TEXT: `Jonah 1:1-2

SUBJECT: Studies in Jonah #1: The LORD's Purpose

I hope this evening to commence a Christ-centered study of Jonah. Christ-centered, I say, because it's easy to focus our attention on the man Jonah.

And why not? He is one of history's most fascinating men. People who've never read the Bible know he was swallowed by a fish. And lived to tell. Quite a story, isn't it? Wouldn't you love to chat with him about it?

But not only fascinating, Jonah is one of the Bible's most recognized men. When I read of the men who didn't fear the fiery furnace, I think: "What species are they?" They seem so different from myself and others I've known. But, when I read of that man who knew God's will, but didn't want to do it; who was chastened into doing it, but still didn't like it much, I say, "Ah! Here's someone I can relate to".

The nature of this book tempts us to think of Jonah first and last. We must not yield to this temptation! We must recall the hero of this story (and the rest of the Bible) is THE LORD.

Thus, in its study we must ask "What is THE LORD up to?" That is the vital question; with His blessing, we'll try to answer it tonight and in the weeks to come.

The outline I hope to follow goes like this: (1) THE LORD's plan to save the world (1:1-2); (2) Man, unwilling to play his part in the Divine plan (1:3-16); (3) THE LORD, not discouraged by Man's folly, chastens him into doing His will (1:17-2:10); (4) THE LORD saves the world (ch.3); (5) THE LORD and Man contrasted (ch.4).

I pray God will favor this study. For Christ's sake. Amen.

What do we learn about THE LORD in these opening verses? Two lessons seem obvious to me.

The World is Guilty Before God.

If you read the Old Testament with more speed than care, you're likely to think God cares only for Israel. Jonah, it seems, thought that too. They do have a special place in His heart, to be sure. But He's mindful of others too.

The Psalmist knew this: "The LORD's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men". From His elevated vantage point, He surveys the whole human race, and puts us all in the dock. All nations are answerable to God; every person must "give an account of himself to God".

Including Nineveh. And its every resident. Observe, "...their wickedness has come up before Me". The imagery is that of a stench, rising to heaven and offending the nostrils of the Most High. Nineveh stinks!

This is no new thing; Nineveh is one of the world's oldest cities. From its founding, it had offended God. For centuries He stood by and did nothing. No calamities had yet befallen this capital of iniquity. But now, THE LORD has had enough!

"Forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

Nineveh stands for the whole race apart from Christ. Divine blessings don't stir feelings of gratitude; rather, they breed pride and presumption. Psalm 50:21 has it: "These things you have done and I kept silent; You thought I was altogether like you". In other words, because God didn't punish their sins, they figured He must approve of them!

Plentiful blessings say nothing about Man's worthiness to receive them, but only the goodness of the God Who gives them. How good He was to Nineveh! Yet they didn't return thanks. Nor do the peoples of today, untouched by Divine grace.

This ingratitude brought Nineveh to the brink; but not Nineveh alone. The whole world stands accused of ingratitude. This sin must lead to judgment. As it is written:

"Neither were they thankful...

"Those who practice such things

are worthy of death".

Never was a city more ripe for judgment than Nineveh. But God did not send fire to consume its people; He sent His Word to save them. "Now the Word of the LORD came...Arise, go to Nineveh".

The Word seems to be entirely negative--"Forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown". But in every Divine warning, there is an implied offer of mercy. God is pleading with Nineveh! "Why will you die?" THE LORD takes "No pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live!"

"Oh the depth of the riches

both of the wisdom and knowledge

of God! How unsearchable

are His ways and His judgments

past finding out!"

Who would have thought Nineveh? Didn't Israel need God's grace? Yes they did; desperately. Its king, Jeroboam II was continuing the policies of his namesake, and leading God's people deeper and deeper into idolatry. And Judah? Hypocrisy was on the rise and judgments were coming its way too. Yet it is not Israel! It is not Judah! It is Nineveh which receives the Word!

Jonah was not happy about this development. As a patriotic Israelite, he loved his nation and hated its enemies. Yet God sends the Word to Nineveh, the archenemy of His people.

This shouldn't have surprised Jonah; nor disappointed him. For is the LORD a local deity? A provincial Savior? No He's not! He is crowned

"Lord of all".

Hadn't the promise come to Abraham, that in his "Seed...all the families of the earth would be blessed?" And hadn't He promised to send "a light to the Gentiles?" Wouldn't "the earth [one day] be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea?"

All this is true. But why Nineveh? Of all the cities in the world to save why choose the worst? It was built by Nimrod, the proudest man who ever lived! It was second to none in the worship of idols. It was notorious for its brutality. And, worst of all, it was on the eastern border of Israel! Anyone but Nineveh!

Yet it must be Nineveh, for the LORD doesn't come "to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance". Not only does He call them to it, but enables them to repent.

This was true in the days of Jonah; it was true in when "The Word dwelt among us". How unlikely His converts were! A tax collector; a harlot; a demoniac. And how encouraging to sinners of every sort. No one is too wicked to be saved! Because

"Where sin abounded

Grace did much more abound".

The pattern remains unchanged! How many of us were likely candidates for salvation? No! We are "Brands plucked out of the fire". He was "found by those who did not seek [Him]".

How wonderful it is that Nineveh would be a "kind of firstfruit". For, in this age, God is calling out for Himself "A people who were not a people; a people who had not obtained mercy". "Strangers [we were] to the covenants of promise; aliens from the commonwealth of Israel"; a people "without God and without hope in the world".

But the Savior of Nineveh is our Savior! A Savior "who changes not"; a Savior "the same yesterday, today, and forever". A Savior who bestows His grace on the most unlikely and unworthy of sinners.

If this is true, let us thank God for His undeserved favor. And never entertain the thought that we had somehow or other merited it. This is our temptation; but we mustn't give in to it. Remember: We are Nineveh!

If this is true, let us never despair of others. If the LORD is moved for Nineveh, why not for them? If He wills to save Nineveh, why not that evil husband? That horrid neighbor? That stubborn father? That prodigal son?

It is not His heart that is too narrow; it is our faith. It is our prayers. It is our evangelistic efforts. The Lord who once saved Nineveh, will continue shocking His people by bringing in a worldwide harvest of souls. Let's be up and doing our part for world redemption.

God help us, for Christ's sake. Amen.