10.579 we doubt that he is all-wise, 00:15:10.739 --> 00:15:11.699 and we doubt 00:15:11.699 --> 00:15:14.319 that he dictates 00:15:14.319 --> 00:15:15.779 what is just. 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:17.379 God's justice 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:20.439 trumps our justice. 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:23.439 So Jonah says, 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:24.959 I don't see any good reason 00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:25.539 for that, 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:27.240 so there must not be 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:28.279 a good reason for that. 00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:30.819 And I think we put ourselves 00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:31.600 in his shoes 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:33.220 far too many times. 00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:35.639 because I don't see 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:36.720 any good reason 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:39.639 to make this change 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.300 in the church, 00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:41.720 because I don't see 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.540 any good reason 00:15:42.540 --> 00:15:44.139 to step out 00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:44.759 and volunteer 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.800 in this new ministry, 00:15:46.040 --> 00:15:47.500 because I don't see 00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:48.100 any reason 00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:49.139 to go do this 00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:50.379 kind deed 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:51.340 for someone else 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:52.200 because, you know, 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:52.879 they probably won't 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.680 appreciate it, 00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:54.580 or it probably won't 00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:55.279 make the difference 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:55.759 that everybody 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:56.500 thinks it will, 00:15:56.899 --> 00:16:00.019 or maybe I'll be embarrassed, 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:03.379 maybe I'll look bad. 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:06.159 Whatever our reasoning is, 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.860 could be something 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:08.779 completely different 00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:09.579 that your flesh 00:16:09.579 --> 00:16:10.299 and your mind 00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:11.919 convinces you of 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:12.659 in your wisdom, 00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:15.980 but instead of saying, 00:16:16.319 --> 00:16:17.720 I don't see a good reason, 00:16:17.839 --> 00:16:19.199 so I'm not gonna do it, 00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:20.559 God is waiting on us 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:21.059 to say, 00:16:21.459 --> 00:16:22.740 God, I don't get it, 00:16:22.939 --> 00:16:23.899 but like Peter, 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:25.360 when Jesus said, 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:27.199 Peter, launch back out, 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:28.500 put your fishing boat 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.159 back out there 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:29.740 even though you were 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.379 out there all night 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.379 and you didn't catch anything, 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.179 and Peter says, 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:34.179 God, we already tried that, 00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.100 it didn't really work, 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:36.840 but at your word, 00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:40.699 I will let down the net. 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.500 That's the difference 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.959 in what happened with Jonah 00:16:44.959 --> 00:16:47.039 and what happened with Peter. 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:48.379 Neither one of them 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:49.539 loved the idea 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:51.579 that God told them to do, 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:52.779 but Jonah, 00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:54.139 instead of saying, 00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:55.019 I don't get it, 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:56.079 but I'll do it anyway, 00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.019 he ran. 00:16:58.319 --> 00:16:59.879 Peter said, 00:16:59.959 --> 00:17:00.899 I don't get it, 00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:02.659 but I'll do it anyway. 00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.399 He stayed 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:05.759 and he saw God's miracle 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:07.359 right away. 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.420 He didn't have to endure 00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:12.019 this great trial 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:13.579 before it happened, 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:16.039 so there's a difference there. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:17.319 Why do we run? 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.839 Our lack of faith. 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:19.799 Secondly, 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:21.539 why does God pursue us? 00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:24.779 Why does God pursue us? 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:26.179 Let's look back at the text, 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.159 Jonah chapter one 00:17:27.159 --> 00:17:28.199 and verse four. 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:30.439 But the Lord hurled 00:17:30.439 --> 00:17:32.220 a powerful wind 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:33.179 over the sea, 00:17:34.179 --> 00:17:36.099 causing a violent storm 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.539 that threatened 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:38.579 to break the ship apart. 00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:40.500 Fearing for their lives, 00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:41.720 the desperate sailors 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:43.259 shouted to their gods 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:43.740 for help 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:45.759 and threw the cargo overboard 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:46.939 to lighten the ship. 00:17:47.199 --> 00:17:47.519 You see, 00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:48.579 Jonah's mistake, 00:17:50.159 --> 00:17:51.480 his sin against God 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.899 is already costing other people. 00:17:53.659 --> 00:17:54.379 They had to throw 00:17:54.379 --> 00:17:55.859 their cargo, 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.179 the very reason 00:17:57.179 --> 00:17:58.119 for their journey 00:17:58.119 --> 00:17:58.779 on this ship, 00:17:58.939 --> 00:18:00.480 they had to throw it overboard. 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.759 But all this time, 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:05.279 Jonah was sound asleep 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:07.039 down in the hold of the ship. