Chasing Us to Bless Us
God is chasing you to bless you. - Rev. James Meeks
Jonah 1:1-17
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
The book of Jonah is about the love and grace of God. It's teaching us about God's desire to forgive. This book is a book about a second chance.
When the book opens, God is chasing Nineveh.
Nineveh is the capital of Assyria, and the Assyrians were enemies of Israel.
The only thing that was greater than the progress and wealth of the city of Nineveh was its wickedness.
Nineveh's wickedness is described in Nahum 3:1-5
Their wickedness got God’s attention. But his mercy was so inclusive that he called one of his best preachers to go to Nineveh.
No matter who you are or how far you’ve fallen, God has mercy for you. The love of God covers a multitude of sins.
But Jonah chose to run from God.
He had to spend his own money (1:3).
God never supplies the resources for us to do our own thing.
You can do your own thing but you have to pay for it.
When you’re obedient, God supplies.
Everything after was a step down. Jonah went down to Joppa and down into the ship (1:3). He was down in the side of the ship in verse 5.
Whenever you decide you’re going to go opposite of when God said, every step after is a step down.
There is no upside to being outside the will of God.
Every man aboard the ship is afraid of the storm, and Jonah is in the bottom of the ship asleep. Be careful when you can be out of the will of God and still be comfortable.
When confronted by the men, Jonah could have talked to God immediately. But he chose to be thrown into the sea.
He hated the Ninevites so much that he chose to be thrown overboard rather than see them blessed.
He didn’t know the fish was there. He couldn’t get his way so he chose to die.
Even though Jonah disobeyed God and turned his back on Him, God still saved his life by appointing the fish.
When the story opens, God is chasing Nineveh. Then, He chases Jonah. Now, He’s chasing you.
God wants to know if you’ll do things the way He wants you to do them. Or will He have to prepare another great fish to swallow you.
Reflection Questions
How has God pursued you when you've tried to avoid His will?
Where in your life might you be "going down" by not following God's direction?
Who do you struggle to show mercy to, like Jonah with Nineveh?
How do you react when you're comfortable but outside of God's will?
What challenges might God be using to redirect you back to His purpose?