Messages

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” All of us have to deal with the constraints of a 24-hour day. We sometimes feel as though we have more demands placed upon us than we do time to respond to those demands. How do we decide which things will get done and which things will have to remain undone? Pastor Rick reflect on Ephesians 5:15-16 and the example of Jesus in John 17:4 and Mark 1:45 to help answer that question.

A message from the series “See Jonah Run.” Hey church family, it’s great to be with you as we come together for worship this weekend. If you’ve been with us throughout this month of June, you know that we’ve been focusing our attention on the Book of Jonah. You remember Jonah, the runaway prophet who was swallowed by the great fish? Maybe it’s that nautical theme that caused me to take special note of the passing last month, of an actor who spent part of his acting career, playing the parts of men at sea.

The actor I’m talking about is Gavin MacLeod, who passed away last month at the age of 90. MacLeod had an acting, and musical career that spanned six decades. The first role I remember seeing MacLeod in, was a bit part as crew member “Happy Haines” in McHale’s Navy. It wasn’t exactly his break-out role, and in fact it would be one that he would later come to regret ever having accepted. But for me, Gavin MacLeod’s best role was also his longest-running role, it was one that he held for 10 years, from 1977 to 1987 he appeared in all 249 episodes in what I will always think of as his defining role, and that was as Captain Merrill Stubing, who was the Captain of The Love Boat.

Maybe the reason that I’m such a fan of that role is that my wife Judy and I
Honeymooned on board the Love Boat. We didn’t know that was the way we would spend our honeymoon, that was just the way that things turned out, because as a wedding gift we were given two tickets for a Princess cruise from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera. And in case you didn’t know it, each episode of the Love Boat was filmed at sea, on board an actual Princess Cruise ship – the Pacific Princess, and wouldn’t you know it, the ship that we were sailing on for our honeymoon, was the very ship on which the entire cast and crew of the Love Boat would also be travelling with us, to film one of the episodes of that show.

As a result we got to meet all of the series regulars, including the cast of guest stars who were traveling with them for that episode. When I learned of Gavin MacLeod’s death, I had an opportunity to read some excerpts from his autobiography, the book is titled This Is Your Captain Speaking: My Fantastic Voyage through Hollywood, Faith and Life. It tells how MacLeod suffered childhood adversity: he was overweight, he was self-conscious, and his father was an alcoholic who died of cancer, when MacLeod was just thirteen years old.

A few years later, Gavin found himself as an actor, graduating from Ithaca College, with a degree in drama and working as an usher and elevator operator at Radio City Music Hall, where he met his first wife. They had four children before divorcing in 1972. MacLeod subsequently married Patti, his second wife, but divorced her as well. It was while Gavin MacLeod was filming The Love Boat in 1984, that his mother had brain surgery. He could not get away to be with her during that surgery, and he writes that he felt “completely helpless” and “more alone than he ever had been in his life.” MacLeod continues: “That is the moment when everything changed—at 7:15 a.m. on September 14, 1984. MacLeod prayed and said, ‘Jesus, if you give my mother more time, I’ll turn my life over to you. I don’t care if I act anymore. Just give my mother more time.’”

After he prayed, he sensed a voice saying, “Call Patti.” And so he called his former wife, who agreed to see him the next week. Then came the news that his mother’s surgery went perfectly, and she would be okay. Not only okay, but his mother would in fact, go on to live another 20 years. When Gavin met with his ex-wife Patti, he could tell that something was different about her. “What’s happened to you?” he asked. “I’ve been born again,” she answered. “What does that mean?” he asked. She explained salvation to him, and as a result he solidified his own commitment to Jesus Christ as well.MacLeod wrote his book to tell the story of his conversion, and its significance for his life.

In His book, Gavin MacLeod explains salvation so clearly that anyone reading it could make Christ their Savior as well. In the years following MacLeod was privileged to lead his dear friend, and fellow actor, Ted Knight to faith in Jesus Christ before Knight died of cancer, and he was also used by God to lead other actors to faith as well. He and Patti remarried, and eventually hosted a television show about marriage and transformation in Jesus. He dedicated his autobiography to “The Captain of my life, who came that I might have life and have it more abundantly.” Toward the end of his book, MacLeod writes: “The most important thing I’ve ever done is to become an ambassador for Christ. And I will always remain his ambassador.”