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:10.339 He's just content, 00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:13.779 relaxed in his running 00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:15.500 away from God. 00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:18.799 Sometimes we get this idea 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:22.859 that if we flee from God, 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:24.480 if we sin against God, 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:26.220 our lives are just going 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:28.000 to immediately be a wreck 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:29.359 and we're going to be 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:30.779 stressed out all the time 00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:32.039 and freaked out 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:34.099 and nothing's going to be right. 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:34.559 You know, 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:36.119 you can actually go a while. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:39.420 You can actually go a while 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.659 feeling just fine 00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:41.319 about yourself. 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.159 And maybe you have. 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.579 Maybe you've gone a while 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.839 running from God 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:48.859 and you're feeling just fine 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:50.680 about yourself. 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:52.259 Like Jonah, 00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.500 you're down there 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:55.119 just sleeping soundly 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:56.099 and peacefully 00:18:56.099 --> 00:18:57.220 and thinking, 00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.480 I got away 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.539 and everything is all right. 00:19:00.659 --> 00:19:01.559 Can I tell you, 00:19:02.139 --> 00:19:03.960 the storm is coming. 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:07.220 The storm is coming. 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.880 The Bible says, 00:19:10.100 --> 00:19:11.279 be sure your sin 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.380 will find you out 00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:14.160 and just like Jonah, 00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:16.000 his sin found him out 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.980 and it cost those around him 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:19.140 and your sin 00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:20.420 will find you out 00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.220 and it will cost 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.259 those around you. 00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:24.240 My sin will find me out 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.240 and it will cost 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:26.220 those around you. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.620 None of us are exempt. 00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:30.939 So Jonah, 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:31.739 sound asleep 00:19:31.739 --> 00:19:32.719 down in the hold. 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.279 Verse 6, 00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:35.799 so the captain goes down. 00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:37.279 The captain went down 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:37.759 after him. 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.919 How can you sleep 00:19:38.919 --> 00:19:40.139 at a time like this? 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:40.899 He shouted, 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:41.539 get up 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:42.979 and pray to your God. 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.839 Maybe he will pay attention 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:45.359 to us 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:47.199 and spare our lives. 00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:49.079 Then what happens? 00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:50.459 The crew cast lots. 00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:51.959 The crew cast lots 00:19:51.959 --> 00:19:52.879 to see which of them 00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:53.959 had offended the gods 00:19:53.959 --> 00:19:55.619 and caused the terrible storm. 00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.739 When they did this, 00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:58.299 the lots identified Jonah 00:19:58.299 --> 00:19:59.119 as the culprit. 00:19:59.419 --> 00:19:59.979 How many of you guys 00:19:59.979 --> 00:20:00.679 know what we're talking about 00:20:00.679 --> 00:20:01.059 when it says 00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:02.179 the crew cast lots? 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.299 Yeah, 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.019 I was probably about 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:05.599 where you are. 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:06.939 She got it. 00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:08.459 So, 00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:10.119 closest thing 00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:11.319 that we could find, 00:20:11.379 --> 00:20:11.859 there's a couple 00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:12.519 different here. 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:13.379 Have you seen 00:20:13.379 --> 00:20:14.899 this little matchstick thing? 00:20:15.919 --> 00:20:16.939 You don't have to use it 00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:17.579 with matchsticks, 00:20:17.719 --> 00:20:18.719 but you're holding them 00:20:18.719 --> 00:20:19.319 in your hand 00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:21.039 and the back of the sticks 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:22.419 is kind of behind your fingers 00:20:22.419 --> 00:20:23.139 where they can't see 00:20:23.139 --> 00:20:23.899 how long they are 00:20:23.899 --> 00:20:25.279 and you are holding 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.500 a group of sticks 00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.599 and it looks like 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.819 they're all the same length. 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.619 But in reality, 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.579 behind your hand, 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.899 one or more of them 00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:32.740 are shorter 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.779 than the others. 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.420 So, 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.119 have you ever heard 00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:36.859 the expression 00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:38.279 drawing the short straw? 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:39.680 So, 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.220 that's kind of 00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:41.039 where it came from. 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:42.099 It was this idea 00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:43.259 and a lot of it 00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:44.960 was wrapped up 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:46.039 in mysticism 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.700 and all this, 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.460 but it was the idea 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:48.460 that the gods 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.940 would cause 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:51.319 the person 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:52.139 that they want 00:20:52.139 --> 00:20:52.940 to draw 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:53.960 the short stick 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:54.920 or the short straw. 