Great God's - Great Fish
Do you recall that back in the first sermon in the series I mentioned - Jonah is not the hero of the story. God is!
At the beginning of the story Jonah is running from God; at the end of the story Jonah is arguing with God. In between Jonah is praying to God and Jonah is preaching for God. But through it all - keep in mind - Jonah is not the hero of the story. God is!
The story of Jonah is a story about a God who wants to see people saved. It is a story of a God who will reach to the ends of the earth to ensure that people hear of His great love and forgiveness. It is a story about a God who is concerned about the people in the city of Nineveh and His desire is to save them. Folks here is a fact:
God Always Wants To Save People
God is in the saving business. That is why God sends Jonah to Nineveh. He wants to see them saved. John chapter three tells us this:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not PERISH, but have eternal life."
John 3:16 (NASB)
God doesn't want anyone to perish - He wants everyone saved.
The story of Jonah also tells us that God shows compassion for prodigal sons and daughters who run away from Him. God never gives up on Jonah, not even when Jonah runs away from God. Not even when Jonah is disobedient. Not even when Jonah sits under a vine and pouts because he's mad at God.
The verse that we are going to look at today - proves this point. Follow along with me as I read verse seventeen:
And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah 1:17 (NASB)
This is the part of the story we know best. Jonah has run from God. Jonah has been thrown overboard. Now, Jonah gets swallowed by a great fish. From this verse I want us to look at three points:
1. God Shows Jonah His SOVEREIGNTY
Note that the text doesn’t say the Lord “created” a great fish. It says that God “appointed” a great fish. The great fish already existed and God gave it a mission.
Notice that our text does not use the word "whale". Yes we have been taught that in Sunday School - but that is not what the Bible says. The Bible says it was a fish. It doesn’t say it was a whale. It could have been a whale - but we don’t know for sure. You see the focus of the story is not on the fish - it is on the sovereignty of God.
"The LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah."
Jonah 1:17a (NASB)
Did the fish just happen to be swimming in the area of the water that Jonah got thrown into. No! "The LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah." It wasn't just good luck. It wasn't just coincidence. It wasn't just a fluke. The salvation of Jonah at this point is based on the actions of God. Folks here is a fact:
God Saved Jonah
Did the fish have a part in it? You bet it did!
I can almost imagine the conversation that went on between the Lord and the fish.
Lord says to the great fish; “I’ve got a job for you.”
The great fish replies; “Yes sir.”
God: "I want you to sallow a fellow for me."
Fish: "Yes sir."
God: "Now no chewing. No biting. You need to sallow him whole."
Fish: "Yes sir."
God: "Now I'll give you the exact GPS coordinates. Do you know where that is?"
Fish: "Yes sir."
God: "You will need to be there at a precise time, on a precise day, at a precise location. Do you think you can handle it?"
Fish: "Yes sir."
God: "Good let's go for it."
"The LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah."
Jonah 1:17a (NASB)
Folks here is an interesting aspect of the story:
The Fish Obeys God Better Than Jonah Did
God wanted Jonah to head for Nineveh - Jonah ran in the opposite direction - Jonah headed for Tarshish. The fish swam to the exact place where he was needed to be. And because the fish is there - Jonah's life is spared. He was there in the right place at the right time.
Point two:
2. God Shows Jonah His PERSISTENCE
God told Jonah, “Go to Nineveh.”
Jonah said, “I think I’ll go to Tarshish instead."
In other words God said, “Go east.”
Jonah said, “I’m headed west."
Jonah's actions were out and out disobedience. Jonah's actions were right out rebellion. Jonah's actions were clearly an act of sin.
God could have zapped him on the spot. God could have wiped the memory of Jonah off the face of the earth. God could have destroyed Jonah in a flash - but He didn't. God ran after him. Jonah could never out run God - God is persistent. Let me ask you:
Can You Help a Prodigal Too Soon?
Do you remember what happened to the prodigal son in Luke chapter fifteen? After he had wasted all his inheritance in wild living, he ended up feeding the pigs (Luke 15:15-16). But it wasn't until he reached rock bottom that he was ready to make a change. Let's read a portion of the story:
"But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."'
