| [0.00 --> 9.12] I'm scheduled to come here a number of times in the next number of weeks and so I thought | |
| [9.12 --> 15.70] I would like to look at a narrative story in scripture that is a familiar one and that | |
| [15.70 --> 16.92] is the story of Jonah. | |
| [17.52 --> 24.70] And so over the next number of times when I'm here, I'm going to focus on each subsequent | |
| [24.70 --> 26.54] chapter of Jonah. | |
| [26.54 --> 34.14] It's not a very long book, I'm tempted almost to read the whole thing, but I'm only going | |
| [34.14 --> 35.72] to read chapter one this morning. | |
| [36.34 --> 40.94] But I'm going to invite you and those of you who are watching on live stream and who are | |
| [40.94 --> 45.78] part of Emanuel Church to spend some time looking at the book of Jonah. | |
| [45.90 --> 48.88] Don't just simply read the words. | |
| [50.36 --> 51.40] Two challenges. | |
| [52.10 --> 55.94] Take a look at its structure, how it is structured. | |
| [55.94 --> 61.60] You'll find that chapters one and two have a parallel in chapters three and four. | |
| [62.36 --> 63.46] And then here's the challenge. | |
| [64.40 --> 69.28] And I will reveal the answer at some point if I don't forget, but I don't think I will. | |
| [69.48 --> 70.34] But here's the challenge. | |
| [70.48 --> 77.16] See if you can find in your mind and in your heart and in your experience a parallel story | |
| [77.16 --> 79.28] out of the New Testament. | |
| [79.28 --> 88.52] Just see if you can find in your heart and your mind a parallel story out of the New Testament. | |
| [89.16 --> 95.26] The Hebrew writers of the Old Testament were very skilled. | |
| [95.26 --> 98.80] They were thoughtful. | |
| [98.80 --> 103.74] They were led by the Holy Spirit of God, but they were very skilled. | |
| [104.26 --> 112.20] And when you read the book of Jonah, you need to remember that Jonah, who we presume to be | |
| [112.20 --> 117.42] the author, was looking back at his experience. | |
| [117.42 --> 121.02] He wasn't writing about it as it was happening. | |
| [121.84 --> 124.06] He was looking back at it. | |
| [124.20 --> 126.36] It was history for him. | |
| [127.30 --> 129.76] And it becomes history for us. | |
| [130.52 --> 134.30] And we need to try to find ourselves in the story. | |
| [134.80 --> 138.10] So let me read from Jonah chapter one. | |
| [138.10 --> 145.32] The word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, go to the great city of Nineveh | |
| [145.32 --> 150.86] and preach against it because its wickedness has come up before me. | |
| [151.84 --> 158.34] But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. | |
| [158.48 --> 162.04] He went down to Joppa where he found a ship bound for that port. | |
| [162.04 --> 168.10] After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. | |
| [169.54 --> 175.42] Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea and such a violent storm arose that the ship | |
| [175.42 --> 176.62] threatened to break up. | |
| [178.50 --> 183.74] All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own God. | |
| [184.78 --> 189.46] And they threw the cargo into the sea to begin to lighten the ship. | |
| [189.46 --> 194.20] But Jonah had gone below deck where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. | |
| [195.60 --> 199.14] The captain went to him and said, how can you sleep? | |
| [199.66 --> 201.66] Get up and call on your God. | |
| [202.82 --> 207.44] Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish. | |
| [209.12 --> 215.50] Then the sailors said to each other, come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible | |
| [215.50 --> 216.66] for this calamity. | |
| [216.66 --> 220.68] They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. | |
| [222.20 --> 227.04] And so they asked him, tell us who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? | |
| [227.54 --> 230.04] What kind of work do you do? | |
| [230.46 --> 231.52] Where do you come from? | |
| [232.08 --> 233.04] What is your country? | |
| [233.88 --> 235.46] From what people are you? | |
| [236.80 --> 238.18] And he answered, I'm Hebrew. | |
| [238.18 --> 244.64] And I worship the Lord, the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land. | |
| [245.56 --> 246.90] This terrified them. | |
| [246.98 --> 249.32] And they asked, what have you done? | |
| [249.32 --> 256.28] They knew he was running away from the Lord because he had already told them so. | |
| [257.24 --> 260.84] The sea was getting rougher and rougher. | |
| [261.70 --> 266.40] So they asked him, what should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us? | |
| [267.46 --> 273.22] Pick me up and throw me into the sea, he replied, and it will become calm. | |
| [273.22 --> 279.04] I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you. | |
| [279.88 --> 283.86] Instead, the men did their best to roll back to the land. | |
| [284.74 --> 289.98] But they could not, for the sea was growing wilder than before. | |
| [290.24 --> 296.72] Then they cried out to the Lord, please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man's life. | |
| [296.72 --> 303.86] Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased. | |
| [305.08 --> 310.22] Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. | |
| [311.34 --> 317.66] At this, the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. | |
| [318.56 --> 325.92] Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days. | |
| [326.72 --> 327.66] And three nights. | |
| [328.22 --> 329.68] This is the word of the Lord. | |
| [332.00 --> 335.24] So what have you been doing over the last number of months? | |
| [336.36 --> 339.08] You've had time to do different things. | |
