March 7, 11:00 a.m. 
Speaker: Austin Duncan
Topic: Jonah, the Reluctant Missionary
Passage: Jonah 4

Message Summary: 

Jonah is a book of defiance and deliverance. A defiant prophet flees the presence of God and prefers death over obedience. A great fish swallows him and he cries out from the depths of the sea to proclaim the salvation of God. Yahweh rescues him and redeploys him to preach to the great Assyrian capital. There is incredible revival in Nineveh. God turns away His wrath and grants repentance.

In chapter four, the entire book is brought into a summary in an unguessable way and it exposes the wisdom of God in putting all of this together.

As we look at this rebellious prophet, we recognize in ourselves similar deficiencies and similar defiance. And we are challenged to fix our eyes on God's heart of compassion.

Let’s look at chapter four as it unfolds in three scenes

#1. A Confrontation with God’s Character (Jonah 4:1–3)

It’s not clear specifically why Jonah is angry, but we’re told that it is because God is being merciful.

This text reminds us that there’s a difference between what we confess and what we actually believe. To articulate the heart of God but not be able to embrace that truth is what’s making Jonah so uneasy. Jonah’s doctrine is correct. His theology is impeccable. But he’s not content with the character of God.

God is more gracious than we are. God is more compassionate than we are. God is more pursuing than we are. God is more loving than we are. And Jonah thinks God has gone too far in His mercy.

Theology has to affect you. It must be experiential. You must not only believe what God says about Himself but embrace it. To affirm mercy is one thing, but to embrace mercy is another thing altogether.

#2. A Conversation in God’s Classroom (Jonah 4:4–9)

The Lord engages Jonah in a conversation at this point.

The object lesson that He teaches him is so clear here and it’s framed by God’s question to Jonah in verse 9: “Do you have good reason to be angry?”

This conversation is further evidence of God’s great compassion, this time directed toward His prophet. It proves what Jonah knew to be true about God: He is “a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in mercy, and One who relents of disaster.” And He does that yet again, even here. Not just to the Ninevites but to His servant.

He is merciful even to His prophet. God is still with him. He teaches Jonah about grace as He simultaneously extends grace.

#3. A Challenge in God’s Question (Jonah 4:10–11)

God’s classroom is a classroom of grace, His character is marked by mercy, and now the challenge is, how are you going to respond to this reality?

There is no missionary endeavor to any unreached people that goes beyond God’s compassion. God is more merciful than you think He is. He’s more gracious than you think He is. If you really understood the holiness of God and the sinful depravity of our hearts, you would begin to recognize the depth of God’s mercy that is far beyond our comprehension.

The compassion of God is seen most clearly on the cross of Christ as He forgave those who crucified Him. And His disciples are called to proclaim the message of the one who gave His life for the sins of all who would believe.

If you’ve ever questioned the character of God and its outworking in your life and ministry; if you’ve ever thought God wasn’t there, that He hadn’t been generous, or that He wasn’t good, ground your faith in the reality that we’ve learned from this book. And become a willing proclaimer.