Sermon Tone Analysis

Recap

Repentance of Nineveh

importance of discomfort

end goal is the turn from evil

as they relented God relented

QUESTION: Wh

The pursuit of Jonah

Why is Jonah so angry at God’s show of mercy?

Because all the trouble he went through

endangering his prophetic career because destruction doesn’t come

thought that the destruction of Nineveh would be a warning to Israel to repent and turn

Israel was in a time of prosperity so there was little reliance on God

Jonah lacked maturity

evidence by swinging commitment

Didn’t understand God’s divine judgement

V.2 Jonah highlights the qualities of god that are so compelling to follow Him, but he does so as if it is a mark against Him.

Jonah is frustrated at the very attributes he is receiving from God.

Irony of Jonah

fled from god ch 1

praised god for saving his life ch 2

prays to God to take his life ch 4

QUESTION: Without know the story…How would you envision God responding to this statement of Jonah?

take him OUT

What does God’s response say about God?

God is extremely long suffering and patient with us.

He wants us to grow and mature in our relationship with Him

He wants us to experience the very qualities of Him, that we are to share with others.

What is God trying to accomplish through His questioning.

God desires for Jonah to pause and reflect…He is turning Jonah inward to the condition of his heart.

This is the most challenging place to go when we are frustrated and at odds with God, a situation or with someone else.

We become tunnel visioned…unable to see the bigger issues.

Jonah couldn’t see the bigger issue of God’s divine mercy and judgement.

Jonah couldn’t see the maturing he needed to do

God is working on both Jonah and the Nineveh

While Jonah was prompted by God to turn inward towards his emotions, Jonah insisted to look outward.

So He focused on Nineveh hoping judgement would come and vindication along with it.

How would you characterize Jonah in these verse?

St. Cyril of Alexandria describes Jonah as an immature child who’s emotions are erratic

‘extremely happy’

‘then he wished death for himself’

The unsophisticated mind is very easily disposed to both distress and satisfaction; you will see the accuracy of my comment if you observe the ways of infants, who often get upset at something of no consequence and weep loudly at nothing

When we do not grow in our understanding of God, however limited it will always be, we struggle to see the hand of God.

We don’t catch on to what He is doing in our lives or around us.

When we don’t see a big picture, we become hyper-reactive to the immediate events.

The mind that is not resilient is likewise easily disposed to an influence from whatever delights it or naturally distresses it.2

Spiritual resiliency: The ability to take the ups and down of a spiritual journey without loosing sight of what is important.

Resiliency is a function of spiritual maturity....not easily shaken

In v.9 the lord conveys tenderness and longsuffering with Jonah…In v.10 He takes a posture of forcefulness in driving His point home, which Jonah might finally be in a position to hear.

God was using all the events of the book to prime Jonah for one of the key messages of the book.

Jonah is clearly at a broken state, feeling like he just can’t win.

When we are broken then we are more likely to listen.

God’s main points

God judgement is reserved for God alone

He has a heart for everyone