| [339.72 --> 340.60] School has been out. | |
| [340.60 --> 349.70] Perhaps if you have children at home, you had to do some homeschooling, and you discovered the challenging work of a teacher. | |
| [349.70 --> 358.92] Or perhaps you've had to work from home, and you've discovered the importance of keeping a routine. | |
| [360.70 --> 372.06] Or perhaps you have indulged ever more into social media, and you have become much more adept at finding your way around the internet. | |
| [372.06 --> 377.78] Or perhaps you have been reading more. | |
| [378.78 --> 383.90] The newspaper, magazines, books, fiction, and nonfiction. | |
| [384.72 --> 389.20] What have you been doing over the last three months? | |
| [390.84 --> 391.56] Complaining? | |
| [393.18 --> 394.40] Binge-watching? | |
| [394.40 --> 394.90] Binge-watching? | |
| [395.30 --> 395.74] Binge-watching? | |
| [396.36 --> 398.98] I've painted the interior of our house. | |
| [400.72 --> 402.36] Our marriage is still together. | |
| [403.98 --> 411.22] One of the things that happened is that this man died in the time. | |
| [412.10 --> 414.72] His name is Ravi Zacharias. | |
| [415.54 --> 421.96] Ravi Zacharias was born in India, converted to the Christian faith in his teenage years. | |
| [421.96 --> 425.56] he was about 17, he had attempted to commit suicide. | |
| [427.26 --> 431.00] And as a result of that attempt on his life, | |
| [431.88 --> 436.66] he was confronted by the reality of who Jesus was, | |
| [437.66 --> 440.78] and he committed his life to Christ | |
| [440.78 --> 445.12] by the sovereign grace of God, working in his heart. | |
| [446.32 --> 451.16] He moved to Canada, went to now what is Tyndale Seminary, | |
| [451.96 --> 455.44] became part of the Christian Missionary Alliance Church, | |
| [456.18 --> 459.94] and established a ministry of apologetics. | |
| [459.94 --> 466.62] That is, he went around to people to defend the Christian faith. | |
| [468.14 --> 471.76] He's been doing that for years and years, going to college campuses, | |
| [471.76 --> 476.22] and has a whole ministry that is now based in the state of Georgia. | |
| [476.22 --> 482.28] He was diagnosed with cancer earlier, or late last year, early this year, | |
| [482.50 --> 486.20] and died rather quickly in May of this past year. | |
| [486.20 --> 493.88] He had a blog and a radio program entitled, | |
| [493.88 --> 498.00] Let My People Think. | |
| [498.00 --> 502.84] Let My People Think. | |
| [502.84 --> 510.38] In other words, let my people grow deeper into the Christian faith, | |
| [511.22 --> 514.82] thinking about not only its doctrines, | |
| [515.28 --> 517.52] but also its practices. | |
| [517.52 --> 524.86] thinking about how we can best address the issues of the day. | |
| [525.60 --> 531.76] Thinking about how we can best walk in the footsteps of Jesus. | |
| [531.76 --> 536.28] In response to his death, | |
| [536.28 --> 540.58] I began to read one of his books once again, | |
| [540.58 --> 545.80] because I wanted to come to a deeper sense of appreciation | |
| [545.80 --> 549.18] for the impactful ministry he has had. | |
| [549.24 --> 552.72] And if you have had time now to explore the internet, | |
| [552.92 --> 553.86] you'll know about YouTube, | |
| [554.14 --> 556.44] and you just have to put his name onto YouTube, | |
| [556.44 --> 561.06] and you get all sorts of different videos and clips of his work. | |
| [561.06 --> 565.16] He is a very thoughtful, convicting speaker, | |
| [565.82 --> 571.18] and I think you would benefit from hearing what he has to say. | |
| [571.24 --> 571.72] But he said, | |
| [572.24 --> 575.58] Let my people think. | |
| [577.12 --> 579.68] And as I was reflecting on that, | |
| [579.76 --> 584.96] and reflecting upon the need to lay open God's word, | |
| [584.96 --> 589.22] I thought, maybe we should think a little bit more about Jonah. | |
| [589.82 --> 592.00] Now Jonah is a very popular topic, of course, | |
| [592.50 --> 596.62] because Sunday school classes can be built around him. | |
| [597.38 --> 601.24] Vacation Bible school themes can be built around what happened. | |
| [601.38 --> 607.06] I mean, kids just love this whole idea of storms and whales or great fishes | |
| [607.06 --> 609.82] and living inside of a fish for three days. | |
| [609.92 --> 613.82] I mean, you could make something dramatic of that. | |
| [614.96 --> 617.54] But you really want to ask, | |
| [617.96 --> 621.60] what do we know about Jonah, | |
| [621.96 --> 626.56] and do we really believe that Jonah existed? | |
| [626.78 --> 628.62] Because there's much debate about that. | |
| [629.10 --> 633.58] Who believes that a fish could be so big to swallow a man, | |
| [633.68 --> 635.90] to allow to live inside of the stomach, | |
| [636.20 --> 637.94] full of gastric acid? | |
| [637.94 --> 642.68] What would his skin have looked like three days later | |
| [642.68 --> 645.94] when he was ejected in a whole blast of protein? | |
| [648.64 --> 649.36] Really? | |
| [649.76 --> 651.60] Can you really believe that happened? | |
| [653.30 --> 655.32] Maybe it's not real. | |
| [655.58 --> 658.38] Maybe it's just a fictional story | |
| [658.38 --> 661.34] created out of a man's imagination | |
| [661.34 --> 663.70] to drive home a point. | |
| [665.76 --> 667.70] Maybe it's a parable, | |
| [668.82 --> 671.48] a fantastical story | |
| [671.48 --> 674.78] to make us think. | |
| [676.68 --> 678.32] What do you know about Jonah? | |
| [679.34 --> 681.54] Well, Jonah is mentioned | |
| [681.54 --> 684.48] not only in the book that bears his name, | |
| [684.48 --> 687.56] but also in 2 Kings chapter 14. | |
| [687.78 --> 688.66] He was the one. | |
