Who's the Judge?

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Relentless Grace: Lessons from the Life of Jonah  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  26:31
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Throughout this story Jonah sets himself up as judge over Nineveh and over God.

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Jonah 3:10–4:11 NIV
10 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. 1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” 10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

Jonah Judges Nineveh

Jonah decides that the people of Nineveh are not just unworthy of being saved, but unworthy of even hearing the call to repent!
Jonah 1:3
Jonah 1:12
In chapter 2, notice Jonah doesn’t repent of judging/hating Nineveh. He simply tells God he will obey. There is no admission of wrong doing on the part of the prophet. He thinks his refusal is right!
Jonah 3:4 - Jonah leaves a lot of holes in his message here. Cold you figure out what you are to do with Jonah’s sermon?
Jonah 3:4 NIV
4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”
What God is warning them?
Why is the punishment coming?
What must they do to be saved?
Even after he delivers a woefully incomplete sermon, the people repent! And Jonah still doesn’t think they should be forgiven!
Jonah 4:1
Jonah 4:1 NIV
1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.
Jonah 4:2
Jonah 4:2 NIV
2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
4:3 - “If you are willing to save those people, then just kill me now!”

Jonah Judges God

He not only judges Nineveh, he has passed Judgement on God himself!
Jonah 4:2 - What you and I would consider a blessing, Jonah views as a Character Flaw of God!
Jonah 4:5 - He actually waits to watch and see if God repents because of the scolding Jonah had given him!
Jonah 4:5 NIV
5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.

Jonah Judges God

Jonah's actions in chapter 4 are an attempt to help God realize his mistake and come to Jonah's way of seeing things.
Surely God will come to his senses and still destroy Nineveh.
We may not realize it, but when we decide that following our own plans are better than following God’s plans, we have passed judgement on God himself! We are Jonah!

Modern Day Jonah?

How often are we modern-day Jonah's, sure that God should punish and destroy others because they are too far gone to be saved?
CR? Sharing Testimony in Church?
“You sit by hurting people every week and don’t know it because many don’t view church as a safe place to share.
They’re afraid you might just be a Jonah.
Religious people tend to fall into this trap of judgement.
Luke 15:1-2
Luke 15:1–2 NIV
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Matthew 9:9-13
Matthew 9:9–13 NIV
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mercy (love others the way Jesus does) not Sacrifice (you’re worship is meaningless without this!)
Wednesday Night - God condemns all acts of worship at some point in Scripture because of the heart behind it.
Romans 5:8
Romans 5:8 NIV
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God can’t stand sin, but he is in love with those that are caught up in it. He wants to save them from it!

Modern Day Jonah?

When we try to make God do things our way, nothing makes sense. Only when we submit ourselves to His way does life have meaning and purpose. He calls us to GO!
HOW MUCH TIME DO WE SPEND TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT DON’T MATTER, AND YET CAN NEVER FIND THE TIME TO TALK TO OTHERS ABOUT JESUS? We are Jonah!
Who’s your Nineveh?
Who’s your One?
Who is God calling you to have a meaningful conversation with?
Who is God calling you to share your story with?
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