Amelia Church of Christ - Christian Church in Amelia, OH near Cincinnati in Clermont County

Welcome to the second week of our series from the Old Testament book of Jonah. We’re taking a fresh look at this story, which is one of the most well-known stories in the entire Bible. And I’ve got to tell that you that God is using this story to mess me up.

Last week, we saw how God commanded Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh, which was a brutal and wicked city. He told Jonah to go preach against the Ninevites. This wasn’t at all what Jonah had in mind for his life, so he took off running in the exact opposite direction. Instead of heading east to Nineveh, he headed west for Tarshish.

But he couldn’t outrun God. And by the way, how stupid is it to think that you can outrun God? But we try, don’t we?

God sent a huge storm that threatened to capsize Jonah’s ship. But when the crew threw Jonah overboard, the sea immediately became calm. And Jonah was swallowed by a huge fish to save him from drowning.

That’s where we’re going to pick up the story today. Jonah is in the belly of the beast, literally. But it’s in this scene that we see some of the most powerful truths in the entire story of Jonah. We’ll be in Jonah 2 today. We’ll get into the Word right after we pray.

Jonah 2 is a powerful piece of Scripture, so we’re just going to walk step by step through the chapter today.

In verses 1-2, the Bible says, “From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” (Jonah 2:1-2, NIV)

Wherever you are, God will listen. That is such a simple truth, but it has incredible implications for us. Wherever you are, God will listen.

Jonah was in the stomach of a huge fish. And the entire reason he was there was stupid, sinful disobedience. But the Bible says. “From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.”

The Lord was still his God. Even though Jonah had rebelled. Even though he ran away. Even though he got everything absolutely, totally wrong, God was still identified as HIS God. God had not disowned Jonah. And God has not disowned you. Wherever you are, God will listen.

Are you in the middle of rebellion? God will listen.

Are you in the middle of a crisis? God will listen.

Have you been wounded? God will listen.

Have you been betrayed? God will listen.

Are you broken? God will listen.

Look at what Jonah said. He said: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”

God hears. God responds. Wherever you are. The setting of your life is irrelevant. What matters is not the setting of your life, but the state of your heart.

Where are you right now? Wherever you are…whatever your circumstances…God will listen.

Earlier this year I was out working in our yard. It was a cool spring day (wouldn’t you love to have one of those right now?), so I was out working and our boys were outside playing.

I was in our front yard when I heard our youngest son, Brock, yelling from the backyard. I walked around to see what was wrong. Brock had started to walk into the woods behind our house and had walked straight into a thornbush. The vines of this thornbush were literally wrapped around his entire body. They were snagged all over his hoodie and his pants.

Now, Brock knew he wasn’t supposed to go into the woods. We’ve talked to him about this more than once. So of course I just looked at him and said, “It’s your own fault. I’ve told you not to go there. I’ve warned you more than once. Now you’re on your own. Good luck getting out of those thorns.” And I want back to my yardwork.

You know I didn’t do that! Brock is my son, and at that moment, he was in serious danger of getting hurt. I dropped my tools and ran in a sprint to help him.

In that moment, it didn’t matter that he had done something wrong. It didn’t matter that he ignored my warnings. All that mattered was he was in trouble, and as his dad, I was going to rescue him.

Why do you think your Heavenly Father would be any different? If you’re in a mess…even if it’s a mess of your own making…God is your Father.

I realize that when I say that, there are mixed reactions. Some of you grew up with a good dad. He was engaged in your life. He was loving and supportive. He was there. So when you hear that God is your Father, it’s an easy connection for you to make.

But for a lot of us, it’s not so easy. You didn’t grow up with a good dad. Maybe he was aloof and uncaring. Maybe he was harsh and critical. Even abusive. Or maybe he just wasn’t there. For you, hearing God described as “Father” has an entirely different connotation.