| [689.16 --> 690.66] This is Jeroboam II, | |
| [690.86 --> 692.68] who was the king | |
| [692.68 --> 694.06] in the northern part of Israel. | |
| [694.34 --> 696.36] The land had divided, | |
| [696.56 --> 698.00] so there was Judah to the south | |
| [698.00 --> 699.96] and Israel to the north. | |
| [700.18 --> 701.78] And Jeroboam II, | |
| [702.46 --> 703.68] not the first king, | |
| [703.78 --> 705.32] but the second Jeroboam, | |
| [705.74 --> 706.60] was king, | |
| [706.60 --> 711.66] and his reign ended in 753 B.C. | |
| [712.54 --> 714.16] So he was the one | |
| [714.16 --> 716.60] who restored the boundaries of Israel | |
| [716.60 --> 718.98] from Labohamath to the Dead Sea | |
| [718.98 --> 720.94] in accordance with the word of the Lord, | |
| [721.34 --> 722.30] the God of Israel, | |
| [722.48 --> 724.60] spoken through his servant Jonah, | |
| [725.12 --> 726.40] son of Amittai, | |
| [726.56 --> 728.52] the prophet from Gath-Hippar. | |
| [729.96 --> 732.62] So Jonah's mentioned in the scriptures | |
| [732.62 --> 734.48] in another place. | |
| [734.48 --> 737.14] It puts us, then makes us aware | |
| [737.14 --> 739.02] of his time frame. | |
| [740.64 --> 741.82] And he was a prophet | |
| [741.82 --> 743.48] who spoke words of encouragement | |
| [744.02 --> 745.52] to Jeroboam II, | |
| [746.24 --> 747.60] who, however, | |
| [748.06 --> 749.50] was one who was described | |
| [749.50 --> 750.72] he did what was evil | |
| [750.72 --> 751.98] in the eyes of the Lord. | |
| [752.46 --> 755.52] And yet the Lord blessed his work and reign, | |
| [755.88 --> 759.98] and he was allowed to expand Israel | |
| [759.98 --> 761.38] to its former borders, | |
| [761.58 --> 762.34] to the north, | |
| [762.34 --> 765.18] to the land that was controlled | |
| [765.18 --> 766.36] by the people | |
| [766.36 --> 768.00] or the kingdom of Damascus. | |
| [768.00 --> 771.18] That had been part of David's reign | |
| [771.18 --> 771.84] and kingdom, | |
| [772.20 --> 773.34] and Jeroboam II | |
| [773.34 --> 775.82] pushed the boundaries back | |
| [775.82 --> 777.54] to the north. | |
| [778.00 --> 779.48] So his boundaries | |
| [779.48 --> 780.82] butted up against | |
| [780.82 --> 781.58] the boundaries | |
| [781.58 --> 783.78] of what would be called in time | |
| [783.78 --> 785.34] the Assyrian kingdom. | |
| [785.34 --> 788.76] And the Assyrian kingdom | |
| [788.76 --> 792.74] became a fairly large one, | |
| [792.88 --> 795.68] and you will see Nineveh, | |
| [795.80 --> 797.14] you see the letters, | |
| [797.30 --> 797.96] the Assyrian kingdom, | |
| [798.10 --> 799.02] and right above that, | |
| [799.14 --> 800.84] you'll see it's a little unclear, | |
| [801.50 --> 804.54] but that's where the city of Nineveh was. | |
| [804.54 --> 807.10] So the Assyrian kingdom | |
| [807.10 --> 808.60] was coming up | |
| [808.60 --> 809.60] in influence | |
| [809.60 --> 810.82] and power | |
| [810.82 --> 812.54] at the time of | |
| [812.54 --> 813.36] Jonah. | |
| [814.32 --> 815.56] It was recognized | |
| [815.56 --> 817.80] as a formidable | |
| [817.80 --> 819.00] opponent. | |
| [820.50 --> 821.52] In time, | |
| [821.72 --> 823.60] in 721 BC, | |
| [824.52 --> 826.26] the Assyrian empire | |
| [826.26 --> 827.64] would destroy | |
| [827.64 --> 828.98] the northern part | |
| [828.98 --> 830.88] of the land of Israel | |
| [830.88 --> 833.40] and take the northern Israelites | |
| [833.40 --> 834.64] into captivity | |
| [834.64 --> 837.36] from which they never recovered. | |
| [839.18 --> 840.70] So Jonah was | |
| [840.70 --> 841.90] aware | |
| [841.90 --> 843.88] of the Assyrians | |
| [843.88 --> 845.04] and | |
| [845.04 --> 847.14] of their growing impact | |
| [847.14 --> 847.88] and power. | |
| [848.78 --> 849.96] This is a picture | |
| [849.96 --> 851.12] of the reconstruction | |
| [851.12 --> 852.72] of one of the gates | |
| [852.72 --> 855.48] of the city of Nineveh, | |
| [855.90 --> 857.00] and then beside | |
| [857.00 --> 858.06] that | |
| [858.06 --> 858.48] is | |
| [858.48 --> 859.90] words from | |
| [859.90 --> 860.80] the prophet | |
| [860.80 --> 861.56] Nahum. | |
| [862.72 --> 863.62] He comes about | |
| [863.62 --> 864.78] a hundred years later | |
| [864.78 --> 866.54] than Jonah, | |
| [866.88 --> 868.24] and Nahum writes, | |
| [868.44 --> 869.54] woe to the city | |
| [869.54 --> 870.56] of blood, | |
| [870.68 --> 871.48] full of lies, | |
| [871.60 --> 872.36] full of plunder, | |
| [872.52 --> 873.62] never without victims. | |
| [873.72 --> 874.54] That's verse 1. | |
| [875.12 --> 876.30] And then verse 19, | |
| [876.82 --> 878.68] nothing can heal you, | |
| [879.12 --> 880.62] your wound is fatal, | |
| [881.18 --> 882.60] all who hear the news | |
| [882.60 --> 884.04] about you clap their hands | |
| [884.04 --> 884.84] at your fall, | |
| [885.40 --> 887.02] for who has not felt | |
| [887.02 --> 888.54] your endless cruelty. | |
| [890.24 --> 890.98] Those are the words | |
| [890.98 --> 891.62] of Nahum | |
| [891.62 --> 892.82] to Nineveh, | |
| [892.98 --> 894.58] to the Assyrian Empire, | |
| [894.74 --> 896.16] a hundred years or so | |
| [896.16 --> 897.74] after Jonah, | |
| [898.68 --> 900.50] reflecting on the history | |
| [900.50 --> 901.70] and the conduct | |
| [901.70 --> 903.18] of the Assyrians. | |
| [903.84 --> 904.96] They were known | |
| [904.96 --> 905.90] for their cruelty. | |
| [906.60 --> 907.52] They were known | |
| [907.52 --> 909.12] for their attitude | |
| [909.12 --> 910.90] towards their enemy, | |
| [911.42 --> 912.68] to destroy them, | |
| [912.68 --> 914.08] to beat them down, | |
| [914.24 --> 915.22] to celebrate | |
| [915.22 --> 917.18] their defeat. | |
