Jonah 1:4-6

 

People used to utilize something called a wake-up call when they traveled and needed to get up early while travelling. They would call down to the hotel reception and ask to be woken up the next morning at a certain time. Jonah ran from God's original call and received a wake-up call he didn't ask for. 

 

  1. God uses life’s storms to get our attention (v. 4). … The sailors hadn't seen this storm coming. There were no signs that they would face this storm. That's because God just hurtled it toward them to get Jonah's attention. This is sometimes misinterpreted to say that every storm, every difficulty, we face is a result of our sins. Job contradicts that interpretation. Instead, as Tim Keller puts it, “The Bible does not say that every difficulty is the result of sin--but it does teach that eerie sin will bring you into difficulty.” 
  2. Our sin creates collateral damage in the lives of others (v. 5a). … The sailors also faced this storm, the consequences of Jonah's sin. They were collateral damage of a storm that was meant to affect Jonah. Sin always impacts others. There might be some sins you believe will only affect you, but even those will affect others. 
  3. Resisting God’s will leads to spiritual sleepiness (v. 5b). … Jonah went and laid down and fell into a deep sleep, one deep enough to sleep through this storm and all the commotion it would have caused. He was in such a state that he couldn't hear God yelling through the storm, 
  4. Rebellion leads to forgetting the mission (v. 6). … Finally, the sailors woke Jonah up and asked him to plead to his God because their own gods weren't answering. A sad observation here is that the lost had to come ask to be told about God instead of the prophet going out and telling them about Him. They asked to have God save them. And as we'll see in the coming weeks, our God saves. He can save anyone from anything. Addiction. Depression. Betrayal. No matter the issue, God saves. 

 

The world is crying out in need, but too often we fall asleep and don't hear the cries. We need a wake-up call so we can carry out our mission as given by God. And even when we ruin from God's call, he loves us enough to pursue us and send us that wake-up call. 

 

 

For Further Study/Resources Used to Prepare This Message

  • The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God’s Mercy by Tim Keller
  • Exalting Jesus in Jonah (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) by Eric Redmond
  • Man Overboard!: The Story of Jonah by Sinclair Ferguson
  • A Gracious and Compassionate God: Mission, Salvation and Spirituality in the Book of Jonah by Daniel Timmer
  • ESV Study Bible