I love those words, because they echo the words that the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:20. It’s there that he wrote . . . “We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

I’ve shared Gavin MacLeod’s story with you because over these past few weeks, we’ve been looking at the story of someone else, who like MacLeod, should have felt that the most important thing he had ever done, was to be an ambassador for God. Sadly, that’s not the way that Jonah’s story ends. . . .

If you’ve ever read completely through the book of Jonah then you’ve probably found the last chapter of the book to be a little bit bizarre. If you’ve been with us through this series, we’ve seen Jonah. . .

• Running FROM God

• Running TO God

• Running FOR God
In this last chapter we see Jonah trying to RUN God.

This last chapter of the book of Jonah is kind of messy. If we could just end the story of Jonah at chapter 3 we’d have a great story of God FIRST giving Jonah, and THEN giving the people of Ninevah a second chance. They both repented and we could say, they all lived happily ever after. Unfortunately – – – or maybe we should say fortunately, God doesn’t sugar coat His Word or His people. He gives us the good, the bad and the UGLY. Jonah’s behavior in Jonah chapter 4, is definitely ugly.

Let’s read what it says. “This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: ‘Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed. Then God said to Jonah, ‘Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?’ ‘Yes,’ Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!” Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” – Jonah 4:1-11

You read that story and your reaction might be: WHAT A WHINER! Jonah’s anger seems like a joke. There are plenty of legitimate reasons for people to feel anger toward God, but having your favorite plant eaten by a worm? I’m guessing that that one is not going to make your list of top 10 reasons to get angry at God. But there are other reasons that we have.

I want us to look at some of those and then we’ll circle back and look at the reason Jonah was so angry. Read through the pages of scripture and you’ll see a variety of people – – – angry at God for a variety of reasons. You may not be able to relate to all of these reasons but chances are you’ll relate to at least one of them.

So let’s put it in the first person… I get angry with God when:

1. He doesn’t do what only He can do.

The best example of this is demonstrated in the Book of Job by a character whose name we are not given, so we’ll just call her Mrs. Job. In Job chapters 1 & 2 we see the conversation between God and Satan that results in Job losing his children, his wealth, and his health. But Job wasn’t a single dad, he had a wife who had also lost her children, and her wealth, and who is now having to watch her husband go through unbearable physical suffering. Out of her grief comes anger – The target of that anger is God.

After all, HE IS THE ONLY ONE who could have stopped the calamity that had struck her family. So she cries out to her husband, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” – Job 2:9

Some of us can relate to Mrs. Job. Horrendous things have happened in our lives, or the lives of those we love and we don’t understand why God didn’t step in and do something. We’re angry at Him and we lash out. I think Mrs. Job responded in a very human way. She vented. Job’s response to his wife’s anger is almost super human in its demonstration of faith.

“Job replied, ‘You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?’” – Job 2:10

Powerful words, but not words I’d recommend you say to someone who is reeling from a great tragedy in their life. I think a much better response to someone who is angry with God because He didn’t do something only He could do, is found a few chapters later in Job 6, and it’s interesting that these are instructions that Job himself gives his friends as he begins to see that their so called comfort really isn’t comforting at all. He says to them. . . .

“Do you think your words are convincing when you disregard my cry of desperation? – Job 6:26

In other words, Job is saying to his friends, “Don’t tell me not to say what I’m saying, Don’t do to me what I did to my wife.” “Don’t correct my speech. I’m in the depths of despair and it’s out of my pain I’m venting.” “Don’t hold me accountable for these words, I’m not even sure what I’m saying.” “I’m out of my mind with grief. My words belong to the wind, let them go”

His wife might have appreciated it if he had taken his own advice! What should WE do when OUR ANGER at God springs from tragedy in our lives? We need to let the people of God show us the love of God.

Job 6:14 tells us. . . “For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; so that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.”