| [918.58 --> 919.96] So here we are. | |
| [921.18 --> 922.12] We have Jonah, | |
| [922.70 --> 923.34] a prophet | |
| [923.34 --> 924.74] in the northern part | |
| [924.74 --> 925.84] of Israel, | |
| [926.54 --> 927.86] encouraging the king | |
| [927.86 --> 929.62] who has been successful, | |
| [930.30 --> 931.68] who is very aware | |
| [931.68 --> 933.56] that to the further north | |
| [933.56 --> 935.28] and to the east | |
| [935.28 --> 938.20] arises this empire, | |
| [938.20 --> 940.04] which in time | |
| [940.04 --> 941.62] will have very | |
| [941.62 --> 943.44] destructive impact | |
| [943.44 --> 944.78] on the people | |
| [944.78 --> 945.64] of Israel. | |
| [946.96 --> 948.54] And God says | |
| [948.54 --> 949.50] to Jonah, | |
| [950.06 --> 952.70] go to Nineveh, | |
| [953.02 --> 954.28] that great city, | |
| [954.94 --> 956.18] and preach | |
| [956.18 --> 957.58] against it. | |
| [959.18 --> 960.32] And Jonah says, | |
| [960.40 --> 960.60] no. | |
| [962.28 --> 963.00] I ain't going. | |
| [964.76 --> 966.20] Alexander Maslow | |
| [966.20 --> 968.38] was quoted by John Ortberg, | |
| [968.74 --> 971.06] and Maslow gets credit | |
| [971.06 --> 973.38] for writing a summary | |
| [973.38 --> 976.36] in the words of Dr. Seuss. | |
| [977.82 --> 979.20] I would not go there | |
| [979.20 --> 979.68] in a boat. | |
| [980.16 --> 981.22] I would not go there | |
| [981.22 --> 981.74] in a float. | |
| [982.16 --> 983.26] I would not go there | |
| [983.26 --> 983.84] in a gale. | |
| [984.02 --> 985.12] I would not go there | |
| [985.12 --> 985.68] in a whale. | |
| [986.12 --> 987.96] I do not like the people there. | |
| [988.50 --> 989.70] If they'd all died, | |
| [989.78 --> 990.82] I would not care. | |
| [991.68 --> 992.62] I will not go | |
| [992.62 --> 993.72] to that great town. | |
| [994.14 --> 995.30] I'd rather choke. | |
| [995.30 --> 996.88] I'd rather drown. | |
| [997.56 --> 998.34] I will not go | |
| [998.34 --> 999.36] by land or sea. | |
| [1000.06 --> 1001.52] So stop the talk | |
| [1001.52 --> 1003.02] and let me be. | |
| [1005.70 --> 1006.34] Jonah says, | |
| [1006.42 --> 1006.64] no. | |
| [1009.46 --> 1010.68] Imagine for a moment | |
| [1010.68 --> 1012.68] that you were a rabbi, | |
| [1012.90 --> 1014.02] a Jewish rabbi, | |
| [1014.64 --> 1015.92] in 1941, | |
| [1016.92 --> 1019.02] and that you lived | |
| [1019.02 --> 1020.42] in greater Europe, | |
| [1020.42 --> 1022.96] and God came to you | |
| [1022.96 --> 1023.36] and said, | |
| [1023.50 --> 1024.86] go to Berlin | |
| [1024.86 --> 1028.28] and preach against it. | |
| [1030.80 --> 1032.00] Would you go? | |
| [1032.00 --> 1036.48] By that time, | |
| [1037.02 --> 1038.68] the war had started. | |
| [1039.98 --> 1041.04] Concentration camps | |
| [1041.04 --> 1041.70] were packed. | |
| [1042.98 --> 1043.66] Jews were being | |
| [1043.66 --> 1045.32] transported en masse. | |
| [1046.98 --> 1048.74] Millions would die. | |
| [1050.34 --> 1051.10] Would you go? | |
| [1052.44 --> 1053.88] Would it make any sense? | |
| [1053.88 --> 1060.26] Let my people think. | |
| [1060.26 --> 1063.02] Let my people think. | |
| [1064.68 --> 1066.02] And so Jonah says, | |
| [1066.14 --> 1066.32] no. | |
| [1067.62 --> 1068.88] And Jonah decides | |
| [1068.88 --> 1070.56] that he's going to run. | |
| [1071.50 --> 1072.98] So he goes from his home | |
| [1072.98 --> 1074.06] down to Joppa, | |
| [1074.38 --> 1075.84] and he gets on a ship | |
| [1075.84 --> 1076.26] to Tarshish. | |
| [1076.26 --> 1076.78] Tarshish. | |
| [1077.04 --> 1077.26] Now, | |
| [1077.74 --> 1078.98] notice something, | |
| [1079.56 --> 1080.72] because you have to | |
| [1080.72 --> 1081.50] slow down | |
| [1081.50 --> 1082.76] when you read Scripture, | |
| [1083.04 --> 1084.72] because every word | |
| [1084.72 --> 1086.40] and every sentence, | |
| [1086.56 --> 1087.56] every phrase | |
| [1087.56 --> 1088.86] can be packed | |
| [1088.86 --> 1089.60] with meaning | |
| [1089.60 --> 1090.74] once you begin | |
| [1090.74 --> 1091.90] to unravel it | |
| [1091.90 --> 1092.66] a little bit. | |
| [1094.44 --> 1095.72] Notice that Jonah | |
| [1095.72 --> 1098.00] paid his own fare. | |
| [1100.78 --> 1102.32] He paid for a ticket, | |
| [1103.00 --> 1105.02] which was very unusual | |
| [1105.02 --> 1105.98] in the day. | |
| [1105.98 --> 1107.40] if you would travel | |
| [1107.40 --> 1108.02] by ship, | |
| [1108.10 --> 1108.70] because they were | |
| [1108.70 --> 1109.88] all cargo ships | |
| [1109.88 --> 1111.36] or military ships. | |
| [1111.52 --> 1113.00] There weren't cruise liners | |
| [1113.00 --> 1114.42] and passenger ships. | |
| [1115.08 --> 1116.50] No, you could buy a bed | |
| [1116.50 --> 1117.32] and then get from | |
| [1117.32 --> 1118.36] point A to B. | |
| [1118.94 --> 1119.92] No, you would go | |
| [1119.92 --> 1120.54] on a ship | |
| [1120.54 --> 1121.62] and you would barter. | |
| [1121.74 --> 1122.82] I'll sweep the deck. | |
| [1123.54 --> 1124.82] I'll cook the food. | |
| [1125.24 --> 1126.32] I'll help you load | |
| [1126.32 --> 1127.12] and unload | |
| [1127.12 --> 1131.80] in exchange for a trip, | |
| [1132.00 --> 1133.40] because I'm at A | |
| [1133.40 --> 1134.68] and I need to get to B | |
| [1134.68 --> 1135.46] and I know you're | |
| [1135.46 --> 1136.08] getting to be, | |
| [1136.16 --> 1137.16] you're going to be. | |
| [1138.68 --> 1139.68] But Jonah doesn't barter. | |
| [1141.24 --> 1142.28] Jonah pays the fare. | |
| [1143.60 --> 1145.86] He is a man of means. | |
| [1146.30 --> 1149.02] He is a person of influence. | |
| [1150.28 --> 1152.82] He can direct his own life. | |
| [1152.82 --> 1155.22] And he says, | |