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:56.019 So, 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:57.120 when they're casting lots, 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.059 that's what they're doing. 00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:58.819 It's this game 00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:59.779 of chance 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:00.720 that they believed 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:02.059 was up to fate 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:03.019 or God 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.640 to determine. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.059 So, 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:06.079 they play this 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:07.740 and I absolutely 00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:09.039 love God's 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.700 sense of humor 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:11.220 in making sure 00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.000 that Jonah 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.360 was the one 00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.019 who drew 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:14.860 the short straw. 00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:16.240 It's also a lot 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:16.960 like a game 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.519 of dice 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.180 and this was kind 00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:19.039 of dice 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.640 that they would 00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.960 maybe use 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.980 back in those days. 00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:23.480 So, 00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:24.160 whoever would 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:24.680 draw 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.500 the unlucky 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.019 number 00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:27.980 would be 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.519 the one. 00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:29.599 So, 00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:30.200 they're playing 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:30.660 this 00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:32.039 in the middle 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.759 of a storm 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:34.400 trying to see 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:35.519 whose fault 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.400 this was. 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:37.779 Apparently, 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:38.720 this was unusual 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.759 for their journey. 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:41.360 Something about 00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:42.000 this storm 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.120 made them realize 00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:44.099 this is not just 00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:44.620 nature 00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:46.039 taking its course. 00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:47.559 This is a God's 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:47.980 judgment 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.700 upon 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:49.920 our journey 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:52.120 and our ship. 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:53.680 So, 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:57.240 let's get back 00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:57.600 to it. 00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:58.420 Jonah chapter 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:58.960 one in verse 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.180 eight. 00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:01.500 They see 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.100 that Jonah 00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:03.019 draws the 00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.840 short stick 00:22:03.840 --> 00:22:05.480 and they say 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.519 why has this 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:07.380 awful storm 00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:08.400 come down 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:08.900 on us? 00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:09.940 They demanded 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.440 an answer 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:10.840 from him. 00:22:11.080 --> 00:22:11.940 Who are you? 00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:13.140 What is your 00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:13.900 line of work? 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.680 What country 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.380 are you from? 00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:16.120 What's your 00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:16.880 nationality? 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:17.960 Tell us all 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:18.519 about you 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.420 because something 00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:20.740 is wrong here 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:21.240 and we gotta 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:21.940 fix this 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:22.620 or none of us 00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:23.180 are gonna live. 00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:24.559 Jonah answers, 00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:25.960 I'm a Hebrew. 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.880 I worship the Lord, 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.779 the God of heaven 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:30.000 who made the sea 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:30.900 and the land. 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.240 So, 00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:34.140 the sailors 00:22:34.140 --> 00:22:35.019 then are terrified. 00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.460 He'd already 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.120 told them 00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:39.960 that he's running 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.519 away 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.640 from the Lord 00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:42.460 and now 00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:43.220 he tells them, 00:22:43.340 --> 00:22:43.440 oh, 00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.180 by the way, 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.519 I'm a servant 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.200 of God. 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.400 I'm a prophet 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.240 of the God 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:48.860 that I'm running 00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.500 away from 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.400 and he is 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:51.120 the one true 00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.500 God, 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:52.460 not just the 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.440 God of the 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.180 wind or not 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.860 just the God 00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:56.580 of the stars 00:22:56.580 --> 00:22:57.740 or not just 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.600 one of the 00:22:58.600 --> 00:22:59.340 Greek gods 00:22:59.340 --> 00:22:59.640 that, 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.180 you know, 00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:00.519 would have 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.220 their area 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:01.620 that they 00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:02.080 controlled. 