God hates sin. That's a truth. In fact, even the creation of the world, He has already prepared a place for the sinners. The last book of the Bible, i.e. Revelation, God reveals His wrath over the sinfulness of this world. This world is destined for destruction. No matter what people may do, they will not be able to thwart God's plan for this sinful world.
In these verses of the book of Jonah, we see that Jonah had understood, and accepted that he has sinned against God; and that God wanted him to obey His command to preach God's words to Ninevites. As we consider the event in this part of the book, we can learn three important lessons:
1. A truly repentant person who understands his sin against God knows what he should do.
Understanding his disobedience from God, we see that Jonah remorse on what he did. He understood that it is God who caused the storm because of what he has done. In addition, he understood that the only way to stop the storm is to throw him into the sea.
Here, we see that any person who has truly repented from his sins knows the things that s/he needs to do. In Jonah's case, he should be taken out from the ship in order to avoid others to be affected by God's discipline on him. In the same manner, a person who repents from her/his sins knows that s/he should come to God for forgiveness. S/he should face the consequence of her/his sins. Only God can forgive sins. God promises that anyone who comes to Him in faith will seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). And Jonah experienced this when he came to Him in humility and repentance.
2. There is only one solution to calamities caused by sins: God's solution
In this story, we see that the solution to stop the storm is for Jonah to be thrown into the sea. That's the only way so that the crews may be spared of the consequences of his sins. Knowing that it is the only way, Jonah told this to the crews. Unfortunately, the crews did not believed him; instead, they rowed strongly the boat. But it did not work. Thus, they have no choice but to follow God's solution. And we see that after they threw Jonah into the sea, the sea calmed, and the storm was gone.
In the same manner, there is only one way to solve life's troubles because of sin: following God's solution. What is God's solution? Coming to Him in repentance regardless of what needs to be surrendered. In Jonah's case, it was his life. In other cases, it may be a sinful relationship; it may be a career; wealth, or a person or thing that you cherished the most. But if they caused you to sin, you have to surrender them to God; and come to Him in repentance, asking His forgiveness, and obey His will in your life. That's the only way.
3. Even in the midst of God's discipline, He still blesses His children.
As you can see, even Jonah received God's blessing when he accepted God's way of dealing with Him. In verse 17, God provided Jonah a big fish to save him from the corruption of his body. Though he died for three days, God did not allow him to decompose; instead, he allowed him to be resurrected after three days. The big fish swallowed him, and brought him to land. This is a big blessing for a sinning person.
This is great! The bible tells us that God disciplines the ones He loves (Hebrews 12:6). And because God loves the person though He disciplines him/her, He still pours upon His blessings upon him/her. Look at Jonah. There was God's protection on him, and most importantly, He brought him back to life; this was Jonah's second life.
When you survey the Bible, it was not only Jonah whom God blessed in spite of what they did to Him. There was Paul, who persecuted the early Christians; Peter, who denied Jesus for three times; Moses, who killed an Egyptian; Abraham and Isaac, who denied their wife, etc. All these individuals received God's blessings, in fact, mighty blessings despite of what they have done. But of course, they also experienced God's discipline in their life.
Useful Links
Salvation is by Faith Alone by Pastor Carmelo Caparros
In these verses of the book of Jonah, we see that Jonah had understood, and accepted that he has sinned against God; and that God wanted him to obey His command to preach God's words to Ninevites. As we consider the event in this part of the book, we can learn three important lessons:
1. A truly repentant person who understands his sin against God knows what he should do.
Understanding his disobedience from God, we see that Jonah remorse on what he did. He understood that it is God who caused the storm because of what he has done. In addition, he understood that the only way to stop the storm is to throw him into the sea.
Here, we see that any person who has truly repented from his sins knows the things that s/he needs to do. In Jonah's case, he should be taken out from the ship in order to avoid others to be affected by God's discipline on him. In the same manner, a person who repents from her/his sins knows that s/he should come to God for forgiveness. S/he should face the consequence of her/his sins. Only God can forgive sins. God promises that anyone who comes to Him in faith will seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). And Jonah experienced this when he came to Him in humility and repentance.
2. There is only one solution to calamities caused by sins: God's solution
In this story, we see that the solution to stop the storm is for Jonah to be thrown into the sea. That's the only way so that the crews may be spared of the consequences of his sins. Knowing that it is the only way, Jonah told this to the crews. Unfortunately, the crews did not believed him; instead, they rowed strongly the boat. But it did not work. Thus, they have no choice but to follow God's solution. And we see that after they threw Jonah into the sea, the sea calmed, and the storm was gone.
In the same manner, there is only one way to solve life's troubles because of sin: following God's solution. What is God's solution? Coming to Him in repentance regardless of what needs to be surrendered. In Jonah's case, it was his life. In other cases, it may be a sinful relationship; it may be a career; wealth, or a person or thing that you cherished the most. But if they caused you to sin, you have to surrender them to God; and come to Him in repentance, asking His forgiveness, and obey His will in your life. That's the only way.
3. Even in the midst of God's discipline, He still blesses His children.
As you can see, even Jonah received God's blessing when he accepted God's way of dealing with Him. In verse 17, God provided Jonah a big fish to save him from the corruption of his body. Though he died for three days, God did not allow him to decompose; instead, he allowed him to be resurrected after three days. The big fish swallowed him, and brought him to land. This is a big blessing for a sinning person.
This is great! The bible tells us that God disciplines the ones He loves (Hebrews 12:6). And because God loves the person though He disciplines him/her, He still pours upon His blessings upon him/her. Look at Jonah. There was God's protection on him, and most importantly, He brought him back to life; this was Jonah's second life.
When you survey the Bible, it was not only Jonah whom God blessed in spite of what they did to Him. There was Paul, who persecuted the early Christians; Peter, who denied Jesus for three times; Moses, who killed an Egyptian; Abraham and Isaac, who denied their wife, etc. All these individuals received God's blessings, in fact, mighty blessings despite of what they have done. But of course, they also experienced God's discipline in their life.
Useful Links
The Painful Discipline of Our Heavenly Father by John Piper
Salvation is by Faith Alone by Pastor Carmelo Caparros
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