| [1155.42 --> 1157.20] I will not go there in a boat. | |
| [1157.32 --> 1159.28] I will not go there in a float. | |
| [1160.52 --> 1161.76] Let them all die. | |
| [1161.88 --> 1163.10] I do not care. | |
| [1164.70 --> 1166.20] And so he goes his own way. | |
| [1166.60 --> 1167.94] Instead of going to Nineveh, | |
| [1168.04 --> 1169.34] he goes to Tarshish. | |
| [1170.26 --> 1171.74] And we think that Tarshish | |
| [1171.74 --> 1173.74] is probably located roughly now | |
| [1173.74 --> 1176.74] where the Gibraltar is located | |
| [1176.74 --> 1178.02] in Spain. | |
| [1178.42 --> 1180.10] For that time, | |
| [1181.12 --> 1182.22] it would be seen | |
| [1182.22 --> 1182.84] and known | |
| [1182.84 --> 1184.28] as the end of the world. | |
| [1185.24 --> 1187.34] As far as he could go, | |
| [1188.12 --> 1190.46] Jonah would go. | |
| [1193.52 --> 1194.56] And then, | |
| [1195.56 --> 1197.26] God sends a storm. | |
| [1200.52 --> 1201.98] Jonah has sinned. | |
| [1201.98 --> 1205.28] He has refused to obey God. | |
| [1206.46 --> 1210.08] And sin always has its consequences. | |
| [1211.34 --> 1212.52] You lie. | |
| [1212.68 --> 1213.26] You cheat. | |
| [1214.14 --> 1215.74] You practice injustice. | |
| [1216.64 --> 1218.56] We live in a moral universe. | |
| [1219.84 --> 1222.74] And sin always has its consequence. | |
| [1223.86 --> 1225.88] Sin puts you in a prison. | |
| [1226.96 --> 1228.60] Sin eats you up | |
| [1228.60 --> 1231.54] from the inside to the outside. | |
| [1231.98 --> 1233.66] I don't recall the name | |
| [1233.66 --> 1234.60] of the movie right now, | |
| [1234.70 --> 1236.26] but I watched a movie | |
| [1236.26 --> 1237.44] about Mr. Rogers. | |
| [1237.60 --> 1238.70] Do you remember Mr. Rogers? | |
| [1238.80 --> 1239.44] He was nominated | |
| [1239.44 --> 1240.70] for an Academy Award | |
| [1240.70 --> 1242.66] with Tom Hanks. | |
| [1244.52 --> 1246.26] And Mr. Rogers meets | |
| [1246.26 --> 1247.48] a guy named Lloyd. | |
| [1247.92 --> 1250.30] And Lloyd hates his father. | |
| [1251.36 --> 1252.88] And it's eating him up | |
| [1252.88 --> 1254.36] on the inside. | |
| [1255.78 --> 1257.24] If you want to watch a good movie, | |
| [1257.32 --> 1258.74] let me recommend that one to you. | |
| [1259.26 --> 1259.52] All right? | |
| [1259.52 --> 1262.20] Because it's a story | |
| [1262.20 --> 1263.66] about overcoming. | |
| [1264.14 --> 1264.82] Mr. Rogers, | |
| [1265.00 --> 1266.52] as some of you probably know, | |
| [1266.94 --> 1268.44] was a Presbyterian pastor | |
| [1268.44 --> 1269.54] for over 30 years. | |
| [1269.74 --> 1270.58] But he focused | |
| [1270.58 --> 1271.66] on children's ministry. | |
| [1271.80 --> 1272.80] He didn't talk overtly | |
| [1272.80 --> 1273.96] about Jesus so much, | |
| [1274.04 --> 1276.20] but he wanted to help children | |
| [1276.20 --> 1279.46] deal with their feelings | |
| [1279.46 --> 1280.82] and their fears | |
| [1280.82 --> 1282.36] and their experiences. | |
| [1283.00 --> 1284.26] There's a line in that movie | |
| [1284.26 --> 1286.56] that continues to sort of | |
| [1286.56 --> 1287.94] grab my attention. | |
| [1288.14 --> 1288.44] He says, | |
| [1288.60 --> 1288.98] Death, | |
| [1289.36 --> 1292.30] death is often not talked about. | |
| [1293.66 --> 1296.78] But if we mention death, | |
| [1298.22 --> 1300.42] then by mentioning it, | |
| [1300.94 --> 1302.72] it becomes manageable. | |
| [1302.72 --> 1307.88] And, you know, | |
| [1307.92 --> 1309.36] he deals with this person, | |
| [1309.58 --> 1309.90] Lloyd, | |
| [1310.06 --> 1313.66] whose life is being torn apart | |
| [1313.66 --> 1315.60] by his anger | |
| [1315.60 --> 1317.38] and by his pain, | |
| [1317.58 --> 1319.10] by his sin, | |
| [1319.18 --> 1320.24] as well as the sin | |
| [1320.24 --> 1321.36] of his father. | |
| [1321.52 --> 1323.50] It's a complicated story | |
| [1323.50 --> 1326.00] and yet a universal story. | |
| [1326.00 --> 1329.16] And the reality is | |
| [1329.16 --> 1330.74] that's what sin does. | |
| [1332.18 --> 1333.96] Sin eats away | |
| [1333.96 --> 1335.24] and breaks | |
| [1335.24 --> 1337.06] and tears | |
| [1337.06 --> 1337.92] and destroys. | |
| [1338.74 --> 1339.98] God sends a storm. | |
| [1342.56 --> 1343.74] And the storm grows great. | |
| [1343.86 --> 1344.76] Now these sailors | |
| [1344.76 --> 1346.28] are experienced people, | |
| [1347.22 --> 1348.88] but they notice | |
| [1348.88 --> 1349.84] that this storm | |
| [1349.84 --> 1351.36] seems to be extraordinary. | |
| [1352.82 --> 1354.38] And they begin to wonder | |
| [1354.38 --> 1355.66] who is the cause? | |
| [1355.66 --> 1356.70] What is the cause? | |
| [1356.98 --> 1358.00] This isn't natural. | |
| [1358.20 --> 1360.10] This isn't the way | |
| [1360.10 --> 1361.64] we have experienced it | |
| [1361.64 --> 1362.90] in the past. | |
| [1366.48 --> 1367.96] And then they cast a lot. | |
| [1369.46 --> 1370.58] And think about | |
| [1370.58 --> 1371.70] what they asked Jonah. | |
| [1373.28 --> 1374.32] Who are you? | |
| [1376.20 --> 1377.34] What do you do? | |
| [1378.92 --> 1380.44] Where do you come from? | |
| [1382.44 --> 1384.04] Who do you serve? | |
| [1384.04 --> 1386.58] Those are questions | |
| [1386.58 --> 1387.72] of identity. | |
| [1388.24 --> 1389.28] Remember the story. | |
| [1389.40 --> 1390.60] This is not the parallel story | |
| [1390.60 --> 1391.08] I'm looking, | |
| [1391.38 --> 1392.40] having you look for | |
| [1392.40 --> 1393.70] for the story of Jonah. | |
| [1393.78 --> 1394.58] But remember the story | |
| [1394.58 --> 1395.12] of Jesus | |
| [1395.12 --> 1396.50] as recorded in | |
| [1396.50 --> 1397.94] Mark chapter 4. | |
