Jonah
Chapter 1:1-3, CEV
One day the LORD told Jonah, the son of Amittai, to go to the great city of Nineveh and say to the people, "The LORD has seen your terrible sins. You are doomed!" Instead, Jonah ran from the LORD. He went to the seaport of Joppa and bought a ticket on a ship that was going to Spain. Then he got on the ship and sailed away to escape.
! If you are like the rest of us human beings this story is all too familiar. If we are honest with ourselves, Jonah is not the only one who has run away from God.
? So think of some times that God has asked you to do something specific. What did God ask you to do? In those times you chose not to obey right away, what did you do to �escape�? What represents you �ship to Tarshish�?
1:4-5, 7, 11-12
But the LORD made a strong wind blow, and such a bad storm came up that the ship was about to be broken to pieces. The sailors were frightened, and they all started praying to their gods. They even threw the ship's cargo overboard to make the ship lighter.
All this time, Jonah was down below deck, sound asleep.
Finally, the sailors got together and said, "Let's ask our gods to show us who caused all this trouble." It turned out to be Jonah.
The storm kept getting worse, until finally the sailors asked him, "What should we do with you to make the sea calm down?"
Jonah told them, "Throw me into the sea, and it will calm down. I'm the cause of this terrible storm."
! The problem with not doing what we are supposed to do is that we aren�t the only ones who suffer. The nudge I am ignoring may cause a problem or fail to solve a problem for someone else. But, when I confess what is my fault, to myself, to God, to others, I have an opportunity to try to make it right. I can get pretty defensive or even deny when I am wrong, but I am learning that the soon I admit my mistakes the easier they are to live with and even to get past.
? Confession time! When has turning away from God�s will put you in harm�s way or even caused trouble for an innocent? What did you do about it? Did you turn around?
! That is the meaning of repentance. Sin is turning away from God�s will for your life. You can�t hit the target if you are aiming in the opposite direction! Repentance is turning around and coming home to God.
1:17
The LORD sent a big fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.
! God can do some amazing things to get our attention. Basically, God put Jonah in �time out� not in a corner but in the belly of that whale.
? What has God done to get your attention?
Chapter 2
From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God:
When I was in trouble, LORD,
I prayed to you,
and you listened to me.
From deep in the world
of the dead,
I begged for your help,
and you answered my prayer.
You threw me down
to the bottom of the sea.
The water was churning
all around;
I was completely covered
by your mighty waves.
I thought I was swept away
from your sight,
never again to see
your holy temple.
I was almost drowned
by the swirling waters
that surrounded me.
Seaweed had wrapped
around my head.
I had sunk down below
the underwater mountains;
I knew that forever,
I would be a prisoner there.
But, you, LORD God,
rescued me from that pit.
When my life was slipping away,
I remembered you--
and in your holy temple
you heard my prayer.
All who worship worthless idols
turn from the God
who offers them mercy.
But with shouts of praise,
I will offer a sacrifice
to you, my LORD.
I will keep my promise,
because you are the one
with power to save.
The LORD commanded the fish to vomit up Jonah on the shore. And it did.
! When you�re in trouble with God, honesty is the best policy. Sometimes that means we have to admit to ourselves that we messed up and that we need God�s help!
? When have you had to admit to God that you were in way over your head and needed God�s help to get out of the trouble you have gotten yourself into?
* Action plan: This week tell someone your testimony of running away from God and the consequences, of surrendering & confessing your need to God and God�s saving grace.
Read in your Bible the rest of the story!
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