Obedience that Transforms
Notes
Transcript
1 The Lord’s word came to Jonah a second time:
2 “Get up and go to Nineveh, that great city, and declare against it the proclamation that I am commanding you.”
3 And Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, according to the Lord’s word. (Now Nineveh was indeed an enormous city, a three days’ walk across.)
4 Jonah started into the city, walking one day, and he cried out, “Just forty days more and Nineveh will be overthrown!”
5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and put on mourning clothes, from the greatest of them to the least significant.
10 God saw what they were doing—that they had ceased their evil behavior. So God stopped planning to destroy them, and he didn’t do it.
Obedience that Transforms
Obedience that Transforms
We all know the story of Jonah and the whale. It is one of the Bible stories that we learn from our youngest ages if we grew up in the church.
We know that Jonah was called by God to go to the city of Nineveh and preach a message of repentance. Jonah choose to be disobedient and went in the opposite direction, got on a ship to sail as far away as he could from God’s calling.
The ship that he was on ended up in the middle of a big storm that God had sent their way. He told the sailors to toss him overboard because it was his fault they were in the situation that they were in. He was then swallowed by a great fish and spent 3 days in the belly of that fish.
Imagine what was going through Jonah’s mind there in that belly.
'Alright, Mr. Whale, this is not how I planned my day! If you could just spit me out on the shore, I promise to be more obedient next time. And I promise, no more running away from God's calls!'
But the whale, well, it didn't have much of a choice in the matter. It was just following God's command, too! So, Jonah probably learned the hard way that there's no arguing with God's plans, even inside a giant, fishy Uber!"
Ultimately Jonah repented, God caused the fish to get a stomach ache and the fish vomited Jonah up on a beach.
Before we dive deep into Jonah's story, let me ask you something: Have you ever been in a tough spot where life's challenges made you feel stuck, like you were swallowed up by everything happening around you?
Life can be a lot like a rough and unpredictable ocean, tossing us around unexpectedly. In those times, we might want to run away from our problems, just like Jonah tried to escape when God asked him to do something specific. But Jonah's tale teaches us that we can't run away from what God wants for us. It's a story that encourages us to think about how we respond to God's calls, our willingness to follow His lead, and the amazing changes that can happen when we decide to do what He asks.
So, as we dig into Jonah's adventure and the city of Nineveh, let's take a moment to look at our own experiences with obedience and rebellion. Let's also remember how God's never-ending kindness can transform our lives. Join me as we explore the strength of obedience and the chance for a fresh start in the Bible's stories, all in our quest to get closer to our loving and forgiving Creator.
1 The Lord’s word came to Jonah a second time:
2 “Get up and go to Nineveh, that great city, and declare against it the proclamation that I am commanding you.”
The Call to Obedience
The Call to Obedience
As we look deeper into this scripture, we are reminded that the invitations to obedience that God makes frequently come in unexpected ways and at times that are unexpected. When God called Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh, which was known for its wickedness, Jonah disobeyed God at first. This is where the story of Jonah begins.
Jonah's journey of not following God's instructions began when he heard God's call, but instead of obeying, he chose to go in the opposite direction.
Have you ever had that feeling when you know you should do something, but you resist it because it's uncomfortable or challenging? Jonah's story reminds us that sometimes we try to avoid doing what we know is right, just like Jonah did when he tried to escape God's command.
Jonah's choice to run away from God's call resulted in serious consequences. He ended up inside the belly of a massive fish, surrounded by darkness and isolation. Now, while most of us won't find ourselves inside a literal whale, our decisions to ignore God's call can lead us to dark and confining situations in life. These moments of disobedience can make us feel lost and far from God.
But here's the amazing part of Jonah's story: despite his disobedience, God never stopped loving him. God pursued Jonah, just as He pursues each of us when we wander away from His path.
Imagine Jonah inside that fish, with nothing but time to think and pray. In his desperation, he realized the importance of listening to God's call. That challenging moment became an opportunity for Jonah's life to change.
So, what can we learn from Jonah's experience?
It's clear that God's calls to obedience are not something we should take lightly. They're like invitations to align our lives with God's purpose, leading us to His guidance, protection, and blessings.
Jonah's disobedience got him into trouble, and our own choices can lead us into storms of our own making. But the good news is that God's love and grace are always there, ready for us to turn back to Him in obedience.