The best thing we can do for someone who is experiencing this type of anger. . . Particularly if that anger is happening in close proximity to calamity in their life is to shower them with kindness, to be God’s hands and feet to them. To demonstrate through our actions, the character of God as revealed through the people of God. They may not be ready to hear Bible verses but we can speak God’s truth into their lives THROUGH OUR ACTIONS and THROUGH OUR PRESENCE. The time may come to lovingly confront attitudes of anger or bitterness toward God but our immediate response should be kindness. Another time I might get angry at God is:

2. When I feel abandoned by Him.

There are several characters in the Bible who felt this way but I’d like us to consider for a moment, the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah was called to deliver a difficult message to God’s people and this did not make him the most popular guy around, it actually got him in a heap of trouble and he becomes angry. He expresses his feelings in Jeremiah 20:7-8 where Jeremiah says, God, I did what you wanted and look where it’s gotten me. I’m a laughingstock. I’m being mocked. God, where are you in all of this?

We get an even better picture of how Jeremiah is feeling in Lamentations 3. There he says. . . .”Even when I cry out to God and call for help, He shuts out my prayer… I have become a laughingstock to all my people, their mocking song all day long has filled me with bitterness…I have forgotten what it’s like to be happy…My strength has perished and so has my hope from the Lord.” – Lamentations 3:8-18

Jeremiah is feeling abandoned. He’s feeling deceived by God. That’s made him bitter, and angry, and hopeless. Sometimes we feel like Jeremiah. We’re going through difficult times and we feel like God isn’t around, or if he is around, He doesn’t care. We can’t see Him in the circumstances that are going on around us and we sure can feel His absence. So what do we do?

Jeremiah CHOSE TO REMEMBER what He KNEW ABOUT THE CHARACTER of God even though he didn’t see that character demonstrated in his circumstances. In Lamentations 3:21-24 we read, “This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I will hope in Him.”

There will be times in our walk with God when we MAY FEEL LIKE He has abandoned us – – – and that MAY CAUSE US TO FEEL hopeless and angry. During those times we need to HANG ON TO THE TRUTHS WE KNOW about God. He is faithful, He keeps His promises. He said He wouldn’t leave me – and he won’t. We need to fill our mind with that truth, keep it in front of our face. Our CIRCUMSTANCES may not change but our PERSPECTIVE will. Let’s go BACK TO THE BOOK OF JOB for the next point.

I get angry with God…

3. When I feel like I don’t deserve what’s happening to me

If you’ve ever felt that way, or maybe if you feel that way right now, take a page out of the playbook of God’s servant Job. Job in scripture is commended for his patience in the face of tremendous suffering. And we see example after example of his FAITH in the midst of great loss: Job was the one who said “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble? The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” “Though He slay me yet will I trust Him”

But Job’s FAITH, as strong as it was, was not unwavering. Read though his story and you’ll also see glimpses of the ANGER and FRUSTRATION he sometimes felt at his undeserved suffering. In Job chapter 7 and verse 11 he says. . . “I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”

In Job Chapter 9 Job complains that there is no umpire available to judge between him and God, and the implication is that if there was an umpire available he would rule in Job’s favor. The umpire would see that God is being unjust in this situation. In Job Chapter 10 Job says, I will give full vent to my complaint, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. He goes on in that chapter to assert that it would have been better if he had never been born. Even in chapter 13 – – – the one where he says, “Though He slay me yet will I trust Him,” Job goes on in the next breath to say, nevertheless I will argue my case to His face.

What’s going on here? Simply stated, Job feels like he doesn’t deserve what God has allowed to happen in his life and he doesn’t deserve the comments of his misguided friends. Again and again. Over and over and over again, Job states his case. “I’m not guilty, I don’t deserve this” “It’s not fair!” “I didn’t sign up for this!” And God listens, and for chapter after chapter he allows Job to vent, and finally, all the way in chapter 38 God answers Job, but I don’t think it was the answer Job expected.

God said to Job, “I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? Can you direct the movement of the stars? Can you direct the sequence of the seasons?”

For the next three chapters God goes on like this, and finally Job speaks in chap. 42. vs. 2-6. Basically Job is saying – God you’re right. You’re God. Who am I to question you? Even if you answered me I wouldn’t understand that answers. He ends that section by saying. . . . “I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” – Job 42:6

Sometimes the antidote to our anger with God is the realization of the hard truth that God is God and you and I are not. Our memory verse for this week is Isaiah 55:8-9. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God is God. He doesn’t owe us an explanation. He is not accountable to us, we are accountable to Him. Our questions won’t always be answered and we’re going to have to be okay with that. Sometimes that just has to be enough. I get angry with God. When He doesn’t do what only He can do

• When I feel abandoned by Him

• When (I feel like) I don’t deserve what’s happening to me.
And then forth, I get angry with God. . .

