Jonah

He had a choice; either preach to Ninevah or die in the belly of the great fish.

 

Amen Bob

 

Sounds like a choice to me.

 

Some choice...Preach or Die!

I love that story But to add to it, and not in a sense that I would ever think of adding to God's Word, do you think God does this today? Will God give some this choice? Live or die? (Not necessarily in the belly of a fish, either)

 

Jonah didn't think too much of Ninevah. He didn't want to go there. Perhaps he was a racist. Perhaps he thought he was better than those heathen. He didn't really want to go. He had a choice. "Oh, okay, if I'm going to die in this big slimy fish gut, then I'll go."

Can any of is imagine how gross it would be to be inside a fish belly? Slime, stench, dark, goo. And then to be thrown up. I imagine Jonah was quite a fright looking, too. Perhaps his skin had white bleach blotches all over from fish stomach digestive enzymes.

And when he finally went to Ninevah, it seemed to be begrudgingly. (Similar in some respects to some of those jail house conversions we've all heard of?)

But it was God's will that the people in Ninevah also be given a choice. If Jonah hadn't gone and had perished in that big old fish, God would have used someone else who WAS willing to be the messenger. And the people in Ninevah repented and God spared them.

The reason it appears Jonah went begrudgingly is because when he saw God didn't destroy Ninevah after all because the people repented, he got depressed.

What is depression? Anger turned inwards. So he went & sat under the gourd God prepared, depressed. Then when the worm came & ate the gourd, he got angry. And that's when God gave Jonah the attitude adjustment to get his priorities straightened out.

Many different lessons to be learned from that little book of Jonah.

God's will WILL be accomplished, either through us, or if we refuse or procrastinate, He will accomplish it another way. But we will miss the blessing.

 

Jonah did have a choice. I think it kind of funny how it all went about. Jonah actually thought he could go somewhere were God was not as evident. Taking a ship to Tarshish, which he thought was the other end of the world. Jonah was going as far as opposite of God in direction. What is funny he actually thought he could escape God. He thought if he were no longer in Gods presence, God would no longer want to use him.

Once in the belly of the fish Jonah realizes there is nothing that can seperate God from what is His.

And Jonah begins praying to God, and God faithfully hears Jonah.

I think I have been where Jonah was several times in my own life.

What I think is the best is when Jonah does go on and go to Ninevah, and tells them all to repent or perish. And they all repent.

Jonah is so angry. Because nothing did happen to Ninevah.

Oh so many times this has happen to me when I have witnessed for the Lord. And I have really been angry. Instead of being angry, I should have been grateful and praising God.

I think Jonah is a wonderful story. I think God shows us that yes we do have a choice in life and we can do those things according to His plan and Will, or we can be disobedient and rebellous. But in the end, it will be according to His plan and His will.

Sherrie

 

Just preached the text tonight (Chapter 1)

Here's an outline if any preachers are interested

I. The Unusual Directive (1:1-2)
II. The Unwilling Response (1:3-4)
III. The Undesired Result (1:5-17)

Did Jonah have a choice - Absolutely.
Was God sovereignly in control of Jonah's life - Absolutely.

Man's free agency of choice is a product of his nature.

There is a dynamic tension in scripture between our freedom of choice and God's Soverign control of our lives.

Can't explain further without writing too much.

[ January 26, 2003, 10:25 PM: Message edited by: VoiceInTheWilderness ]

 

If a man were to do as Jonah did in this present day, do you think God would send a fish or do you think he would let him go?

 

But in the same way He did in the OT?