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:02.580 He says, 00:23:02.780 --> 00:23:03.840 I serve the 00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:04.920 God of everything 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:05.980 and I'm running 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.960 away from him 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:07.519 and I'm his 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:07.900 prophet. 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:09.420 So, 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:09.880 they're looking 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.400 at him like, 00:23:10.580 --> 00:23:11.140 what are you 00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:11.620 thinking? 00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.920 Have you lost 00:23:12.920 --> 00:23:13.640 your mind? 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:14.940 They say, 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.160 oh, 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:15.740 why did you 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.300 do it? 00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:17.539 They groaned 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:18.220 and since the 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:18.980 storm was 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.560 getting worse 00:23:19.560 --> 00:23:20.140 all the time, 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:20.740 they asked him, 00:23:21.100 --> 00:23:21.840 what should we 00:23:21.840 --> 00:23:22.440 do to you 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.039 to stop 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.700 this storm? 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:24.940 What does 00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.400 your God 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:26.500 want us 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.019 to do 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:28.039 to you? 00:23:28.860 --> 00:23:29.620 And Jonah, 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.120 the ultimate 00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:30.460 martyr, 00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:32.220 says, 00:23:32.320 --> 00:23:32.700 guys, 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:35.400 you can just 00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:35.740 throw me 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.180 in the sea. 00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:37.720 Throw me 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.320 in the sea, 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:38.920 it'll all 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:39.340 get better 00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:39.740 for you. 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:41.199 It'll become 00:23:41.199 --> 00:23:41.859 calm again. 00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:43.099 I know this 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:43.859 terrible storm 00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:44.480 is all my 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:44.799 fault. 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:46.919 I heard 00:23:46.919 --> 00:23:47.559 somebody say 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.419 this about 00:23:48.419 --> 00:23:50.740 Jonah's 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.500 request to 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:51.819 throw them 00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:52.240 in the sea. 00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.819 He said, 00:23:55.919 --> 00:23:56.519 suicide 00:23:56.519 --> 00:24:00.899 is never 00:24:00.899 --> 00:24:01.500 the answer. 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:03.879 Suicide 00:24:03.879 --> 00:24:04.399 is 00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:07.039 honestly 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:07.480 the most 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.159 selfish act. 00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:10.439 and maybe 00:24:10.439 --> 00:24:10.659 there have 00:24:10.659 --> 00:24:11.439 been families 00:24:11.439 --> 00:24:12.299 or lives 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:12.599 in this 00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:12.899 room who 00:24:12.899 --> 00:24:13.139 have been 00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:13.439 touched 00:24:13.439 --> 00:24:13.839 by that 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.199 tragedy. 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:15.959 There's 00:24:15.959 --> 00:24:16.859 usually 00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:18.279 mental health 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.879 issues and 00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:19.240 all kinds 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:19.559 of things 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:19.959 that lead 00:24:19.959 --> 00:24:20.339 up to 00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:20.579 that 00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:20.919 ultimate 00:24:20.919 --> 00:24:21.240 final 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:21.539 act. 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.039 But 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.359 Jonah 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:23.639 is 00:24:23.639 --> 00:24:24.179 literally 00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:25.779 giving up 00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.579 his life 00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:29.059 instead of 00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:29.879 repenting 00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:30.679 to God 00:24:30.679 --> 00:24:31.959 and saying, 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:32.579 God, 00:24:32.939 --> 00:24:33.699 save me 00:24:33.699 --> 00:24:34.379 from this. 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.779 I repent 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:37.059 of running 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:37.740 from you. 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:39.559 I surrender 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.279 myself to 00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:40.859 your will. 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.559 Do with 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.059 me as 00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:43.559 you will. 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.099 But God, 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.759 I repent, 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.480 I surrender. 00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:47.500 Instead of 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.319 doing that, 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.319 Jonah says, 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.279 end my 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:51.680 life. 00:24:52.620 --> 00:24:53.099 Throw me 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:53.559 into the 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:53.880 sea, 00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.220 and then for 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:55.539 sure I'll 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:55.859 never have 00:24:55.859 --> 00:24:56.160 to go to 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:56.460 Nineveh. 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.460 God, 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.460 I 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.460 don't 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.460 know. 00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.500 But the 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.240 sailors didn't 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:02.600 take the 00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:02.799 bait. 