Adam Bir will share today’s message as we dive into our mini sermon series on the book of Jonah with a message titled “Call On Your God”. Join us for our Sunday service as we celebrate, worship, and take communion together.
Worship is led by Simon Phillips of our Glasgow Church worship team.
Message Summary & Reflection
The book of Jonah is a book written about doing God’s will and changing our way of thinking; in our modern way of thinking we view the Bible as some sort of moral handbook that has step-by-step guides to all of our struggles, and significant portions of scripture are dedicated to this, take the law of Moses for example. But also there are other books, characters and plots that don’t fit directly into this morally black and white view- in fact there are many instances of less than savoury characters being used by God both by their own desire to do good and convenience to themselves, Samson being a fascinating example of a morally complex character being used by God in amazing ways; these morally ambiguous characters don’t act as an example of sublime behaviour but instead act as a mirror to us and our own lives, helping us to see our life and actions in a different perspective.
Jonah, like Samson, is a character with a less than ideal amount of morality for a prophet of God. When Jonah received God’s command to go to the wicked city of Nineveh and preach against its, he tries to escape by boarding a ship bound for Tarshish, which just past the straits of Gibraltar the very edge of the known world and as far away from Tarshish as he could get.
As the ship sails, God responds to Jonah’s disobedience by sending a violent storm that threatens to break up the ship. While Jonah slept below deck, the pagan sailors, in contrast, demonstrate a deep faith in their actions. They cry out to their gods and even toss the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. The sailors recognize the power of prayer and fervently seek divine intervention to save their lives. Surprisingly, the sailors turn to Jonah, the supposed prophet of God, urging him to pray to his God for their salvation. This surprising twist showcases the sailors’ greater spiritual awareness and connection with the divine. They understand the significance of seeking God’s mercy in times of crisis, while Jonah, ironically, lacks faith and remains unresponsive.
As the storm rages on, the sailors cast lots to determine the cause of their misfortune, and the lot falls to Jonah. Confronted, Jonah confesses that he is running away from the Lord and acknowledges his responsibility for the storm. The sailors, overwhelmed by fear, ask Jonah for guidance on how to calm the sea. In an unexpected turn, Jonah suggests that the sailors throw him into the sea, believing that his sacrifice will appease God and bring about calm waters. The sailors reluctantly follow Jonah’s advice, demonstrating their trust in Jonah’s words and their faith in God’s potential for salvation. Once they had thrown Jonah overboard the sea grew calm, leaving the sailors in awe of the power of the God, offering sacrifices and making vows- solidifying their newfound faith and understanding of God’s sovereignty.
Throughout the story, the book of Jonah repeatedly highlights the stark contrast between Jonah’s lack of faith and the sailors’ deep trust in God. This stark contrast serves as a reminder that we mustn’t let fear of people overshadow the fear of the Lord because it will lead only to folly.
The book of Jonah challenges readers to examine their own attitude; prompting reflection on personal pride, going against God’s will, and fearing other people more than God. It emphasises the importance of wholehearted obedience, genuine repentance, and making God the centre of one’s life.
In the end, despite Jonah’s flaws and failures, God still uses him to fulfil His purpose. This serves as a reminder that God’s grace extends to all, and He can work through imperfect individuals to accomplish His divine plans. The book of Jonah invites readers to consider their own faith and encourages them to learn from both Jonah’s shortcomings and the unexpected faith exhibited by the pagan sailors.
Scriptures Shared In This Message
This message will focus on the scriptures featured below:
- Jonah 1:6