| [1398.02 --> 1398.90] He falls asleep | |
| [1398.90 --> 1399.42] in a boat | |
| [1399.42 --> 1400.76] and the storm comes | |
| [1400.76 --> 1401.78] and the disciples | |
| [1401.78 --> 1402.44] wake him | |
| [1402.44 --> 1403.76] and they say, | |
| [1403.84 --> 1404.58] aren't you afraid? | |
| [1404.78 --> 1405.56] And he gets up | |
| [1405.56 --> 1406.10] and he says, | |
| [1406.80 --> 1408.38] peace be still. | |
| [1408.38 --> 1412.16] And the wind abates | |
| [1412.16 --> 1413.98] and the storm abates | |
| [1413.98 --> 1415.76] and the apostles | |
| [1415.76 --> 1416.48] look at him | |
| [1416.48 --> 1417.72] and ask this question. | |
| [1418.20 --> 1421.16] Who then is this | |
| [1421.16 --> 1422.76] that even the winds | |
| [1422.76 --> 1423.54] and the waves | |
| [1423.54 --> 1424.52] obey him? | |
| [1425.36 --> 1426.18] Jonah's asked | |
| [1426.18 --> 1427.26] an identity question. | |
| [1427.34 --> 1427.86] Who are you? | |
| [1427.92 --> 1428.68] Where are you from? | |
| [1428.96 --> 1429.88] What are you doing? | |
| [1429.96 --> 1430.72] What's your purpose? | |
| [1430.84 --> 1431.60] What's your place? | |
| [1431.70 --> 1432.68] Who are your people? | |
| [1432.68 --> 1435.26] I am a Hebrew | |
| [1435.26 --> 1437.94] and I serve the God | |
| [1437.94 --> 1441.12] who created the land | |
| [1441.12 --> 1442.60] and the sea | |
| [1442.60 --> 1447.02] and they are deathly afraid. | |
| [1450.06 --> 1451.78] They are deathly afraid | |
| [1451.78 --> 1454.24] because the great God | |
| [1454.24 --> 1454.96] is the God | |
| [1454.96 --> 1457.28] who created the land | |
| [1457.28 --> 1458.26] and the sea | |
| [1458.26 --> 1460.62] and they are feeling vulnerable. | |
| [1462.68 --> 1463.92] And they do everything | |
| [1463.92 --> 1464.76] that they can. | |
| [1465.90 --> 1468.02] They throw the cargo overboard. | |
| [1468.78 --> 1469.76] Now stop to think | |
| [1469.76 --> 1470.74] what that means a minute. | |
| [1471.84 --> 1473.78] They're throwing their product, | |
| [1473.96 --> 1475.34] their wages overboard. | |
| [1475.50 --> 1476.14] They're throwing | |
| [1476.14 --> 1478.02] their future overboard. | |
| [1478.68 --> 1479.86] This is not just simply | |
| [1479.86 --> 1481.12] a matter of lightening | |
| [1481.12 --> 1482.58] their ship. | |
| [1482.68 --> 1484.92] This is a matter of surviving | |
| [1484.92 --> 1486.02] and then entering | |
| [1486.02 --> 1487.66] into abject poverty. | |
| [1488.64 --> 1489.52] There's no insurance | |
| [1489.52 --> 1490.32] at that point. | |
| [1490.32 --> 1493.06] They are putting themselves | |
| [1493.06 --> 1494.42] at great risk. | |
| [1496.10 --> 1496.86] And the captain, | |
| [1497.12 --> 1499.70] he marshals all the resources | |
| [1499.70 --> 1500.98] that he can, | |
| [1501.84 --> 1502.90] directing his sailors | |
| [1502.90 --> 1504.18] but then looking | |
| [1504.18 --> 1506.24] for this other passenger | |
| [1506.24 --> 1508.40] who is sleeping | |
| [1508.40 --> 1510.14] below deck. | |
| [1510.86 --> 1512.10] See, this is the ship | |
| [1512.10 --> 1512.84] of Tarshish. | |
| [1513.52 --> 1514.50] If you read the stories | |
| [1514.50 --> 1515.06] of Solomon, | |
| [1515.20 --> 1516.04] he had a whole fleet | |
| [1516.04 --> 1516.72] of these ships. | |
| [1517.46 --> 1519.04] These were not small boats. | |
| [1519.04 --> 1521.90] This was a ship | |
| [1521.90 --> 1523.34] that had multiple decks. | |
| [1523.50 --> 1524.18] It could be driven | |
| [1524.18 --> 1526.06] by ore and by wind. | |
| [1526.76 --> 1528.70] And they had all sorts | |
| [1528.70 --> 1529.76] of cargo that delivered | |
| [1529.76 --> 1530.84] here or there. | |
| [1531.20 --> 1532.50] And Jonah was below deck. | |
| [1533.50 --> 1534.62] And he was sleeping. | |
| [1535.00 --> 1536.00] And the captain comes | |
| [1536.00 --> 1536.38] and says, | |
| [1536.74 --> 1536.94] you know, | |
| [1536.98 --> 1537.74] wake up! | |
| [1538.64 --> 1540.76] The captain berates him. | |
| [1542.50 --> 1544.08] Pray to your God. | |
| [1544.08 --> 1544.14] God. | |
| [1545.14 --> 1545.88] We've got to have | |
| [1545.88 --> 1547.22] everything going | |
| [1547.22 --> 1549.30] going for us. | |
| [1550.12 --> 1552.12] That is how scary it is. | |
| [1552.60 --> 1554.26] And recognize this thing | |
| [1554.26 --> 1556.40] that you hear so often today | |
| [1556.40 --> 1558.16] in the context of COVID-19. | |
| [1558.42 --> 1561.04] We're all in this together. | |
| [1561.72 --> 1564.80] We all are on the same boat. | |
| [1564.80 --> 1568.66] So mobilize your resources. | |
| [1570.18 --> 1571.28] Do what is right. | |
| [1572.76 --> 1574.06] And here's one of the lessons, | |
| [1574.24 --> 1574.62] I think, | |
| [1574.92 --> 1576.08] that we need to learn | |
| [1576.08 --> 1577.22] from the story | |
| [1577.22 --> 1579.20] that is recorded in Jonah. | |
| [1580.48 --> 1581.52] The pagans | |
| [1581.52 --> 1583.44] come off | |
| [1583.44 --> 1585.14] more favorably | |
| [1585.14 --> 1586.92] than the prophet | |
| [1586.92 --> 1588.12] of God. | |
| [1590.22 --> 1591.68] The pagans | |
| [1591.68 --> 1593.78] do everything right. | |
| [1595.96 --> 1596.92] And therefore, | |
| [1597.32 --> 1598.14] as Christians, | |
| [1598.36 --> 1599.18] we need to learn | |
| [1599.18 --> 1599.78] a lesson | |
| [1599.78 --> 1600.62] and that is | |
| [1600.62 --> 1601.86] that we respect | |
| [1601.86 --> 1603.16] everyone | |
| [1603.16 --> 1604.30] regardless | |
| [1604.30 --> 1605.62] of their beliefs. | |
| [1608.16 --> 1609.52] And we treat them | |
| [1609.52 --> 1610.38] as we would like | |
| [1610.38 --> 1611.06] to be treated, | |
| [1611.42 --> 1612.06] respectfully. | |
