God

1
Gods Grace to Jonah Sailors

• Jonah 14-16

2
The Hound of Heaven, by Francis Thompson

• I fled Him, down the nights and down the days I
  fled Him, down the arches of the years I fled
  Him, down the labyrinthine ways Of my own mind
  and in the midst of tears I hid from Him, and
  under running laughter. Up vistaed hopes I sped
  And shot, precipitated, Adown Titanic glooms of
  chasmed fears, From those strong Feet that
  followed, followed after.
• But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbed pace,
  Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, They beat -
  and a Voice beat More instant than the Feet -
  'All things betray thee, who betrayest Me'.
• I pleaded, outlaw-wise, By many a hearted
  casement, curtained red, Trellised with
  intertwining charities (For, though I knew His
  love Who followed, Yet was I sore adread Lest,
  having Him, I must have naught beside.)
• .

3
The Hound of Heaven (2), Francis Thompson

• That Voice is round me like a bursting sea 'And
  is thy earth so marred, Shattered in shard on
  shard? Lo, all things fly thee, for thou fliest
  Me! Strange, piteous, futile thing! Wherefore
  should any set thee love apart? Seeing none but I
  makes much of naught' (He said), 'And human love
  needs human meriting How hast thou merited - Of
  all man's clotted clay the dingiest clot? Alack,
  thou knowest not How little worthy of any love
  thou art! Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble
  thee, Save Me, save only Me?
• All which I took from thee I did but take, Not
  for thy harms, But just that thou might'st seek
  it in My arms. All which thy child's mistake
  Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home
  Rise, clasp My hand, and come!'
• Halts by me that footfall Is my gloom, after
  all, Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?
  'Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, I am He Whom
  thou seekest! Thou dravest love from thee, who
  dravest Me.'

4
Gods Grace to Jonah Sailors

• Jonah 14-16

5
v. 4-5 Context

• Gods call Get up, Go, Call upon Nineveh
• Jonahs disobedience
• Gods storm (to redeem Jonah, Nineveh, Sailors)
• Jonahs apathetic sleep during sailors
  emergency(fear, crying out, jettisoned cargo)

6
v.6 Call of the chief sailor

• Whats with you?
• (Exclamation of incredulity/ Request for
  resources)
• Gods command resurfaces Get up Call
• Similar calls from people in crisis.
• How should a Christian deal with being called
  down by a non-Christian?

7
v.7 Jonah is nailed

• Cast lots - Lit. make stones fall
• Caution Done by pagans in ignorance.
• Truth Prov. 1633 The lot is cast into the lap,
  but the outcome is the LORD's.
• Point Num 3223 be sure your sin will find you
  out.

8
v.8 The sailors interrogation

• Whats your occupation?
• And from where do you come?
• Whats your country?
• And where are your people in it?

9
v.9 Jonahs testimony

• Decision Save pagans confess? Save pride and
  clam up?
• I am a Hebrew, and I fear Jehovah, the God of
  the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.
• Only answers the last question "I am a
  Christian"
• Proper name of God (LORD / Jesus) Pagans pick it
  up.
• One God over ALL challenges Pantheism (I Kings
  20) - and Postmodern relativism.
• Fear God (Sailors follow suite, and so should we.)

10
v.9 Creation Evangelism

• Creation implies authority.
• Reassuring for new believers leaving behind
  securities.
• Biblical starting point for evangelism
• Genesis, Acts 14 - Paul in Lystra, Acts 17 Paul
  in Athens.
• EE-TAOW - Muku tribe in Papua New Guinea.
• Materialists proclaim Big Bang, we proclaim
  crea-tion, neither are science its o.k. (ICR,
  AiG, CMI)

11
v.9 Incomplete testimony

• Incomplete evangelistic presentation on
  Southside.
• I fear (not worship, trust, hear, forgiven by,
  loved)
• Behavior undermined his message.
• Greek mythology about Arion.
• Dont stop short!

12
v.10-11 The horror of the sailors

• Confession Trying to flee from this God.
• It is not too late to confess
• Prov. 2813 - He who conceals his transgressions
  will not prosper, But he who confesses and
  forsakes them will find compassion.
• Ps. 325 - I acknowledged my sin to You, And my
  iniquity I did not hide I said, "I will confess
  my transgressions to the LORD" And You forgave
  the guilt of my sin.

13
v.10-11 The horror of the sailors

• Confession Trying to flee from this God.
• It is not too late to confess (Prov. 2813, Ps.
  325)
• Sailors scared to death. Fear as Gods lever.
• What do we do? (Acts. 1630 Paul in Philippi)
• Why did they have to remind Jonah of the storm?

14
v.12 Jonahs crazy conclusion

• Pick me up and throw me into the sea that the
  sea may cease from tossing you up, for Im
  realizing that its on my account this great
  storm is upon you.
• Realizing the storm as Gods judgment for his
  sin.
• Realizing death is the wages of sin, but no
  grace.
• Not willing to obey God. Confession w/o
  repentance.
• Solution? Distance self from sailors. (Other
  interpretations)

15
v.13-14 Sensibility of the Sailors
O please, Jehovah, don't let us die with this
man's life, and do not put innocent blood upon
us, for you, Jehovah, have done as you pleased.

• v.13 Attempt to row to shore
• Why not follow Jonahs advice? (Euthanasia)
• Why couldnt they get to shore? (Gods lever)
• v.14 Prayer to God
• Based on Gods justice, sovereignty, their
  ignorance.

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v.15-16 God gets the sailors

• v.15 The amazing stillness of the sea.
• Gods 2 purposes for the storm fulfilled.
• v.16 Sailors worship Jehovah
• Fear (v.9 from instruction, v.10 from
  circumstances)
• Sacrifice (from common grace)
• Vow (to convert / to give to poor, common grace)

17
Conclusion

• Praise God for His relentless pursuit of us!
• Fear Him
• Confess AND Turn Away from sin
• Speak of Gods authority as creator of all
• Use the name of Jesus and complete the message