Jonah and the Whale (Jonah 1-3)

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by

Robert Piña
in

Introduction: This morning we will be looking at the life of Jonah and the whale. This is a true story that children learn from a young age in church. Although it may be difficult to accept this story as true, everything in this Bible is true wether we believe it or not. 

  1. Jonah’s Calling– Vs 1:1-2. “The word of the Lord came unto Jonah” and told him to “Arise, go to Nineveh”. This is what Jonah was called to do.
    • “Cry against It”- Jonah was to preach against their wickedness. 
    • This was a heavenly calling Hebrews 3:1; a Holy calling II Timothy 1:9; and a high calling Philippians 3:14.  
    • If God calls you to do something, the best thing to do, is to get it done. 
  1. Jonah’s Disobedience– Vs 1:3. Jonah decided to go opposite to the place where God had called him to go therefore disobeying God.
  • Nineveh was the capital of Assyria and Assyria and Israel were enemies. Jonah knew that if he went to preach to them and they repented, they were going to eventually take Israel captive because of their rebellion against God. Jonah had a good motive to not go however, disobedience is never right. 
  • Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thought are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord”. For as the heavens are higher that the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts”.
  • This disobedience was a cause of Jonah’s rebellion against God and His word.
  • “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” I Samuel 15:23 
  • To be going “down” in this manner is not good for a man of God. 
  1. Jonah’s Consequences– Vs 2:4, 2:12 / 2:17 
  • Vs 1:4 Great Wind- This great wind was to get Jonah’s attention and he knew God was after him. 
  • Vs 2:17 Great Fish- Matthew 12:40 “whale”. This great fish was also to get Jonah’s attention and inflict some pain. 
  • God Corrects- Proverbs 3:12 “For whom the LORD loveth he corrected; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth” 
  • God inflicts Pain- Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth”. 
  • There is always consequences to disobedience but it may not come this soon- Ecclesiastes 8:11 “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil”. 
  • God decided the consequences to His disobedience- God has everything at his disposal. 
  1. Jonah’s Prayer– Vs 2:1-3, 2:7 Now you want to pray to God to help you. 
  • In this prayer you see Jonah’s humility and repentance. 
  • God heard his prayer- 2:2 “I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me”.
  • God answered his prayer- 2:10 “and the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomitted out Jonah upon the dry land”. 
  • Pray when everything is going well, don’t pray only when you need God’s help. 
  • Pray to give thanks to God, not only to ask him for something.
  1. Jonah’s Second Chance– 3:1-2 Our God is a God of second chances. 
  • Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of god are without repentance”. 
  • No doubt everyone here has been through something and God has given you a second chance. 
  • God of Mercy- Micah 7:18 “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoners iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy”. 
  • God of Forgiveness- I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. 
  • No sin is too great for His pardon, if we turn to Him in repentance and faith. 
  1. Jonah’s Work– Vs 3:3-5, 9-10. Something great was accomplished as a consequence of Jonah’s obedience and work of faith. 
  • The Believed the Word of God- Vs 5 
  • They Humbled Themselves- Vs 5-7 
  • They Turned from their Evil Way- Vs 8 
  1. The Results of Jonah’s Work– Vs 3:10 forgiveness and deliverance. 
  • Jonah did his part by preaching unto them and the people repented. Because of it, God spared them and didn’t do what he said he would do to them. 
  • What a beautiful thing happens when we do what God wants in the first place. 

Conclusion: The spiritual application is for the disobedient Christian. God expects us to obey the first time so that we don’t have to deal with the consequences of our disobedience. Ultimately God want to accomplish his work through your life but we must get in line with God.