In essence, Jonah's story serves as a reminder that God's call to follow Him is an opportunity for positive transformation, even if we've strayed from the right path. It shows us that God's love is relentless, His forgiveness is abundant, and His desire for us to come back to Him is unwavering.
Let me illustrate that. Think of a skilled potter working at their wheel. They start with a lump of clay that may have imperfections, rough spots, and even cracks. As the potter's hands mold and shape the clay, it goes through a transformation. The imperfections are smoothed out, and the once-rough surface becomes refined and beautiful.
In a similar way, when God calls us to follow Him, He sees the potential within us, even if we have imperfections and flaws. Just like Jonah, we may have moments when we wander away from His plan. But God's love is like the hands of that skilled potter, tirelessly working to transform us.
When we turn back to God, confess our sins and seek His forgiveness, His relentless love goes to work. His forgiveness is like the potter's smoothing of the clay, making us whole and renewed. God's desire for us to return to Him is unwavering, just as the potter's desire is to create a beautiful masterpiece.
So, remember, just as the clay is transformed into a work of art, God's call to follow Him is an opportunity for positive transformation in our lives. His love is unending, His forgiveness is abundant, and His arms are always open, ready to welcome us back into His embrace.
3 And Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, according to the Lord’s word. (Now Nineveh was indeed an enormous city, a three days’ walk across.)
4 Jonah started into the city, walking one day, and he cried out, “Just forty days more and Nineveh will be overthrown!”
5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and put on mourning clothes, from the greatest of them to the least significant.
The Repentance of Nineveh
The Repentance of Nineveh
Nineveh was not just any city; it was a sprawling, ancient city of great influence and power, known for its wickedness and cruelty. The fact that God chose to send Jonah to this city is a testament to His unwavering desire for repentance and redemption, even in the most unlikely places.
Picture Nineveh as a city where sin and wickedness had become the norm. It was known for its cruelty, idolatry, and disregard for moral principles. The streets echoed with the cries of injustice, and the city's inhabitants reveled in their sinful ways. In the eyes of the world, Nineveh may have appeared as a lost cause, a city beyond redemption.
Yet, it's precisely in this unlikely setting that God chose to send Jonah as a messenger. This decision underscores a vital aspect of God's character: His unwavering desire for repentance and restoration knows no bounds. It's as if God looked at the darkest corner of the world map and said, "Even here, I want to offer a chance for change."
Picture Jonah, that reluctant prophet, finally arriving in Nineveh. He delivered a straightforward yet powerful message: "Forty more days, and Nineveh will be overthrown!" These were words of warning, a call to repentance, and an opportunity for the people to change their ways.
Our commitment to our own cities should be driven by the same purpose. In the book of Jeremiah, God urged the exiled Judeans to actively seek the welfare and prosperity of their city, emphasizing that their own well-being was tied to the well-being of the place they called home (Jeremiah 29:7).
Jesus Himself expressed deep sorrow for the city of Jerusalem, and throughout the history of Christianity, cities have often been overlooked when it comes to missionary efforts.
William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, once declared, "When I felt a burden for the impoverished residents of London and envisioned what Christ could achieve, I resolved to offer every part of myself to His service."
Just as Nineveh held significance in the eyes of God, our cities are of great importance and deserve our dedication and service.
What happened next is astonishing. The people of Nineveh, from the greatest to the least, took Jonah's message seriously. They declared a fast, put on sackcloth (a sign of mourning and humility), and repented of their wickedness. Even the king of Nineveh, the most powerful figure in the city, rose from his throne, removed his royal robes, and joined in this act of humility and repentance.
The response of Nineveh teaches us profound lessons about the transformative power of repentance. It shows that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. When a whole city, known for its sinfulness, repents and turns to God, it demonstrates the boundless mercy and compassion of our Creator. God saw their genuine repentance, and in Jonah 3:10, we learn that He relented from the disaster He had planned.
The story of Nineveh's repentance challenges us to examine our own hearts.
Are there areas in our lives, our communities, or our society that need repentance and transformation? Just as Nineveh turned from its wicked ways, we, too, can choose to repent and seek God's forgiveness and guidance.
10 God saw what they were doing—that they had ceased their evil behavior. So God stopped planning to destroy them, and he didn’t do it.