Here’s the thing, and I know it’s tough for some of us, but it’s true. Regardless of what kind of earthly father you had, you have a good, kind, loving Heavenly Father. He is everything your earthly dad should have been and more. And when His kids are in trouble, He doesn’t ignore them. He doesn’t disown them. He runs to them.

Jonah was in a mess, and it was 100% his fault. It was his stubbornness, his rebellion, his sin that led to all this. But when he cried out to God, God listened and God responded.

Cry out to God in the middle of your mess. You haven’t fallen too far for Him to hear. You haven’t messed up too badly for Him to respond. You haven’t sinned too deeply for Him to rescue you. He’s your Father, and when you’re in trouble, He’ll come running.

Now let’s keep going in Jonah 2. In verses 3-4, Jonah prayed, “You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’” (Jonah 2:3-4, NIV)

A lot of us have been there. Some of you are there now. You hear these words and it sounds like Jonah is talking about your life. God has hurled me into the depths. Currents are swirling around me. Waves and breakers sweep over me. I’m absolutely drowning here, God, and you’ve banished me from your sight. I’m drowning and you don’t even care.

For some of us, that sounds pretty familiar. That’s not just the story of Jonah. That’s your story. That’s the story that you live out everyday.

But look at what Jonah said at the end of verse 4. He said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’”

He was drowning, sinking fast toward the ocean floor. Surely God had given up on him. He had been abandoned. God didn’t care anymore. But then Jonah said, “yet I will look again toward your holy temple.” “Holy temple” was an ancient Jewish reference for heaven or God’s Kingdom. It represented all of God’s power and goodness.

Jonah thought all was lost. But he decided to look again, and boom…a fish swallowed him up and saved him from death.

Someone in this room feels like all is lost. Nothing is going right. Everything is going wrong.

Maybe it’s a battle with depression. Maybe it’s family strife. Maybe it’s financial hardship. Maybe it’s loneliness. Maybe it’s grief. Maybe it’s the loss of a dream. Maybe it’s just a life that was not supposed to turn out this way.

It’s time to take a page out of Jonah’s playbook. When it seems that everything is going wrong…when it looks like nothing good will ever come out of this…look again.

In Romans 8, the Bible says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NIV)

This is one of the most beloved verses in the Bible, but we need to look at it very closely. Look at what it says. Look at what it doesn’t say.

It says that in all things God works for our good. It doesn’t say that all things are good. Right now, you might find yourself in circumstances that are anything but good. You can’t see how God could ever do anything good with this. Follow Jonah’s lead and look again.

Look again, because God promised to work all things together for good for those of us who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. If you don’t see it, look again.

But if you’re going to be successful at this “look again” thing, you’ve got to know where to look. If all you look at is your current circumstances, it will drain the hope right out of you.

Instead, when you look again, look to the past. Remember how God came through for you time and time again. Look at how He has showed you His love and favor throughout your life. Why would He stop now? Why would He drop you now? He didn’t just drop Jonah, even after he directly rebelled against the command of God. And God hasn’t dropped you either. Look at how He has worked in your past. It will give you great confidence in your future.

But maybe things are so broken…you are hurting so badly…that looking to the past doesn’t really help. You just can’t see anything clearly. That’s when you need a man or woman of God to come alongside you and look for you.

That’s what the servant of Elisha needed. There’s a story in the Old Testament where an evil king sent his troops to capture the prophet, Elisha. Elisha’s servant got up in the morning and went outside, only to find that the entire city had been surrounded by the king’s troops.

Here’s what the Bible says about it in 2 Kings 6. “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:15-17, NIV)

All the servant could see was the bad. They were surrounded by their enemies. All was lost. There simply was no hope. He looked. He looked again. No hope.

Thankfully he had Elisha there to look for him. And through Elisha’s prayer, the servant was eventually able to see what was really going on. The army of God had surrounded them. God was there. God was going to battle for them. But if the servant didn’t have someone to look for him, he would have never seen it for himself.

If you’re in a situation that seems absolutely hopeless…and no matter how many times you look, you only see hopelessness…you need someone to come alongside you and look for you.