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.680 They said 00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:05.240 instead, 00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.220 they rode 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:07.000 even harder 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.980 to get to 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.400 the ship 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:08.720 to the 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:08.960 land. 00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:09.500 But the 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.120 stormy sea 00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:10.620 was too 00:25:10.620 --> 00:25:11.200 violent for 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:11.480 them and 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:11.880 they couldn't 00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:12.240 make it. 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.059 So finally 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.579 they say, 00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:13.900 okay. 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.200 But they 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:16.340 cry out to 00:25:16.340 --> 00:25:17.220 Jonah's 00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:17.559 God, 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.259 who he 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.900 was unwilling 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.360 to cry 00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:19.779 out to. 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:20.840 And they 00:25:20.840 --> 00:25:21.120 say, 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:21.539 oh, 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.140 Lord, 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.100 immediately 00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:24.420 recognizing him 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:25.380 as Lord 00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:26.160 and said, 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:26.460 oh, 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:26.860 Lord, 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:28.140 clearly you 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:28.880 have control 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.779 over everything. 00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:30.720 Even nature 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.360 responds to 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:31.840 your command. 00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:32.480 They said, 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:33.620 don't make us 00:25:33.620 --> 00:25:34.420 die for 00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:35.200 this man's 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:35.519 sin. 00:25:35.860 --> 00:25:36.500 Don't hold 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.279 us responsible 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:37.920 for his 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:38.300 death. 00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:39.519 Oh, 00:25:39.580 --> 00:25:39.800 Lord, 00:25:39.880 --> 00:25:40.380 you've sent 00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:40.860 this storm 00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:41.500 upon him 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:41.920 for your 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.480 own good 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:42.880 reasons. 00:25:43.080 --> 00:25:43.480 So they 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:43.900 pick him 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.400 up and 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:44.820 they threw 00:25:44.820 --> 00:25:45.140 him into 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:45.539 the raging 00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:45.940 sea. 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:46.460 And what 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:46.940 happens? 00:25:47.300 --> 00:25:48.019 The storm 00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:49.160 stops at 00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:49.680 once. 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.360 And the 00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:51.000 sailors were 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.880 awestruck 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.820 by the 00:25:52.820 --> 00:25:53.240 Lord's 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.940 great power. 00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.720 they offered 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.100 him a 00:25:55.100 --> 00:25:55.600 sacrifice 00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.700 and vowed 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.519 to serve 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:57.759 him. 00:25:58.080 --> 00:25:59.200 How crazy 00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.980 of a scene 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.519 is this? 00:26:01.340 --> 00:26:01.980 God's 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.460 preacher, 00:26:03.080 --> 00:26:03.640 God's 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.100 prophet 00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:05.740 is running 00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.360 away from 00:26:06.360 --> 00:26:06.600 him. 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:07.480 This great 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.340 storm comes 00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:09.120 down to 00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.740 grab his 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.400 attention and 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:10.840 draw him 00:26:10.840 --> 00:26:11.220 back to 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.519 God. 00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:12.299 And instead 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.039 he says, 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:13.900 forget it, 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:14.660 throw me 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:14.980 over. 00:26:15.320 --> 00:26:15.720 I'm just 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:15.960 going to 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.460 end my 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:16.860 life. 00:26:17.080 --> 00:26:17.539 It's all 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.019 over for 00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:18.600 me anyway. 00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.740 So they 00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:20.259 do it. 00:26:21.620 --> 00:26:22.500 He finally 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.059 talks them 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:23.700 into it and 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.120 they do 00:26:24.120 --> 00:26:24.420 it. 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.279 Begrudgingly, 00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:26.720 they don't 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.319 want to. 00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:28.600 They feel 00:26:28.600 --> 00:26:29.180 terrible. 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.180 They're saying, 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.039 don't let this 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:31.860 man's blood be 00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.279 on our 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:32.799 hands. 00:26:33.580 --> 00:26:34.100 Jonah doesn't 00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:34.539 care if the 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:34.920 blood's on 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.440 their hands. