Jonah and The Mercy of God-Part 2
AFTER THE SERMON
The God of Second Chances
We hope today’s message was encouraging and helpful. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or to be used for a Bible/sermon group study. Enjoy!
Main Scripture: Jonah 2:1-10
Other scripture mentioned: Matthew 12:38-41
(If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read or paraphrase through some of the provided scripture to catch everyone up!)
Summary:
We are in our current series, Jonah and the Mercy of God. On Sunday, Pastor Ryan took us to Jonah 2 where we get to read what happened in the belly of the great fish God used to save Jonah from imminent death. Jonah shouldn’t have survived, but God had different plans with him. Jonah probably shouldn’t have survived in the belly of a fish but our God is a miracle worker and preserved Jonah’s life. Pastor Ryan connected Jonah 2 to the life of Christ and how after three days and three nights in the belly of the earth Jesus resurrected. Jonah gives us some vivid details of his harrowing experience in the sea and the belly of this fish. This act of mercy from God was a life-altering moment for Jonah and it’s the same way for us. In response to God’s mercy, Jonah cries out to God for salvation and help. When he realized he would be spared, Jonah rededicates his life with sacrifices of praise and the intention of fulfilling his vows to serve God. This was a turning point in Jonah’s life because he encountered the merciful God who is also the God of second chances.
Notes:
Jonah 1:17
Personally, I have no problem believing that someone could be swallowed by a large fish and live to tell about it. When God is involved, anything is possible. We already learned in chapter 1 that He is the God of land and sea. He’s also the God of fish and land animals. God can use a fish and preserve life. We see in the New Testament that God can raise the dead to life.
The phrase 3 days and 3 nights needs an explanation as well. Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah (around the year 100 A.D.) said: "A day and a night make a whole day, and a portion of a whole day is reckoned as a whole day." This demonstrates how in Jesus' day, the phrase three days and three nights did not necessarily mean a 72-hour period, but a period including at least the portions of three days.
We have no reason to believe this story isn’t true and there is very strong evidence that it is true in the New Testament. Jesus himself points to this event in Jonah’s life as a sign. Matthew 12:38-41. Jesus pointed to the book and events of Jonah’s life as factual and then Jesus would later fulfill this prediction and be a sign. Jesus validates not only His word and sign but also Jonah’s.
Getting caught up in the debate of whether the events in Jonah’s life are true causes readers and skeptics (who deny God’s power) to miss the powerful message of God’s mercy and grace. The point is, it was impossible for Jonah to survive, he should have drowned and some would even say he probably deserved it. But God...who is merciful and sovereign made a way where there is no way to rescue Jonah from death, giving him the opportunity to repent and be obedient. God gave Jonah a second chance.
Jonah’s prayer of thanksgiving 2:1-2
Jonah 2:1-2 is a brief summary of Jonah’s experience.
Jonah doesn’t appear to pray at any time during the storm. Now, in the belly of the fish, he cries out to God. Praying to God is a turning point for Jonah.
We’re about to read this in more detail in verses 3-7 but this summary shows that Jonah recognizes that he is in great trouble and on the brink of death. When Jonah calls out to God at these great depths of despair God hears him and answers.
Jonah 2:3-7
Jonah 2:3-7 is a description of Jonah’s experience (2:3–7). Here the prophet recorded his watery horror and God’s gracious deliverance.
Jonah acknowledges that God was behind the casting of the lots, the sailor’s decision to throw him into the sea, and the stormy waves. He says, “Your wild and stormy waves.”
Jonah describes a very grim situation.
Jonah gets the severity of his situation to say he has been driven from God’s presence, what a scary place to be and feel.
In the midst of all this Jonah had the faith and courage to look once more toward God’s holy temple, which is to say to look to God.
Death was inevitable. BUT GOD! V. 6b
Jonah remembered what about the Lord? We don’t know exactly but most likely, the mercy of God so he cries out to God and it reaches His temple. This temple is referring to the heavenly abode, the first one is referring to the temple on earth.
Jonah 2:8-9
Jonah 2:8-9 is an expression of Jonah’s thankfulness.
Jonah knows full well that turning to false gods and idols will bring no deliverance. No person, no money, no earthly power, no knowledge or wisdom, nothing outside of God can deliver us. It’s God’s mercy or it’s death. The world turns its backs on God and gets no deliverance because there is none. It’s ironic Jonah says this since he turned his back on God but at least he is admitting that now.
Jonah knows salvation and deliverance come from God alone.
His response is to offer sacrifices of praise and to fulfill his vows.
In those days, God’s people sacrificed animals as an offering to cover their sins, but we no longer need to practice this because Jesus was sacrificed for our sins, once and for all. The only form of worship and sacrifice we can give is our lives. Jonah doesn’t just say he’ll sacrifice animals, Jonah intends to fulfill his vows, implying he will fulfill his responsibilities as God’s prophet.
God saves Jonah, Jonah did not save himself. Jonah shows appreciation with sacrifices and praise but he also rededicates his life to serving God. Jonah appreciates the second chance.
Jonah 2:10 Jonah is returned
Bottom line:
Jonah’s story isn’t to show how bad Jonah was but to show how good and merciful God is.
This is the same for us today through Jesus Christ. God’s mercy is offered to all people through His son Jesus Christ. God doesn’t have to show mercy, but he chooses to offer it to all people through His Son, Jesus Christ. That’s the basic and powerful lesson for all of us from Jonah 2.
I believe God orchestrated these events in response to Jonah’s rebellion to show him that death and separation from God is a terrible place to be. This would be the reality of an entire city if it wasn’t for God’s mercy.
Jonah needed time in the belly of death to learn, to be humbled, and to have a change of heart. One writer said, “The belly of a fish is not a happy place to live but it is a great place to learn.”
This was Jonah’s “come to Jesus moment” where God could show Jonah His mercy. He’s a God of second chances. The only reason Jonah had a chance to change is because God showed extravagant mercy providing a fish to save him from imminent death. Sometimes it takes a Jonah-like event to wake us up.
God is a God of justice and righteousness who could not allow His prophet to keep running without facing the consequences....but He is also a God of incredible mercy and grace who provides a second chance.
What do we do when we’ve run from (disobeyed, rebelled, sinned against) God?
Recognize the severity and consequences of our rebellion (2:4). “Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.’” This is the realization that one must make to experience a true turning point in one’s life. Only when we understand the depths to which we have sunk will we be ready to seek God’s help and deliverance. We must see the devastating reality of our spiritual situation before we will seek the Lord.
Look to God once more. Turn your face back towards God. Remember the Lord (2:4,7, 9).
Pray...cry out to God for He alone saves (2:2; 2:4; 2:7).
Believe and receive God’s mercy and forgiveness (2:8).
Return to living a Godly life-Give your life as an obedient and living sacrifice unto God, this is your spiritual act of worship(2:9) This is how we show our appreciation and gratitude for the grace and mercy of God.
What we do with our second chances from God is vital and we’ll see what Jonah does next week.
Discussion:
What was one thing from the message that resonated with you?
What did you sense the Holy Spirit was saying to you during this message?
What part of Jonah’s prayer sticks out to you and why?
If we mess up or turn our back on God what should we do?
What was your Jonah-like event where God got your attention and you turned to Him for salvation?
What do you do to show God how grateful you are for your salvation?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you are ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I see my sin and how wrong it is. I see that without Jesus I’m lost. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me from my sin, my past, this world, and eternal death. I repent, I turn away from my old life and I put my faith and life in Jesus! Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!