4. When I compare myself to others

I get angry with God when I compare myself to others and wind up feeling cheated. Of course the problem with comparison, is that we always tend to compare ourselves TO OTHERS WHO HAVE MORE than we do, RATHER THAN THOSE WHO HAVE LESS.

Let me give you another reference to write under this one. Matthew 20:1-16. This is the story of the workers in the vineyard. I’d encourage you to read it for yourself, but for right now I’ll summarize it for you. A certain landowner needed workers to work in his vineyard. At the start of the day he went out to the place where the day laborers gathered, and he hired a group of them to work at the customary rate for one day’s work. A couple of hours later he went back to the place where the day laborers gather, and he hired a second group. Only this time he didn’t name a pay-rate, he just said, “Come work for me and I’ll take care of you – – – I’ll treat you right” He repeated this process a couple of hours later and then again a couple of hours after that… Until finally he went and hired a 5th group of workers just one hour before quitting time. When it came time to pay the workers he instructed his foreman to pay them starting with the last group hired. Much to their surprise, when the last group hired (the ones who had only worked for one hour) were paid, he gave them a full day’s wages. They were amazed, and of course all of the others who had worked longer, and were waiting to be paid, ASSUMED that they would be paid more, because… well, because they had worked longer. They were SURPRISED, and may I say ANGRY, when they saw that this landowner was paying everyone, whether they worked one hour or whether they worked 12 hours, the same pay – – one day’s wage.

They were angry – – – they grumbled. . . . Why?

Was it because they didn’t get what they bargained for?

No, because they got exactly what they bargained for. They were angry because others who hadn’t worked as long were getting the same reward. They were happy with what they had been given until, they compared what they had with others who hadn’t worked as long but had been given the same, and suddenly they felt cheated.

We do the same thing. We serve God faithfully and we’re even enjoying that service but then we look around and see others who aren’t doing anything and we begin to think, that’s not fair, why should they get to go to the same heaven I do, if they’re not willing to serve like me? When we fall into this type of anger with God we’re forgetting one big, important fact: NONE OF US DESERVE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US.

The Bible is clear: We are all sinners, we are all dead in our sins, even the best things we do are like filthy rags compared to the holiness of God. None of us deserve salvation based on who we are, or what we’ve done. You don’t, I don’t, nobody does.

Titus 3:5 says. . . “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness but according to His mercy.”

When I feel cheated by God I need to take some time to consider: What does God really owe me? The fact is He owes me nothing but He has given me what I don’t deserve. The ability to have a relationship with Him and all the blessings that go along with that. Now that we’ve seen all of these other reasons for being angry at God let’s get back to Jonah. Jonah was angry with God, and sometimes we’re angry with God

5. When I don’t understand God’s heart for the lost

Jonah had been given a job by God. He didn’t want to do the job. He ran the other way. He realized his error, God forgave him and gave him a second chance. The concept of repentance and forgiveness should have been fresh in his mind. I’m sure he appreciated God’s forgiveness toward him – – but he didn’t want it to be shared with the Ninevites.Jonah called the Ninevites to repentance and they repented. God withdrew His threat to destroy them but Jonah doesn’t rejoice in the mercy and goodness of God – he pouts. He says, “God, I knew you were going to do this. I knew You’d forgive this people if they repented. Now, just let me die. Death is better to me than life.”

Jonah chapter 4 and verse 5 says. . . . “Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city.”

What was Jonah waiting for? What did he think would happen? We’re not told. I think that maybe he was waiting for the happy ending to this whole story, and when I say “Happy Ending” I mean “Happy Ending” from Jonah’s perspective. Maybe, just maybe this repentance of the Ninevites was a bad dream and maybe God would smite them and send them all to hell, and then Jonah could be happy. That didn’t happen. What was Jonah’s reaction? ANGER. He said, “I’m so angry I wish I was dead”

Do you know what’s interesting? THERE ARE ONLY TWO PRAYERS that are recorded for us that Jonah prayed to God. THE FIRST is from the belly of the great fish, and there Jonah cries out, “God please. . . please, please, please, let me live. . let me live. . . let me live. God please, give me grace, give me grace, give me grace.” THE SECOND PRAYER is here in Jonah 4, and it’s in response to God’s grace. Jonah looks at what happened in Nineveh and he cries out, “God you gave them grace. . . you gave them grace. . . you gave them grace. . . Now let me die. . . Let me die. . . Let me die. . .”