Maybe it’s a counselor. Maybe it’s a trusted friend. Maybe it’s one of our leaders here at church. There are people who can come alongside you and help you see what you couldn’t see before.

One more time. In chapter 2, verse 4, Jonah said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’” (Jonah 2:4, NIV)

If it feels like God has abandoned you, look again. We just talked about how God is a good Father. A good dad doesn’t abandon his children. Look again. Look again for His grace. Look again for His kindness. Look again for His favor. Look again for His love. Don’t look alone. Bring someone alongside you to help you. But whatever you do, don’t give up. If you don’t see how God can ever bring good out of your situation, look again.

Let’s keep going in Jonah 2. Starting in verse 5, Jonah prayed, “The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, LORD my God, brought my life up from the pit. When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.” (Jonah 2:5-7, NIV)

Jonah had been disciplined, but not abandoned. Again, that’s the mark of a good father. Discipline, yes. Abandonment, no. Now Jonah fully recognizes the grace that God has shown him, which is why he says this in the next couple of verses.

“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’” (Jonah 2:8-9, NIV)

Jonah claimed his second chance. And he did it joyfully. The Bible says that he shouted with grateful praise. Jonah is having a rocking worship service in the belly of this fish. Most of us wouldn’t think of that as a conducive environment for a spectacular worship experience.

He didn’t have any instruments. No guitars. No drums. No screen projection. No lighting to set the mood. Nothing. That’s not the atmosphere we think of for a rocked out worship service.

But actually, it’s the most amazing environment ever for worship because of what that fish represented. That fish represented Jonah’s second chance. And when you receive a second chance, worship is the only thing you can do.

Jonah told God, “What I have vowed I will make good.” We’re not told what that vow was, but I think it’s safe to assume that Jonah vowed that he would actually go to Nineveh. That city where he said he would never go. That city where God told him to go and preach, and he absolutely refused. As it turns out, that is exactly where Jonah would go.

I’ve learned throughout my life to never say never. Every time I tell God, “I’ll never do that,” that’s exactly what I wind up doing. Every time.

That’s what happened to Jonah. He said that he would never go to Nineveh. But now, in the darkness and the stench of a fish’s stomach, Jonah receives his second chance to obey. And he does it with joy.

Jonah celebrated inside fish guts. It was a total mess, but it didn’t matter. His setting didn’t matter because he recognized the second chance that God had given him.

Your present circumstances don’t matter. The sin of your past, or even your present, cannot stop God from doing something amazing in your life.

In Romans 6, the Bible says, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4, NIV)

Because of what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection, we are given a new life. AKA, a second chance.

It happens first when we are baptized into Christ. The Bible tells us that we are baptized into the death of Christ and then we are raised to a new life, just as Jesus was raised from the dead. It’s a beautiful, amazing picture of us uniting with Jesus in His death and His resurrection.

But it doesn’t stop there. It doesn’t stop at our baptism. That second chance is available to us from that moment on. And today can be your Jonah moment. It can be the day that you claim your second chance.

Go back and look at what Jonah said again in verses 8-9. “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’” (Jonah 2:8-9, NIV)

Today can be your Jonah moment. The moment when you say, “None of the idols in my life are worth anything. God alone is God and God alone is good. And I’m claiming the second chance that my God is giving me.”

It doesn’t matter what your idol is. For Jonah, his idol was himself. He had his own plans for his life and he really didn’t want God messing with them. So when God told him to go to Nineveh, he ran.

You don’t have to be bowing down in front of some statue to have an idol. Your idol is anything that receives more of your love and devotion and sacrifice than Jesus does.

But Jonah was right…whatever your idol is, it’s worthless. And if you keep pursuing it, you are voluntarily turning away from the love that God has for you.

Today can be the day when you say, “No more.” Today can be the day when you drop your idols and accept the second chance that God has for you. It can be the day when you say, “Salvation comes from the Lord,” and really mean it.