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.500 They're begging 00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.700 God, forgive 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:40.080 us for this. 00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:40.759 We don't know 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.340 what else to 00:26:41.340 --> 00:26:41.580 do. 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.480 This is your 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:42.860 prophet. 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.420 He's telling 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:44.080 us to throw 00:26:44.080 --> 00:26:44.440 him in. 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:45.980 Clearly your 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.720 judgment is on 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.019 him. 00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.980 We surrender 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:50.759 ourselves to 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.019 you. 00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:52.559 they did 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.579 what Jonah 00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:54.500 was unwilling 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:54.980 to do. 00:26:56.900 --> 00:26:57.759 And as 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.980 soon as 00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.359 he hits 00:26:59.359 --> 00:26:59.940 the waters, 00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:04.920 how surreal 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:05.680 was that 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.339 experience? 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.139 The storm 00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:08.619 stops. 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.440 Instantly, 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.180 the sea 00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:11.819 becomes 00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.700 calm. 00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:15.160 Not just 00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:16.359 a regular 00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:17.079 day on the 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.619 ocean with 00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:18.099 the waves, 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:18.819 it becomes 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.759 calm. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:22.200 can you 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.740 imagine 00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:26.480 how crazy 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:28.220 those sailors 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:30.220 what they 00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:31.200 just experienced? 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.700 So they 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.039 said, 00:27:34.359 --> 00:27:35.660 we offer 00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:36.000 you a 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.460 sacrifice. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.059 We vow 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:39.039 to serve 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:39.299 you. 00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:41.339 God just 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:41.799 got some 00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.759 servants in 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.259 that moment. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.460 Meanwhile, 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:46.000 Jonah, 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:49.099 with the 00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:49.880 calm sea 00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:50.599 above him, 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.720 he's now 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.559 falling down 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:53.940 through the 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.279 depths, 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.500 thinking 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.660 that's it. 00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:59.059 His life 00:27:59.059 --> 00:27:59.619 is over. 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:01.039 You wonder 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.579 what's going 00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:01.960 through his 00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:02.220 mind. 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.119 Is it 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:03.539 regret? 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:05.200 Is he 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.740 having second 00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.200 thoughts? 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.460 What did 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.119 I just do? 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.519 In my 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.079 pride, 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.299 in my 00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.019 selfishness, 00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.519 in my 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:13.859 ego, 00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:13.979 ego, 00:28:14.419 --> 00:28:15.859 what did 00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:16.240 I just 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.599 do? 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.000 My 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.500 life is 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.159 now over. 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.019 There's 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.519 no hope. 00:28:22.659 --> 00:28:23.279 I'm in 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:23.539 the middle 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:23.799 of the 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.079 ocean. 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:24.319 I'm 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:24.659 falling 00:28:24.659 --> 00:28:25.019 down 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.240 under 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.419 the 00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:25.719 water. 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:29.819 I'm 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.039 without 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.359 hope. 00:28:32.919 --> 00:28:33.579 And the 00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:34.139 story could 00:28:34.139 --> 00:28:34.399 have ended 00:28:34.399 --> 00:28:34.659 there. 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.019 And Jonah 00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:37.299 would have 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:37.539 been a 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.039 cautionary 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.579 tale for 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.079 you and 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:39.539 for me 00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.459 to always 00:28:40.459 --> 00:28:41.000 do what 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:41.619 God commands 00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:42.159 us to do. 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:43.019 don't run 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.560 from him. 00:28:45.060 --> 00:28:45.880 Don't be 00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:46.500 like Jonah. 