| [1614.46 --> 1615.44] The pagans | |
| [1615.44 --> 1616.20] do what is right. | |
| [1616.32 --> 1617.34] They say to Jonah, | |
| [1617.52 --> 1618.66] what should we do? | |
| [1618.76 --> 1619.38] Jonah says, | |
| [1619.48 --> 1620.66] toss me overboard. | |
| [1620.66 --> 1621.68] And they said, | |
| [1621.78 --> 1622.94] we can't do that. | |
| [1624.30 --> 1625.36] And so rather | |
| [1625.36 --> 1626.68] than toss them overboard, | |
| [1626.90 --> 1628.10] they dig | |
| [1628.10 --> 1630.22] really hard | |
| [1630.22 --> 1631.04] into the water. | |
| [1631.12 --> 1632.08] The Hebrew word | |
| [1632.08 --> 1632.62] actually | |
| [1632.62 --> 1633.64] for their rowing | |
| [1633.64 --> 1634.90] is that they're digging. | |
| [1635.28 --> 1636.00] They are putting | |
| [1636.00 --> 1637.10] every effort | |
| [1637.10 --> 1639.36] into getting to shore. | |
| [1640.06 --> 1641.42] But they can't. | |
| [1642.12 --> 1642.80] So tell us, | |
| [1642.86 --> 1643.18] they say, | |
| [1643.24 --> 1644.06] who is responsible | |
| [1644.06 --> 1645.20] for making this trouble | |
| [1645.20 --> 1645.76] for us? | |
| [1646.10 --> 1646.94] What kind of work do you do? | |
| [1647.24 --> 1648.08] Where do you come from? | |
| [1648.32 --> 1649.06] What is your country? | |
| [1649.42 --> 1650.44] From what people are you? | |
| [1650.44 --> 1651.66] I am a Hebrew. | |
| [1653.00 --> 1654.28] And the ship gets flooded. | |
| [1656.36 --> 1657.86] And they toss them overboard. | |
| [1660.28 --> 1661.44] And it's like a flip | |
| [1661.44 --> 1663.02] of a switch. | |
| [1664.72 --> 1667.16] And it's quiet. | |
| [1667.16 --> 1672.42] And notice the response | |
| [1672.42 --> 1673.74] of the pagan sailors. | |
| [1675.22 --> 1677.08] They are afraid. | |
| [1679.88 --> 1680.90] They have prayed. | |
| [1680.90 --> 1681.26] Lord, | |
| [1681.80 --> 1683.90] do not hold the sin against us | |
| [1683.90 --> 1685.82] of throwing this guy overboard. | |
| [1686.18 --> 1688.24] But they are afraid. | |
| [1690.08 --> 1691.60] And they bring sacrifices. | |
| [1691.60 --> 1693.44] Now the important point here, | |
| [1693.82 --> 1694.38] I think, | |
| [1694.44 --> 1695.98] is often lost on us | |
| [1695.98 --> 1697.60] out of our own experience. | |
| [1697.94 --> 1700.28] Because we often come to God | |
| [1700.28 --> 1701.86] and we say to God, | |
| [1702.30 --> 1704.86] if you do this for us, | |
| [1704.90 --> 1706.16] if you help us, | |
| [1706.38 --> 1707.72] then we will, | |
| [1708.38 --> 1709.62] and we'll fill in the blanks, | |
| [1709.66 --> 1710.46] we will believe, | |
| [1710.64 --> 1712.14] we will dedicate our lives to you, | |
| [1712.20 --> 1713.06] we will serve you. | |
| [1713.06 --> 1716.22] But we're in a foxhole now, God, | |
| [1716.34 --> 1717.84] and we need your help. | |
| [1719.52 --> 1721.22] But that's not what happens here. | |
| [1721.22 --> 1725.54] They are responding | |
| [1725.54 --> 1727.18] after the danger is over. | |
| [1728.18 --> 1730.02] After the crisis is gone. | |
| [1730.58 --> 1731.92] The storm is gone. | |
| [1732.32 --> 1733.46] The waves are calm. | |
| [1733.84 --> 1736.00] The wind is calm. | |
| [1736.78 --> 1738.14] They're making progress. | |
| [1739.32 --> 1740.28] And they are afraid. | |
| [1740.80 --> 1742.96] And they offer a sacrifice. | |
| [1743.68 --> 1745.16] And the Hebrew catches it here. | |
| [1745.24 --> 1747.52] They offer a sacrifice to Yahweh, | |
| [1748.20 --> 1749.74] to the God of covenant. | |
| [1749.74 --> 1753.84] They become, it seems, | |
| [1754.86 --> 1757.84] believers in the God of the Hebrews. | |
| [1758.62 --> 1761.52] The God who created the heavens and the earth. | |
| [1761.96 --> 1762.32] Why? | |
| [1762.84 --> 1765.28] Not because of what he will do for them | |
| [1765.28 --> 1767.98] in the future, | |
| [1768.76 --> 1771.28] but what he has done for them | |
| [1771.28 --> 1773.20] in the past. | |
| [1774.36 --> 1775.48] And what has he done? | |
| [1775.82 --> 1778.16] He has accepted the sacrifice of one. | |
| [1778.16 --> 1778.26] One. | |
| [1779.26 --> 1780.96] To benefit the all. | |
| [1783.22 --> 1783.92] And later, | |
| [1784.46 --> 1786.12] the New Testament will teach, | |
| [1786.74 --> 1788.72] it is better that one man should die, | |
| [1789.78 --> 1792.22] than that all the nation should perish. | |
| [1792.22 --> 1800.00] He has taken the substitutionary sacrifice of Jonah | |
| [1800.00 --> 1803.90] and liberated from death | |
| [1803.90 --> 1806.16] the pagan sailors | |
| [1806.16 --> 1810.52] who have tossed him overboard. | |
| [1810.52 --> 1840.50] He has taken the | |
| [1840.50 --> 1841.50] a book of the Bible, | |
| [1841.50 --> 1841.72] a fiction, | |
| [1841.72 --> 1843.12] a story. | |
| [1843.12 --> 1844.56] I want to say to you, | |
| [1845.96 --> 1847.28] the resurrection of Jesus | |
| [1847.28 --> 1848.60] is a greater miracle | |
| [1848.60 --> 1851.08] than the creation of a great fish | |
| [1851.08 --> 1852.16] with an antechamber | |
| [1852.16 --> 1854.44] in which Jonah might have had a bench | |
| [1854.44 --> 1854.88] and a pillow. | |
| [1857.80 --> 1859.76] The resurrection of Jesus | |
| [1859.76 --> 1864.46] demonstrates the power of God | |
| [1864.46 --> 1866.84] and the concern of God. | |
| [1867.84 --> 1869.74] So let us think. | |
| [1870.62 --> 1872.80] What lessons do we learn | |
| [1872.80 --> 1875.64] about our identity | |
| [1875.64 --> 1878.36] as people redeemed | |
| [1878.36 --> 1880.54] in Jesus Christ? | |
| [1880.54 --> 1885.82] We are the messengers to the world, | |
| [1885.82 --> 1890.84] the tellers of the story of God's power, | |
| [1891.50 --> 1894.02] and God's power is demonstrated | |