Jonah’s response to the repentance of the people of Nineveh, is a reminder of the truth that very often as Christians, we are a lot better when it comes to SINGING about AMAZING GRACE than we are at extending it to others, or celebrating those who receive it. JESUS, when he saw lost people WEPT over them. He saw them as helpless and harassed, like sheep without a shepherd. JONAH, when he saw lost people said, “Let them burn in hell Lord. . . that’s what they deserve.” Jonah wouldn’t cross the street, much less travel to Nineveh to share the message of God’s grace with them.

Ask yourself. . . When it comes to the lost around you, are you more like Jesus or like Jonah? Make it really personal and practical. . . Who do you know, who doesn’t know Jesus? Are you praying for them? And looking for opportunities to share the message of his grace with them?

Ladies – – – do you care more about your MANICURE than your MANICURIST?

Men – – – do you care more about your golf score than your golf buddies who don’t know Jesus?

IF YOU’VE GOT A JOB, do you care more about your paycheck than your co-workers?God cares about LOST PEOPLE more than anything. So much he sent his son to die for them. So much that as the good shepherd he’s willing to leave the 99 sheep to go and search for the one that has wandered away.

SPIRITUAL MATURITY isn’t just how many Bible verses I can memorize and recite back to you. SPIRITUAL MATURITY is when I care about what God cares about. Let’s ask him to help that be our attitude. Would you pray with me?

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Judy Mandl reflects on the story of Caleb in Joshua 14:6-12 and reminds us that our God is faithful to keep His promises and that you can take Him at His word, even if those around you aren’t.

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” What does it mean to love like Jesus? Pastor Rick reflects on Matthew 22:35-39 and Mark 10:19-22 and reminds us that it will look different at different times with different individuals.

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Raquel looks at Jesus’ words from His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:13-16 and reflects on what it means for us to be Salt & Light.

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Pastor Andrew reflects on the life of the early church as seen in Acts 2:41-42 and the habits to which they were devoted.

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Judy Mandl reminds us that there are many lessons that we can learn as we read through the book of Jonah, including the fact that whether we can see it or not, God is intimately involved in our life.

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” The story that Jesus told in Luke 15:11-31 is most often referred to as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” Pastor Rick reflects on this story and reminds us that it’s actually a tale of two lost sons, and if we can’t relate to one, there’s a good chance we can relate to the other.

A message from the series “See Jonah Run.” It’s good to be with you church.In case we haven’t met, my name is Andrew. I serve as one of the Pastor’s here. Let me add my Happy Father’s Day wishes to you Dad’s as well. I hope that you are being celebrated and treated like a King. Maybe you get to take a nap, have a BBQ…perhaps your kids got you something from Home Depot, whatever it is this is your weekend, we really hope you enjoy it.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been in a series looking at the book of Jonah. And one of the really challenging things in studying Jonah, is that it’s often told as a kid’s story. And I get it, there are some elements in it that lend itself to that sort of thing: being swallowed by a big fish, animals dressed in sack cloth, the very hungry caterpillar at the end. It is a funny story. But the problem is when we treat it as a kid’s story, when we believe the Veggie Tales version, it can get in the way of us recognizing the challenging word God has for us within. That said, I want to encourage you to do your best, to take what is for many of us a very familiar story, and to try and listen today with fresh ears.

We’re picking up in Jonah chapter 3. If you’ve got a bible, or bible app, open it up and join with me in verse 1. “The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.”

If you were with us when we started this series, or you’ve taken the Jonah challenge, that verse should ring a bell. It sounds a lot like the way the book begins, doesn’t it? We got sidetracked with Jonah running away from God, the big storm and the big fish. But that’s not the main story. The main story is about God and the great city of Nineveh. Jonah’s disobedience might have delayed, but it did not deter God from his purpose. Undeterred, our persistent God resumes. And he sends Jonah.

