Jonah 1:1-3 Big Idea: God is merciful to Nineveh by sending a prophet to call them from their ways, and God is merciful to Jonah by sending a ship that will be an instrument of his loving and gracious discipline. The Mercy of God is _______________ in a _____________ Command Jonah 1:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” Jonah 4:11 (ESV) — 11 And should not I 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?” These are a great people (that is many in number), with a great iniquity, who catch the attention of a great God who is not content to leave them in their sin and destruction. Mercy is that eternal principle of God’s nature which leads him to seek the temporal good and eternal salvation of those who have opposed themselves to his will, even at the cost of infinite self-sacrifice. Romans 5:8–11 (ESV) — 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. The ________________ of Jonah and a _______________ Providence Jonah 1:3 (ESV) — 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Psalm 139:5–10 (ESV) — 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. “The ship lying in the Joppa harbor was not meant to be a means of escape from God’s clearly revealed word, but the most terrible instrument in the hand of God to bring his servant back to his senses.” –Sinclair Ferguson Jonah’s desire to flee from the Lord is met by God’s desire to keep Jonah close and to preserve him through the hardship of the trial ahead. God ordains the very hardships that Jonah is about to encounter in order to win his heart’s affections back to Himself.
Questions to Consider
How do you see yourself in the prophet Jonah? In what ways are you in need of God’s mercy? Confess your sins and pray for power to live in light of his Word.
Are there ways you are running from the Lord? In what ways is God seeking to win your affections back?