00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:49.400 But to 00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:49.860 answer the 00:28:49.860 --> 00:28:50.320 question we 00:28:50.320 --> 00:28:50.800 asked earlier, 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.360 why does 00:28:51.360 --> 00:28:52.000 God pursue 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.400 us? 00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:54.380 To draw 00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:55.180 us to 00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:55.680 himself. 00:28:56.820 --> 00:28:57.680 God was 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.340 not done 00:28:58.340 --> 00:28:59.820 drawing Jonah 00:28:59.820 --> 00:29:00.740 to himself. 00:29:02.060 --> 00:29:02.940 So let's 00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:03.500 look back 00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.660 at the 00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:05.279 last verse. 00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:07.180 The Lord 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:08.000 had arranged 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.800 for a 00:29:08.800 --> 00:29:09.440 great fish 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:10.620 to swallow 00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:10.980 Jonah. 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.099 Jonah. 00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:12.099 And Jonah 00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:12.759 was inside 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.319 that fish 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:13.819 for three 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.819 days and 00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.440 three nights. 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.420 Was it a 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:16.640 whale? 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.440 Who knows? 00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:18.599 Nobody 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:18.960 knows. 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:22.099 There was 00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:22.740 a preacher 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.319 who said, 00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:24.480 I believe 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:24.980 whatever the 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.519 Bible tells 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:25.819 me, 00:29:26.220 --> 00:29:28.460 if the 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:28.880 Bible had 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:29.200 told me 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.640 that Jonah 00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.279 swallowed a 00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.500 whale, 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:30.880 I would 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:31.460 believe that. 00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:32.940 Whatever 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:33.640 God has 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:34.360 complete control 00:29:34.360 --> 00:29:34.799 over his 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.259 creation, 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:35.960 if he 00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:36.579 wanted to 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.440 bloat up 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:38.059 a goldfish 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.519 so big 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:38.779 that it 00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.180 could swallow 00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:39.519 Jonah, 00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:40.259 God could 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.519 certainly 00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:40.879 arrange 00:29:40.879 --> 00:29:41.160 that. 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.879 But whatever 00:29:42.879 --> 00:29:43.500 it was, 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:43.960 call it a 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.339 whale or 00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:44.660 a great 00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:45.079 fish, 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:45.859 Jonah was 00:29:45.859 --> 00:29:46.180 in there 00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:46.599 for three 00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:47.099 days and 00:29:47.099 --> 00:29:47.660 three nights. 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:50.640 How crazy 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:51.240 is this 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:51.599 story? 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.379 It just 00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:53.000 keeps getting 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.819 crazier and 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:56.180 crazier as 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.900 we unfold 00:29:56.900 --> 00:29:57.920 new chapters 00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:58.500 of this 00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:58.819 tale. 00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.799 Now, 00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:02.240 Jonah is 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:03.079 falling through 00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:04.359 the sea to 00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:05.460 his death, 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.140 and God 00:30:06.140 --> 00:30:06.920 sends the 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.160 whale. 00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:08.440 Jonah 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:08.660 was 00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.060 a 00:30:09.060 --> 00:30:09.300 whale. 00:30:09.300 --> 00:30:10.840 The creator 00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:13.560 of VeggieTales, Phil Vischer, had this really interesting quote to say about this story. 00:30:14.120 --> 00:30:20.759 It's pretty clear in the Bible story that the whale swallowing Jonah wasn't meant as a punishment from God. 00:30:21.120 --> 00:30:23.279 It was God saving him from drowning. 00:30:24.080 --> 00:30:27.340 So it was actually provision to give him a second chance. 00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:31.459 The whale itself was the start of Jonah's second chance. 00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:37.220 Now, about day two, Jonah probably wasn't feeling like this was a great thing. 00:30:38.919 --> 00:30:46.839 Sitting in that whale's belly, all the stinking rotten fish everywhere, and wondering how in the world he's ever going to get out of that. 00:30:47.179 --> 00:30:54.279 He's thinking, man, I was going to drown to death, and then it would have been over, but now I have to starve to death and whatever inside this whale's belly. 00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:58.099 So I'm going to die this way. This is more of God's judgment on me. 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:04.079 But the whale was actually God's second chance. It was God's way of escape. 00:31:04.399 --> 00:31:10.359 And you know, sometimes in our life, God sends new trials in the midst of trials. 00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:17.059 Have you ever heard, ever felt like you're just being piled on? You ever heard, man, it just gets worse and worse? 00:31:20.119 --> 00:31:22.000 It goes from bad to worse. 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:28.640 Jonah might have felt like being swallowed by this great fish was going from bad to worse. 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:30.859 But it was actually God's rescue. 00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:35.240 And maybe whatever is happening in your life is God's rescue. 00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:43.339 Maybe he's going to use it as a way to give you a second chance to do what he told you to do all along. 00:31:43.339 --> 00:31:50.220 So, what is the point of this entire story of Jonah? 