| [1894.02 --> 1895.10] throughout this thing. | |
| [1895.64 --> 1896.52] There is a call. | |
| [1897.74 --> 1898.94] There is a commission. | |
| [1899.78 --> 1901.18] Go to that great city. | |
| [1902.02 --> 1903.62] People often don't like the commission | |
| [1903.62 --> 1904.82] and preach against it. | |
| [1906.32 --> 1907.32] Preach against it. | |
| [1907.32 --> 1909.86] We are talking about a God of love, | |
| [1909.94 --> 1910.92] not a God of wrath. | |
| [1911.94 --> 1912.34] Really? | |
| [1913.98 --> 1914.46] Really? | |
| [1915.04 --> 1916.00] I will tell you something | |
| [1916.00 --> 1916.92] that I hate. | |
| [1917.48 --> 1918.96] I hate COVID-19. | |
| [1920.08 --> 1921.54] I hate that virus. | |
| [1922.10 --> 1923.80] I hope scientists will discover | |
| [1923.80 --> 1925.64] a tool that will crush it | |
| [1925.64 --> 1927.60] absolutely and completely. | |
| [1928.46 --> 1929.38] And I think that is | |
| [1929.38 --> 1931.66] a perfectly justifiable hate. | |
| [1931.66 --> 1936.02] God hates sin. | |
| [1937.40 --> 1939.28] And he wants to crush it completely | |
| [1939.28 --> 1941.76] because it destroys relationships. | |
| [1942.24 --> 1944.36] It eats people up from the inside. | |
| [1944.78 --> 1946.90] It destroys the relationship with God, | |
| [1947.28 --> 1948.72] the relationship with themselves, | |
| [1949.06 --> 1950.44] the relationship with others, | |
| [1950.74 --> 1952.28] the relationship with the world. | |
| [1953.46 --> 1954.66] I was listening to the news | |
| [1954.66 --> 1956.26] coming up here this morning. | |
| [1957.12 --> 1959.76] One of the great destroyers in the world | |
| [1959.76 --> 1961.96] is what we do with our solid waste, | |
| [1962.28 --> 1964.96] with our telephones and computers | |
| [1964.96 --> 1965.76] and televisions | |
| [1966.30 --> 1968.04] that we can no longer use. | |
| [1968.64 --> 1971.86] And we just simply pile them up | |
| [1971.86 --> 1973.86] and then poor villages | |
| [1973.86 --> 1976.20] in Vietnam and in other places | |
| [1976.20 --> 1977.60] strip out the wire | |
| [1977.60 --> 1979.98] and the rest goes into landfill. | |
| [1981.26 --> 1983.04] You stop to ask yourself, | |
| [1983.04 --> 1985.04] what do we do | |
| [1985.04 --> 1987.20] with the care of this world? | |
| [1988.10 --> 1990.10] God is sovereign. | |
| [1990.84 --> 1992.12] And he comes to Jonah | |
| [1992.12 --> 1993.04] and he says, go. | |
| [1994.14 --> 1994.90] And Jonah says, | |
| [1994.98 --> 1996.14] no, I will not go. | |
| [1997.30 --> 1999.44] I would rather that they all die. | |
| [2000.96 --> 2002.26] And God reminds him, | |
| [2002.30 --> 2002.70] he says, | |
| [2002.96 --> 2004.38] I am the God of the Hebrews. | |
| [2006.58 --> 2008.54] And what were the Hebrew nation | |
| [2008.54 --> 2010.14] set aside for? | |
| [2010.50 --> 2012.12] Well, remember the words to Abraham? | |
| [2012.12 --> 2014.06] I will bless you | |
| [2014.06 --> 2016.86] so that you will be a blessing. | |
| [2017.50 --> 2018.46] To who? | |
| [2019.24 --> 2020.34] To the nations. | |
| [2021.16 --> 2022.28] To the people. | |
| [2022.60 --> 2023.92] And what does Jesus say? | |
| [2024.76 --> 2028.76] Go and make disciples of all nations | |
| [2028.76 --> 2033.54] and surely I will be with you always | |
| [2033.54 --> 2035.44] to the end of the age. | |
| [2035.44 --> 2038.06] So I'm going to invite you | |
| [2038.06 --> 2039.94] to think, | |
| [2040.48 --> 2042.96] who am I | |
| [2042.96 --> 2044.64] in Jesus? | |
| [2045.60 --> 2048.72] And what does God want me to do | |
| [2048.72 --> 2052.28] with those with whom | |
| [2052.28 --> 2054.62] I have relationship? | |
| [2056.10 --> 2057.70] The sailors on our boat. | |
| [2057.70 --> 2060.92] we're all in it together. | |
| [2062.36 --> 2064.28] How can we best share? | |
| [2065.50 --> 2067.36] How can we best bless? | |
| [2068.16 --> 2069.52] It may be as simple | |
| [2069.52 --> 2071.96] as wearing a mask | |
| [2071.96 --> 2074.96] or touching an elbow | |
| [2074.96 --> 2078.24] or encouraging people | |
| [2078.24 --> 2078.26] or encouraging people | |
| [2078.26 --> 2079.82] to believe | |
| [2079.82 --> 2081.78] that God | |
| [2081.78 --> 2083.96] will have the last word. | |
| [2086.64 --> 2087.74] So what do you think? | |
| [2088.78 --> 2089.46] Let's pray. | |
| [2090.64 --> 2091.40] Father God, | |
| [2091.50 --> 2092.86] thank you for this day. | |
| [2093.86 --> 2095.40] Thank you for this opportunity. | |
| [2095.76 --> 2096.90] Thank you for your word. | |
| [2096.90 --> 2100.08] Thank you for a person like Jonah | |
| [2100.08 --> 2102.34] who would dare to reflect | |
| [2102.34 --> 2104.40] on a very hard experience | |
| [2104.40 --> 2105.22] that he went through. | |
| [2107.16 --> 2108.44] Thank you for people | |
| [2108.44 --> 2109.68] who will show us | |
| [2109.68 --> 2112.82] how we can conduct ourselves respectfully. | |
| [2114.36 --> 2116.50] We pray that we may learn the lesson. | |
| [2117.12 --> 2118.26] That we may recognize | |
| [2118.26 --> 2120.10] that you are sovereign God. | |
| [2120.76 --> 2121.90] And that you can | |
| [2121.90 --> 2123.36] not only send a great fish | |
| [2123.36 --> 2124.58] but raise the dead | |
| [2124.58 --> 2126.92] and have the last word. | |
| [2127.64 --> 2128.56] We praise you | |
| [2128.56 --> 2129.72] and we ask that you would | |
| [2129.72 --> 2131.10] equip us to think | |
| [2131.10 --> 2131.80] clearly | |
| [2131.80 --> 2133.22] and accurately | |
| [2133.22 --> 2134.94] and in such a way | |
| [2134.94 --> 2135.84] as to honor you. | |
| [2136.48 --> 2137.42] In Jesus' name. | |
| [2138.08 --> 2138.56] Amen. | |