Our message is entitled “Jonah Runs For God” and as we unpack chapter three, I’m going share a couple things that this passage teaches us about God’s sending, and us going. But…I don’t want you to assume at the end of this that I’m suggesting we ought to be like Jonah. As we’ve seen over the first two weeks, and we’ll continue to see throughout the series, Jonah is a complicated Prophet. There’s a sense where Jonah might teach us more about running for God, by looking at his life in the negative rather than the positive. So keep that in mind. Jonah is not a straightforward book on how to be an effective Missionary, as sometimes it’s been taught. What the book of Jonah does do quite well, is communicate a story that happens to match up with other places in the bible about the way God works and how we might better partner with him.

Back to text. Chapter one and chapter three parallel in a lot of ways. The repentance of the sailors in chapter one foreshadows what we’re going to see happen in Nineveh in chapter three. If you’re familiar with the text, you know verses one and two here are almost identical to what the author says at the beginning of chapter one. When biblical authors do this, when they utilize parallel but not identical passages, it’s really important that we pay attention to where the differences are. Remember, they’re not highlighting, underlining or bolding the font in their text like we do. What the authors doing was often used as one ancient form of emphasizing a point. So what are the differences?

First, the author replaced the words “son of Amittai” with “a second time.” In doing so the author is drawing our attention to and stressing the fact that Jonah was sent a second time. Why’s that important? Because who else gets sent a second time in the bible? Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely those reticent to go when called. Moses complained he couldn’t speak well. Jeremiah claimed to be too young, Gideon complained that his clan was the weakest, and he was the least in his family. But in each instance, they answered the call. The reason the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time is because Jonah ran for the hills the first time. Isn’t it interesting that there is no condemnatory word? No chastisement or rebuke. Just go.

If God worked the way you or I do, God’s word certainly wouldn’t have come to Jonah a second time. If was up to us, Jonah would have stayed fish food and God’s word went to an obedient prophet. But thankfully for Jonah’s sake and for ours, God’s ways are not our ways.

God calls unexpected people. Rarely does he ever call the qualified, capable, logical choice. Abraham was a 75-year-old idol worshipper when God called him. David was a shepherd, the youngest of eight sons, who would eventually commit adultery and murder, Peter an uneducated fisherman, who after three years as a disciple denied that he ever knew Jesus.

If there’s a place that we should identify with Jonah, it’s here. We don’t deserve to be called, we don’t deserve to be sent or invited into God mission for the world. We might not have hopped a boat to the far reaches of the globe, but who among us hasn’t at some point turned their back on God? For those of you sitting on your hands convinced that God can’t use you because of something you’ve done: you’re exactly the kind of person that God so often unexpectedly sends. We don’t have to have it all together to run for God. What he wants from us is the acknowledgement that we don’t have it all together and a willingness to run with him none the less.

The second difference that might stand, will be important a little later. In chapter three verse two, you can see God, has dropped another phrase. God no longer tells Jonah to “cry out against” the city, for their “wickedness has come before me.” His command is now “proclaim to it the message I tell you.” “Proclaiming a message to” feels different than “crying out against them because of their wickedness” doesn’t it? It’s slight, almost imperceptible, but it’s almost as if the door has been cracked. God is allowing us to see the beginnings of daylight, the smallest signs of something about to happen in Nineveh. But we’ll have to wait a few more verses to find out.

While chapter one, verse three tells us of Jonah running away, fleeing the presence of the Lord, now we’re told of Jonah’s obedience. “So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across.

Some scholars that will point to this verse and say, you see, it’s a fairy tale. What ancient city is three days walk in diameter? Excavations of the city walls have revealed that at its largest Nineveh was still only about seven miles wide. Even at the slowest most leisurely stroll, it wouldn’t take three days to cross seven miles. So, what do we do with this? Is the Bible lying to us? No of course it’s not. Nineveh was not just used to refer to the city itself, it was also a term used to refer to the province, made up of three different cities, some 50 miles in diameter. It’s a term used, much the same way LA County can include both Malibu and Arcadia, a distance itself of roughly 50 miles. The 120,000 people mentioned in chapter 4, are now seen as a fairly accurate estimation for the cities that make up greater Nineveh.