00:31:50.859 --> 00:31:55.299 We're going to get into it in chapter 2, chapter 3, and finally chapter 4. 00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.839 But it begins here. 00:31:57.899 --> 00:32:02.039 This story points us to the sovereignty of God. 00:32:03.199 --> 00:32:06.339 It's a big word, meaning God is in control. 00:32:06.339 --> 00:32:36.319 God is sovereign. 00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:37.879 His sovereignty, in his wisdom. 00:32:37.879 --> 00:32:40.379 We don't just believe that God is omnipresent. 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:41.019 He's everywhere. 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:44.379 We also believe that he is omniscient, all-knowing. 00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:49.059 And he is all-wise and always right, always just. 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:54.139 And in his master plan, he allows terrible things to happen. 00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:59.080 And sometimes it's to draw us to himself. 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:08.120 When we run, God pursues us to draw us back to him and to show us his sovereignty. 00:33:08.320 --> 00:33:13.440 So, our takeaway today is God's plan always wins. 00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:15.800 God's plan always wins. 00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:20.359 And that's going to be really the takeaway, the theme of the entire book of Jonah. 00:33:21.339 --> 00:33:25.879 As we race through this book along with Jonah, because this story does not slow down. 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:29.619 God's plan will always win. 00:33:29.879 --> 00:33:34.720 Despite you and me fighting against it sometimes, God's plan will always win. 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:40.420 Despite us not liking what he's always doing, his plan will always win. 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:42.600 In the end, he will win. 00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:46.960 From Genesis to Revelation, God's plan always wins. 00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:52.759 In Jonah's story and in your story and in my story, God's plan always wins. 00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:59.200 In your family, in your circle of life, in the things that you think you're in control of, 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:01.339 God's plan will win. 00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:07.440 In this church that sometimes you feel like is yours and you've got ownership of it, 00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:10.860 in reality, God's plan for this church will win. 00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.920 Don't fight against God. 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:17.900 Don't run from God like Jonah did. 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:22.240 God will pursue you to draw you back to himself. 00:34:22.720 --> 00:34:26.059 And in the end, his plan will win. 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:29.360 Let's surrender to his plan. 00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:30.420 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:33.900 God, I pray that you would help us surrender to you. 00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:35.599 Teach us. 00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:41.119 Don't let us go running from your face, running from your command any longer. 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:49.079 God, don't let us take down others with us and harm others in our process of running from you and resisting you. 00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:52.719 God, don't let us fall through the depths of the sea. 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:58.759 Spend days in the belly of the whale, so to speak, running from you. 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:03.719 Help us to turn and repent and surrender long before any of that happens. 00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:13.039 And God, if some of us are far from you, let this be a wake-up call from your prophet who ran, your prophet who resisted. 00:35:14.259 --> 00:35:18.379 And help that to grab our attention and turn it back to our Heavenly Father. 00:35:18.859 --> 00:35:21.239 We'll give you all the glory for it, knowing you're in control. 00:35:21.839 --> 00:35:23.500 And we'll trust that you always win. 00:35:23.539 --> 00:35:25.279 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:35:26.799 --> 00:35:29.019 Church, would you take a moment just to pray? 00:35:29.439 --> 00:35:31.059 Brother Greg's going to lead us in this song. 00:35:31.059 --> 00:35:32.840 If you'd like to join in singing, you can. 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:34.000 Change my heart, oh God. 00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:35.119 Make it ever true. 00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:36.299 That's what we need. 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:37.719 Jonah needed a change of heart. 00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:40.799 And you and I have the opportunity to do that every day with God. 00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:44.019 So would you take a few minutes and pray through what God has for you? 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.639 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:35:45.659 --> 00:35:47.079 And I want to ask just a couple of questions. 00:35:47.219 --> 00:35:48.579 We haven't done this in a couple of weeks. 00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:52.219 One, if there's somebody here who doesn't know Jesus as your Savior. 00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:53.940 And you say, I'm not a child of God yet. 00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:56.500 I need to place my faith in Him for the first time. 00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:58.599 Would you slip your hand up now and I'll pray for you? 00:36:00.059 --> 00:36:00.699 Thank you. 00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:04.259 There's someone else who says, would you pray for me? 00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:07.820 Because I've got some things I'm struggling with in my life and I need some prayer. 00:36:08.279 --> 00:36:10.119 Maybe it's someone else who's on my heart. 00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:13.219 Or maybe it's something that I'm dealing with who's on my heart and I need some prayer. 00:36:13.299 --> 00:36:14.900 Would you slip your hand up and I'll pray for you? 00:36:15.219 --> 00:36:15.639 Thank you. 00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:16.299 Thank you. 00:36:16.779 --> 00:36:18.940 God, you see these hands and you know what's going on. 00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:22.079 I just pray your power and your blessing over every situation. 00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:24.539 And we'll thank you for it in Jesus' name. 00:36:24.539 --> 00:36:29.579 For those of you who raised your hand or anyone else, I'll be waiting down front if you'd like to come speak with me. 00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:35.059 If you'd like to take advantage of these steps and bring you or your family down for a time of prayer, please do that. 00:36:35.139 --> 00:36:37.860 That's what this time in our service is dedicated for. 00:36:38.239 --> 00:36:39.539 Brother Greg, would you lead us in singing? 00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:39.599 Well, it's like a prayer. 00:36:45.900 --> 00:36:46.279 Okay. 00:36:46.279 --> 00:36:47.579 Agmat iron. 00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:48.599 Have a great day, though. 00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:49.159 Thank you. 00:36:49.179 --> 00:36:49.659 Thank you. 00:36:49.659 --> 00:36:49.820 Bye. 00:36:49.900 --> 00:36:50.480 I'll say again. 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:50.920 Good night sam an ocurrasca. 00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:51.480 Woo. 00:36:51.739 --> 00:36:52.079 Bye five. 00:36:52.259 --> 00:36:52.739 Thank you. 00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:53.139 Good night. 00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:53.420 Bye. 00:36:53.460 --> 00:36:55.079 Bye. 00:36:55.179 --> 00:36:55.860 Good night. 00:36:56.079 --> 00:36:56.500 Good night. 00:36:56.519 --> 00:37:07.099 Journey.