Failed But Not Finished - 8
A Second Chance - Jonah 1 and 2
We are continuing our series as we look at Bible characters who failed, but weren’t finished. It’s been both a challenge and an encouragement to us. Today’s study is centred on one of the best known events in the Bible, but every time we hear about it there’s a fresh call for us to examine our hearts to see if we, too, are guilty of disobeying God. The story is told in the book bearing the name of the main character, Jonah, and we will look at it under four main headings: The Commission, The Confusion, The Confession and The Conversion.
The Commission – Jonah 1 Verses 1 and 2
It is very interesting to note that the earlier prophecy which Jonah gave in 2 Kings 14 verse 25, was fulfilled to the letter. So here was a prophet who had already been used by God to deliver His word, and he had done so faithfully and effectively. Now, having given him the simple duty, God was going to entrust a major task to the prophet from Galilee. This was his big opportunity to be used by God in a dramatic way. It was a clear commission from the Lord, and he told His servant to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because of its wickedness.
What a wonderful call from God for a budding young preacher. Surely he will be honoured to be selected by God for such a mission. But no, for verse 3 of chapter 1 tells us that Jonah ran away from the Lord, and headed for Tarshish, which was in the opposite direction. When he arrived at the port of Joppa he even found a ship which was preparing to sail to his desired destination. Everything was working out as he wanted. He enquired the fare, and to his delight he was able to afford it. So we see the man of God, commissioned to do a task for His Master, going in the opposite direction, with all the circumstances slotting into place. Perhaps he was even prepared to believe that God was guiding him.
There is a clear lesson here for us in our day. However favourable our circumstances may appear to be, they are not being ordered by God if we are disobeying Him. There is only one course which pleases the Lord, and that is obedience. Jonah was soon to learn his lesson. For next we see …
The Confusion – Jonah 1 Verses 4 to 7
One thing is certain, God was in control of the situation, for we read “The Lord sent a great wind ... and a violent storm arose” (verse 4). Here is an ordinary ship, on an ordinary voyage, with an ordinary cargo, but an extraordinary passenger! And God had planned for the passenger to be going in the opposite direction.
The storm was so violent that even the seasoned sailors were afraid, for as they jettisoned the cargo it made no difference. They all seemed to be heading for a watery grave. Following the usual practice they drew lots to find out who was responsible for the calamity, and to the horror of Jonah, it fell on him. The truth was out, and we next come to …
The Confession – Jonah 1 Verses 8 to 10
It is to Jonah’s credit that he didn’t hide the truth from the crew, but made a clean breast of it, telling them of his refusal to obey the word of the Lord. When he also told them that his God was the maker of heaven and earth, they were terrified. They asked him in no uncertain terms why he should disobey the direct command of such a God.
There really was no answer to such a question, and with a remarkable show of honesty and courage, Jonah told the sailors that the only way to still the storm was for them to throw him into the sea. His repentance was honest and complete: “I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you” (verse 12).
The man who had failed was beginning to take the road back to recovery. He had failed, but God hadn’t finished with him yet! I may well be speaking to someone who has served God faithfully, proclaiming God’s Word to all who will listen. You have lived in a close relationship with the Lord, and even experienced His blessing upon your ministry for Him, but right now you are walking in disobedience. You have pitted your stubborn will against the plan and purpose of God for your life; perhaps sin has blunted your witness, or you have failed to make time for daily prayer and Bible reading in order to discover what God wants you to do for Him. Well, take a leaf out of Jonah’s book today, and begin with honesty and courage. Go back to the point in your life where you failed the Lord and seek His forgiveness, then start all over again. Jonah had failed God, but He hadn’t finished with him, and as the sailors reluctantly threw the prophet into the sea, God prepared a great fish to carry him back to land. Finally we see …
The Conversion – Jonah 2 Verses 1 to 10
There are three separate and distinct conversion stories in the book of Jonah.
First of all we see the conversion of the sailors through the witness of the disobedient prophet. Here is Jonah, running away from God, yet prepared to witness faithfully to foreign sailors; even risking his life to do so. And the Bible record is so powerful: “The men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to Him” (Jonah 1 verse16).
Secondly, God was willing to give Jonah another opportunity, a second chance, so He prepared a great fish to swallow him, and the prophet was inside the fish three days and nights. What an incredible experience; particularly when he must have realised that it was his disobedience that had landed him in such peril. Three days and nights to go over his life again! Three days and nights to recognise his foolishness in disobeying God; and during this time he prayed to God. What a prayer it was. As he recounts it he says: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me” (Jonah 2 verse 2), and finally he came to the position of saying to God “What I have vowed I will make good”. So, first of all the sailors were converted, now the prophet, himself, is converted; he has “turned around from going his way to going God’s way”. He was now ready to do God’s will. Although he had failed, God hadn’t finished with him, and the reluctant prophet was now willing to go to the place where God had wanted him to go in the first place.
Then thirdly, we see the conversion of the great city of Nineveh! There is a sense in which the experience of being inside of the fish had given Jonah’s mission to Nineveh a fresh urgency, and when he eventually reached that great city, his message was used by God to the conversion of thousands of men and women, from the king on his throne to the peasant in his cottage.
As I close this brief study may I ask you personally in what ways you have failed God? Just pause a moment to consider the question in the presence of God. Then receive all the encouragement that this message brings. Don’t forget that despite Jonah’s disobedience, God was prepared to take him up and use him again; and He will do the same for you. We must be honest and open before God! If you and I will come to Him in that spirit, even if we have failed Him badly, He will not have finished with us yet.