But there’s also something important in describing it’s size in the terms of a three day walk. In Jonah 1:17, we’re told that “the Lord provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

In chapter three verse three, we’re told Jonah was to go to an “exceedingly large city, three days walk across.” Do you see the connection? Large fish, large city. Three days, three days. One commentator suggested that for this Jewish prophet to enter the large city of Nineveh, was like being swallowed up again by the monster in the depths of the sea and exiled from the land of the living. In fact, in Jeremiah 51, Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon are described as a sea monster, one that devoured Zion, which found it’s place in the beasts’ belly. Jonah wasn’t anticipating this being a hospitable place. While the three days in the fish might have inclined him toward obedience, it in no way changed his hearts toward the Ninevites or made the prospect of preaching in the city any more pleasant.

Later on the biblical prophet Nahum would describe Nineveh as a city of blood, full of plunder and never without victims.” They weren’t there yet. They were not yet at the height of their viciousness, but they were catching their stride. Developing a reputation for wickedness we saw in chapter one that made its way before God. More than any other nation of their day, their wickedness stood out as on a different level to God. Even their own king was compelled to comment on their evil ways and violence in verse eight. I’m just curious, anyone want to go on that mission trip?

It’s not odd then that Nineveh should find themselves under God’s judgment, particularly given their wickedness. It is however odd, for God to send a prophet their way to speak of this judgment much less give them a forty-day window. When you read the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis they got no window, nor warning. We see other prophets prophesying judgment against the nations, but other than perhaps Daniel, that word is almost always spoken in a Jewish context, not in the nations themselves, to the recipients of the judgement. There’s a uniqueness to this story. What makes it all the more interesting is that a more literal translation of verse three, describes Nineveh in the Hebrew, gedola le Elohim not as “exceedingly large” but rather a great city to God. A great city to God. As if there is something special about God’s relationship to Nineveh, which as we’ll see is exactly the case.

To sum up the lesson from this section, I’ll simply say – not only does God call us, unexpected people as we may be, He calls us to unexpected places and to unexpected people. Like Jonah, we’re not called to the easy places, the safe places or comfortable places. We’re called to go to whatever place God calls us to go, for whatever purpose God has ordained. More often than not because, he’s calling us to reach a people or a person special in His eyes.

I can’t help but think when Jesus was about to be taken up, and he says in Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” That the disciples cringed just a little when Jesus said Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Jerusalem, Judea, sure Lord we’ll minister here. But Lord, not out there, not to them. Did you ever notice that it’s really not until the persecution following Stephen’s martyrdom in Acts 8, that they finally respond, and begin to obey? It’s only then that the Holy Spirit led them to Samaria. That’s the job. This probably goes without saying, but we’re not just called to the people we like, or people like us. Some of you know this, and it drives you crazy. There is someone God keeps putting on your heart again and again, and again. And every time you say no God, anywhere but there, anyone but them. He comes back, I’ve got a message for them, they are special to me, they are great in my eyes, now go.

I want to add this, it’s not in the text, but as I said in the beginning, we’re not Jonah. The difference for most of us is that we are in Christ, and received the Holy Spirit. We can be confident that the Father will shape our hearts to be like His. Unlike Jonah, over time under the Spirit’s guidance we will come to love the Nineveh’s in our lives. The Apostle Paul’s spirit filled heart for the lost, we read about reverberating through his letters, that’s the trajectory we’re on, not Jonah’s recalcitrant heart. Do we have tough times, with difficult people, yes, absolutely we do. But if the Spirit of the Living Lord is in you, then we’re going to look more like Jesus weeping, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, as he laments their impending destruction, then like Jonah taking a front row seat to watch Nineveh burn. That might be a good litmus for Christianity right there. Who do you weep over, and who’s destruction do you secretly revel in? Whose heart do you have in you? Jesus or Jonah?

Jonah heads to Nineveh, but it doesn’t seem like he’s that happy about it. We’re told Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” That’s odd, the city or province is how many days across? Three? He makes one single day’s walk into Nineveh and that’s all he can stand he cant’s stand no more. He preaches his sermon, one sermon and then he’s done. The next time we hear from him, is in chapter four. There’s he’s set up a little booth to the east of the city, waiting to catch a glimpse, still hoping for God’s judgment. We’ll hear more about that next week. However, it wasn’t just that Jonah left so abruptly that seems to be amiss. Let’s look at the message he proclaimed. Our English text has Jonah’s sermon dialed in at eight words, in Hebrew it’s five.