Luke 15:17-19 (NASB)
The King James Version puts it this way:
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! Luke 15:17 (KJV)
So it goes. We may think that someone has hit rock bottom when they are still scheming to find a way to get out of their problems. The prodigal may be thinking, “With one more day, I will figure it out. With one more day - I can solve my own problems.” It was not until the son “came to his senses - came to himself” that he decided to return to the father. It was not untill he came to himself that his relationship with the father was made right.
I wonder if Jonah has reached that point? I wonder if Jonah is ready to stop running? I wonder if Jonah is ready to be obedient? I wonder if Jonah is ready for a change heart?
You see the problem is always on the inside. God says west - Jonah says east. God says "Obey" - Jonah says "No Way." Jonah are you still running? Jonah are you ready for a change? Jonah are you ready to get right with God? Jonah don't you see that God is chasing you. Jonah don't you know that God will continue to chase you to the ends of the earth.
Jonah stop running from God - Jonah turn to God - Jonah catch up to God. Go where He wants you to go. Do what He wants you to do. There will be no peace until there is peace with God. The truth is - God will follow you to the ends of the earth - until you catch up to Him. He will never let you go. In Hebrews chapter thirteen verse five it says:
I will never leave you, nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5b (NKJV)
I think that is great news for those of us who want God to always be by our side. But guess what? God will never leave His children - even if they are trying to run away from Him. Jonah you can't outrun God. God can run faster and farther than you think. And God has all the time in the world - and He will never let you go.
Point three is:
3. God Shows Jonah His COMPASSION
Why did God send the fish?
To show Jonah His compassion.
Do you know that at anytime God could have zapped Jonah. God could have killed him in an instant. He could have made Jonah fish bait - but He didn't. Instead God showed Jonah - compassion. Look at what the Bible tells us:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness. Psalms 103:8 (NASB)
Was Jonah's life uncomfortable when he was thrown overboard? You bet it was! Was Jonah's life miserable? Yes! Did Jonah find himself in an overwhelming predicament? Of course he did! But why? Because he had sinned against God - that's why! He had disobeyed. Let me tell you Folks the scripture is true:
"Be sure your sin will find you out." Numbers 32:23b (NASB)
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." Galatians 6:7 (NASB)
"The wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23 (NASB)
You see Jonah thought he had got away with it. He thought that he had outrun God. But he found out the hard way that there is no way to outrun God. Jonah thought he had booked a great Medertarien cruse and now he is dogpaddling in the water about to be swallowed by a fish.
Folks here is a truth: You can - never - never - never outrun God.
But you say, "Wait a minute Pastor Tom - you said that God shows Jonah compassion." Yes He does - He gives you see God gives Jonah a second chance. Isn't that compassion?
I am thankful that God is a God of compassion - aren't you? He gives second chances. He rescues us from danger. He watches over His children - even when they are running from Him. Even when they are disobedient to Him - He never lets us go. This shows me that God has compassion for us.
Do you remember the stories of Israel how time and again they would fall away from God. How often they would rebel against Him. How often they would sin against Him. How often they would turn their backs on Him. Yet in their inconsistency God remained consistent. Look at what the Bible tells us:
You - O God, in Your great compassion, Did not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, To guide them on their way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go. Nehemiah 9:19 (NASB)
Let me ask you a question. Earlier I mentioned the story of the prodigal son. In that story - do you think that the father ever stopped loving his son? No! I don't think so either. In fact I think that every day the father though about his son. Every day I think the father wondered how the son was getting along - how he was doing. Every day I imagine that the father went out on the porch and looked off in the distance to see if the son was returning home. Then one day - the father sees the son. He runs out and hugs him and holds him. Doesn't that say something about our Heavenly Father?
Jonah runs - God rescues.
Jonah runs - God saves.
Jonah runs - God gives a second chance.
Truly:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness. Psalms 103:8 (NASB)
Let me ask you - where are you right now. Are you on your way to Nineveh or are you on the way to Tarsish? Are you walking in God's will - or are you walking out of it? Be sure - God knows where you are. He knows what you have done. Yet He is a God of second chances. He is compassionate - He is gracious - He is slow to anger - He is abounding in loving-kindness - and He will do whatever He needs to do to get you back on track. Why don't you turn to Him before He appoints a great fish to head your way.