God's Mercy in Response to Obedience
God's Mercy in Response to Obedience
The message that Jonah preached had a significant impact that reverberated profoundly throughout the thoughts and feelings of the inhabitants of Nineveh. They did not merely listen to his remarks; rather, they listened with the purpose of making a change in their behavior. The words of Jonah reverberated through the streets, and at that moment, a wave of transformation surged over the city. It was not a shift that was merely superficial or fleeting; rather, it extended all the way down to the very center of their beings. The genuine remorse that they felt for their misdeeds and the true desire that they had to realign their lives with the will of God were the driving forces behind their transition.
Their repentance was not merely an outward demonstration; rather, it was a genuine turning away from the path of wickedness that they had been following. After coming to terms with the seriousness of their sins, the people of Nineveh made the decision to take a different course of action.
Witnessing the genuineness and sincerity of Nineveh's repentance, God's response was a manifestation of the limitless grace that He has. A striking reminder can be found in Jonah 3:10, which states, "When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened."
This verse sheds light on a basic character of God's nature, which is shown to be a profound and unchanging love that is accompanied with a real readiness to forgive.
For those who, like the people of Nineveh, who sincerely embrace obedience and repentance, God's grace is not only a formality or a reluctant gesture; rather, it is a response that comes from the heart. It teaches us that when we repent with sincerity, His arms are open wide, ready to embrace us with His love and forgiveness, regardless of how far we may have strayed from Him.
The story of God's mercy in response to Nineveh's obedience teaches us timeless lessons:
God's Love Knows No Bounds: God's mercy knows no limits. It extends even to those who may seem the farthest from His grace. It's a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God's love and forgiveness.
Obedience Leads to Blessing: The people of Nineveh experienced the tangible benefits of obedience. Their repentance saved them from the impending disaster. In our lives, obedience to God's call can lead to blessings, protection, and a restored relationship with our Creator.
God Delights in Our Return: Just as a loving parent rejoices when a wayward child comes home, God delights in our return to Him. He doesn't harbor resentment or hold grudges; instead, He welcomes us with open arms when we genuinely turn back to Him.
The extent of God's mercy is deeply humbling. It serves as a constant reminder that we cannot earn His forgiveness through our acts or behaviors; rather, it is a gift from His infinite grace. This grace is something we cannot buy or deserve; it is freely given, showering us with God's undeserved kindness.
Warren Wiersbe in his commentary on this passage wrote about this amazing grace of God. Let me paraphrase what he wrote:
God's grace extends even to those who have gone astray. Why would a perfectly holy God offer a chance of repentance to the sinful Ninevites? It's because He doesn't want anyone to be lost (2 Peter 3:9) and genuinely desires the salvation of all people (1 Timothy 2:4). Do you carry the burdon of sharing the gospel with a world that may not seem deserving of salvation? Keep in mind that someone once shared it with you!
This realization of God's mercy should motivate us to start on a deep journey of self-reflection. It urges us to look inward and examine our own hearts with honesty and humility. In doing so, we begin to see our flaws, faults, and the need for repentance.
Repentance is more than just a ritualistic act; it involves a genuine transformation of heart. It entails admitting our own flaws and failures, accepting responsibility for them, and abandoning practices that distance us from God. It is a true commitment to realigning our lives with God's divine plan.
In view of God's unlimited kindness, we are asked to react with utmost sincerity. We are called to approach Him with sincere remorse for our sins, open hearts eager to receive His forgiveness, and a firm commitment to follow His path of righteousness. This genuine response to God's call demonstrates our knowledge of His mercy, gratitude for His grace, and determination to live a life reflecting His love and goodness.
In essence, God's mercy is more than a concept; it is a life-changing force that inspires us to be humble, seek repentance, and respond to His love with an open heart. It reminds us that, despite our shortcomings, we are accepted into His embrace, and His grace leads us to redemption and eternal life.
In Jonah's story, we witnessed the consequences of disobedience and the turmoil it brought into his life. We also marveled at the incredible response of the people of Nineveh when they embraced obedience to God's message. Their collective transformation, from a city steeped in sin to a city of genuine repentance, is a testament to the life-altering power of obedience.
But what does obedience mean for us today? It means listening attentively when God calls, being willing to leave our comfort zones, and following His path with unwavering faith.
Obedience is not a burdensome duty but a path to blessing and fulfillment. Just as Nineveh's obedience led to their salvation, our obedience can lead to a life rich in purpose, divine guidance, and a deep, abiding connection with our Creator.