It’s an odd message regardless of the length. Look at it, and think to yourself about what is missing. Does Jonah list any of the things that the Ninevites have done wrong? No. Nor does he provide any suggestion of what they might do to respond to the message. In the Luke’s gospel, John the Baptizer sees crowds coming out to him to be baptized and he says “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Two verses down he warns “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Do you see what John does? Wrath is coming, true repentance is the only appropriate response.

At the conclusion of Peter’s first sermon in Acts, those listening ask “Brothers what should we do?” “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Do you see how Jonah might have been missing something? Come on, he doesn’t even mention God’s name once. He’s sandbagging. He’s trying to sabotage his own message. It’s like he’s putting in the minimum effort necessary to pacify God’s wrath against himself without averting it for the Ninevites.

Yet to no avail. If Jonah’s efforts were to sabotage the message, he failed miserably because his message succeeded unthinkably. As a result of his five word message “the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

Isn’t that awesome? As terrible as the sermon was, the Ninevites still filled in the blanks. They’re eyes and ears were opened as the word cut to their hearts. As ambiguous as the message was, they heard what they needed to hear and they were broken open by it. They were confronted by the wickedness of their ways and that the one and only all-powerful God was bringing judgment upon them. And with all that they were, they repented. The city was turned.

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water. Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.”

Verse 10 is almost a postscript. By the time we get here in the story we already know what’s coming. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. Of course he didn’t. He had arranged all of this, for the purpose of forgiving them.

Can you imagine what some of the other prophets must have thought when they heard this story. In Jeremiah chapter thirty-six, the Lord told Jeremiah, “Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now. Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, they will each turn from their wicked ways; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin.” Jeremiah was obedient. The first time. He did what God said and when the scroll containing these words was brought before the king of Judah to be read, we’re told “Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes.

What do you do with that? Was Jonah a more faithful prophet than Jeremiah? No way. Yet Jonah stubbornly mumbles five words and a city of vicious godless foreigners turns, the King of which, strips off his clothes and sits down in the dust. While Jeremiah’s words are tossed in the fire by the anointed king of Judah.

Here it is, God calls unexpected people, to unexpected places, yielding unexpected results. We have no idea what God’s going to do other than what he says in His word that he will do. We can go, we can speak God’s word, they can fall on deaf ears. Or tomorrow, the city of Los Angeles could be overturned. I believe our entire city could be saved, in the same way Nineveh was. Even just through one of us. I think we should pray to that end, share our faith to that end, dream dreams to that end. But that end is not dependent on you and I. As you and I are called to wherever and to whomever it may be that God calls us, we’re not called to produce the results. The Apostle Paul says. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. It’s God, not us.

Running for God is about being faithful to the call and entrusting our fruitfulness to God. And in case you want some more humble pie, as we see in Jonah’s story our faithfulness isn’t even a requirement for God’s fruitfulness. Often when people hear that their response is then “If what I do doesn’t matter, why should I even run for God?” Again back to the story, whether God needed Jonah or not, God wanted Jonah. He was willing to chase Jonah to the end of the earth, and the bottom of the sea, to bring Jonah on board with the plan. We should Run for God because he’s called us to. But I think this is the more compelling reason. Because we get to.

Unexpected as we may be, God has invited us to play an incredible part in the story of another. As we’ll see next week, Jonah was looking for the wrong seat, he wanted a front row seat, to judgement, when we run with God you and I get a front-row seat to redemption and new creation. We get to be a part of someone being eternally forgiven and embraced by their heavenly father for the first time in their life, to see a name written in the book of life. Church we get to run with God, and it’s the best job there is. Let’s give him thanks for that.

A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Do you ever struggle with feeling you should be further along in your spiritual growth than you are? Judy Mandl shares from Romans 8:1 and reminds us that although God’s desire for us is that we would grow in Christlikeness, He is patient with us as we move through that process, and does not condemn us at those times when we may not feel as though we’re moving fast enough.