(Audio and Text)
Title: Into the Heart of Darkness
I’d like to actually begin with the last part of the passage today and then circle back to the beginning.
“a three-day journey in extent”
This was not suggesting that it took Jonah 3 days to get to Nineveh from wherever he was spat up on shore, (show map slide) but rather a way to describe how large the city of Nineveh itself actually was.
NIV:
Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it.
NASB:
So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk.
ESV:
So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.
V 1-3a
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord…
Here, what we really see is a two fold affirmation that Jonah’s relationship with Yahweh has been restored.
Can anyone guess what the two pieces of evidence are that God and Jonah are reconciled?
- God re-assigns the original mission.
- Jonah readily obeys.
Follow up question:
Do you think that Jonah is “okay” with the idea of telling Nineveh to repent?
(Scripture does not tell us his attitude while delivering the message, but it certain shows us Jonah’s reaction AFTER Nineveh actually repents.)
So why does Jonah obey the second time?
- The first time, he disobeyed….it didn’t go so well.
- Maybe he isn’t convinced Nineveh will even listen to him anyway.
- His FEAR of God is definitely increased.
One of the key things Mary and I have to reiterate with our children (and I’m sure I’ll get an amen or two from other parents out there today) is the concept that “Nevaeh, Silas, you job isn’t to always understand my commands, you job is to obey my commands.”
Parents, can I get an amen?!
It is the same for Jonah and God. Jonah’s job here is not to understand the logic or reason that God is employing here, but rather to demonstrate his faithfulness and loyalty specifically when he DOES NOT understand what God is doing.
And that is the $25,000 point this morning:
Our faith will be called up to demonstrate obedience specifically when we do NOT understand God’s reasons.
This happens when a loved one dies unexpectedly.
When a national tragedy breaks our hearts.
When illness, or job loss, or betrayal hits us.
In other words, if our faith is contingent up our approval of what we think God’s plans are for us, it is not faith, it is not trust at all. In fact, not only is it not faith…it is not LOVE, if we can’t follow God into the unknown, into the darkness, into the heart of Nineveh.
Close/Pray/Q&A