Because of sin, we need another chance to obey God. Jonah was
given this second opportunity. Who has not failed God like Jonah? In this
second chance given to Jonah to proclaim the word of the Lord to a lost people
we see we have a gracious God. As God gives us another chance to do better, it
is incumbent upon us to give others who sin against us another chance to make
good and to do better. A 2nd chance
I. Reveals
a God of mercy – Vs. 1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time
A. Jonah didn’t
necessarily have to be given a second chance.
1. In most
cases, the prophets were given only one chance and if they did not fulfill
their duty there were harsh penalties. Abraham pleaded with God to save the
city of Sodom. If the Lord could find just ten righteous persons the city would
be spared.
Lot, Abraham’s nephew and his family were led
out of danger and spared yet Lot’s wife turned back and in so doing was turned
into a pillar of salt.
2. The Lord
wasn’t simply taking it out on His people the prophets – He wanted to drive
home a specific point – namely that His Word meant something – that He was
serious about dealing with His people – for this was the very reason why He
sent the prophets to them in the first place.
B. The fact that
God dealt patiently with Jonah shows His mercy and compassion.
1. It was His
desire that these people would be saved. It was His desire that they would turn
in repentance and live. It was His desire that they would turn from their
wicked ways and acknowledge Him.
2. To this day this is the
desire of God. He desires that all men be saved and to come to the knowledge of
the truth – yet they must come under His terms and conditions.
The LORD will have mercy but there is one
stipulation – men must acknowledge Him as Lord – at the name of Jesus
every knee shall bow and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.
C. When the Lord
deals with us – it may seem at the time to be punishment – but it is never to
punish – His desire is that we turn to Him and live. His desire is to draw us
to Himself –to have a deeper walk with us – to comfort us in our weaknesses.
The writer to the Hebrews put it this way - You see, this
High Priest of ours isn’t a person who can’t feel any sympathy for us in our
weakness because He has been tried and tested in every way, just as we are. But
He never sinned!
Therefore we can come joyfully to the throne of
our God whose heart is filled with love for those who don’t deserve it and
there we will be given the mercy and love we don’t deserve to help us when we
really need it.” –Julian Anderson translation Hebrews 4:15-18
Transition: The
LORD desires to reveal His mercy. He also desires to restore people back into
God’s favor.
II. He
restores a person in God’s favor – Vs. 2 Go to the great city
of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
A. In the case of
the inhabitants of Nineveh it was to bring them to faith.
1. The Lord
did not destroy them but rather restored them.
2. He sent
His message to repent and in contrition and faith then turned from their evil
ways and acknowledged Him alone.
B. His mercies are new to
us each day – “Today Thy mercy calls us to wash away our sin. However great
our trespass whatever we have been. However long from mercy our hearts have
turned away. Thy precious blood can cleans us and make us white today.”
Transition: God
desires to reveal His mercy. He desires to restore people back to Himself. This
desire is for all people.
III. Results
in salvation for all – Vs.
5 The Ninevties believed God. They
declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on
sackcloth.
A. Notice what
God’s Word did – It worked a miracle. Unbelievers were turned into faithful
followers. A city set on destruction was spared. A people bent on total
annihilation were given life – new life.
B. This is your
story for God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not
counting our sins against us and He has given us this ministry of
reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19
Our sins stand up to accuse us. Our deeds are deserving of
punishment but God in Christ has taken our sins to the blood cross and absorbed
them into His own body.
No wonder Isaiah looking into the future could only predict, "Surely he took up our infirmities and
carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and
afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his
wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5
The story of Jonah is a story of the LORD’s mercy and grace. It’s
a story of God desires to revel His mercy, His desires to restore people back
to Himself. This desire is for all people.
Passive Sentences – 20%
Readability – 74.5%
Reading Level – 7.1
Luther’s Seal copyright © Ed Riojas Higher Things
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