Which leads us to the last verse in Jonah 2, which is one of my favorite verses in the whole book. “And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” (Jonah 2:10, NIV)

Isn’t that an awesome verse? I love that God can command a fish to barf and the fish obeys. We have a God who can make a redfish ralph. Who can make a haddock hurl. Who can make a snapper spew. Who can make a blowfish blow chunks. I’m done now.

But there’s actually so much more here than a little Jr. High humor. Because of his rebellion and sin, Jonah had been reduced to fish puke. That’s a long way to fall. From prophet…to fish puke.

But the irony of this is God-sized. Through that gross, absolutely disgusting image, we see the beauty and extravagance of grace.

To our eyes, Jonah was fish puke. He had totally blown it, and because of his sin and rebellion, he had been reduced to this disgusting mess.

But that disgusting mess was actually a beautiful picture of grace. God could have let Jonah drown, but He didn’t. He could have allowed that fish to digest Jonah, but He didn’t. He could have totally given up on Jonah, writing him off as a lost cause, but he didn’t. Instead, he gave him a second chance. He gave him grace.

Some of you feel like fish puke, don’t you? You feel like you’ve been chewed up and spit out. And when you see your life, you see a disgusting mess. But that disgusting mess can be the very place where you claim your second chance.

When you think about it, your second chance is only available because of a disgusting mess. We know it as the cross. Now, we’ve sanitized it. We’ve cleaned up. Scrubbed it with bleach, Disinfected it. Made it clean and shiny and acceptable.

But when you go back to the actual cross, you see that it was anything but that. It was the very epitome of a disgusting mess. Jesus, the Son of God, was beaten brutally. The Bible says that He was beaten beyond human recognition. And then was nailed to a cross where he hung, suspended in the air for hours. The blood. The bodily fluids. The dirt and dust and mud. The insects. The blazing hot sun. It all added up to a disgusting mess. And yet, God did what God does. He turned that disgusting mess into the most beautiful picture of grace that has ever been painted.

That disgusting, offensive, unspeakable cross is the very vehicle that God used to bring us salvation. We have a second chance to rise up out of our mess came because Jesus became a mess Himself.

I told you earlier about Brock getting tangled up in those thornbushes. I raced back to the woods to help him. When I got there, I was amazed that none of the thorns had penetrated his skin. He was so wrapped up in these vines that it seemed impossible that he hadn’t been hurt yet. But so far, the thorns hadn’t penetrated. But I also knew that I had to be very careful getting him out of the thornbush.

I didn’t have any gloves or anything. I didn’t have time to get anything like that. I had to free my son from this mess. So I started pulling the vines off of him.

By the time I got him out of this tangled mess, I had blood all over my hands. I had been punctured numerous times by the thorns. But miraculously, Brock didn’t get stuck at all. Not even once. I took all the thorns for him.

And when I looked at my hands and felt that pain, I immediately felt God whisper to me, “That’s just a microscopic glimpse of what I did for you.”

On the cross, Jesus took our thorns, both literally and spiritually. In 1 Peter 2, the Bible says, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:21-24, NIV)

The only reason we have hope is because Jesus took the thorns for us. His wounds are our healing. The stripes on his body give us our second chance.

The only question that remains is what are you going to do about it? For some of you, you’ve waited far too long. You know it’s time to cross that line. It’s time to come to the cross. It’s time to claim the second-chance grace of God that comes through repentance. It’s time to receive that new life in baptism that the Bible promises. It’s time.

For others of us, it’s time to come back. You gave your life to Christ, but then you took it back. And today, you’re a long, long way from where you thought you’d be…and it’s just not working. Make today your Jonah moment. Wherever you are…whatever mess you’re in…claim your second chance. Jesus’ death makes it available. The Holy Spirit is telling you to claim it. Make today the day when you claim the gift that God is giving you. Not just eternal life, but a second chance in this life.

Mike Edmisten

Tags: grace, Jonah, second chance