The Man Who Said No (Part 1 of 2)

We like to think were in charge of our own dust.

The Bible teaches us that everything from the smallest sparrow to the rise and fall of nations, all within God's sovereign grasp today on Truth for Life.

Alistair Begg begins a new study about the life of Jonah. It's titled man overboard.

In this study helps us see God's power over nature over kingdoms and over human hearts. I like to take your Bibles away going to read together and then were going to together and then were going to study the Bible together going to read from the Old Testament in the book of Jonah. Jonah chapter 1 and verse one the word of the Lord came to Jonah, son of MSI go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because it's wickedness has come up before me.

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish, he went down to Joppa where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fair went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up all the sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own God and they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship but Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. The captain went to him and said how can you sleep get up and call on your God. Maybe he will take notice of us and we will not perish than the sailor said to each other conduct that is cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.

The cast lots in the lot fell on Joan, so the Aston Dallas who is responsible for making all this trouble for us. What you do. Where do you come from, what is your country from what people are you he answered I my Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven made the sea and the land. This terrified him and he asked what have you done they knew he was running away from the Lord because it already told them so.

The sea was getting rougher and rougher so they asked him what should we do to you to make the sea calm down for pick me up and thrown into the sea. He replied and it will become, I know that this is my fault that this great storm has come upon you instead amended their best to roll back to land, but they could not for the seizure even wilder than before. Then they cried to the Lord all Lord please do not let is die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man for you all. Lord have done as you please than the two Jonah and threw him overboard in the raging sea grew calm at this the man greatly fear the Lord and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him, the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah.

And Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. Father we pray that with our Bibles open before.

As you will be our teacher. We freely acknowledge that we do not have the ability to speak or hear or understand or have the word applied to our lives without your divine enabling so we pray that you will set us free from every distracting influence that we may turn our gaze to you and beyond the voice of a mere man we may hear you speak in a way that is life-changing for Jesus sake. We ask it. Amen. Now again, those who know the Bible will know that there are a variety of styles of writing within the Bible and the Bible.

If you like is almost a library is a compendium of 66 books written by over 40 authors written over a period of hundreds and hundreds of years, and yet possessing our unity in the clarity of focus that points to its divine inspiration. One of the genres of literature that we find within this compendium is that which we refer to as prophetic writing, and there are some 16 books of prophecy which come in the Old Testament, those books begin with Isaiah and the end with Malachi.

Malachi being the last book that we have in the Old Testament. Now each of these men as prophets, where if you like in between men.

They had a responsibility to stand in between God and the day and age in which they live.

When you ring the profit you will discover that their personalities come through under circumstances pervade their writings, pointing to the fact that while God's word through human instrumentation is supremely and expressly divine that God has not picked up people and use them as a stenographer would use a typewriter, but he is taking the circumstances.

The life and the background the personality the interests the passions of these individuals, and coming with his word to them and then threw them.

It takes into account who they are and where they're from and the context into which they are speaking at any given moment in time. Now that is to remind us of the fact that ultimately the message of the prophets is not natural but rather it is supernatural and each one is distinct in its emphasis. Jonah is different from the other 11. In 1 Particular Way. If you're in the other minor profit you will discover that what you have there is largely the record of the things that they said the word of God came to Nan and Nancy said this, and then he said this, and then he said this and they said that and he said that and then it ends the same as you go through the rest when you come to the book of Jonah as some of you would notice you and introduced not to the pronouncements of Jonah which are actually very, very few, but we are introduced to a narrative to an unfolding tale a story and historic story, but one that picks us up and carries us along as we read of the events surrounding the life of this particular servant.

In this respect, it is akin to what you find in the book of Kings, regarding Elijah and Elisha because when you read the stories of Elijah and Elisha hearing these amazing stories and are swept along in the narrative tremendous miraculous things taking place as Elijah and Elisha do and say what God demands of them that are not to be a surprise to us because we are seeking to put Jonah within a historic framework, you will find that he is a contemporary of Elisha that he is. If you like the generation coming behind Elijah and he would be a younger version of Elisha, a successor to them both and it is of course quite interesting that this little book is full of the miraculous as well. It is impossible to read the story of Jonah, without bumping up against things that immediately we say of them. How in the world could I possibly did take place.

This doesn't make any sense to me at all. I've never heard of such a thing, now what are we dealing with what were dealing with the fact that God has intervened in his time space Shield in a way that is distinct from the run-of-the-mill unfolding of the laws which God has himself established for our benefit and for our wholeness and for our discovery. Now that is a stumbling block immediately to some who are agnostic and, indeed, it may be will be some hear it here this morning and you frankly have stumbled over the whole issue of the Bible and Jesus and everything else. Because of this matter of the miraculous. And you can save yourself you know if I could get over this miraculous question then maybe I could get on to the question of who Jesus is, but I think I stumble overall this miraculous Old Testament stop I can never get to Jesus. I suggest to you that you turn your search the other way around.

Because, in actual fact to reject the miraculous wholesale actually lies outside the realm of rational argument is not the purpose of my dissertation this morning but let me just mention it going back and lies outside the realm of rational argument goes like this. I do not believe that miracles happen. Therefore, this could not have happened. So it is it is a decision that is made. I do not believe the miracles happen. Therefore, miracles do not happen as an a priori argument that is based on faith is not based on science because science has nothing to say about miracles. Science deals in the realm of repetitive activity. Science can ultimately only comment on that which can be put in a laboratory and produced and reproduced again and again and again and scientific deduction is then made on the basis of the fact that this thing happens again and again and again and again by the very by very definition miraculous events are not like that. Therefore, it takes it beyond the realm of science. When I as a believer say that I accept the miraculous. When I actually say I'm saying that by an act of faith.

I believe that God's word is true when an agnostic says that he or she rejects the miraculous the same the same thing by an act of faith.

I do not believe that God's word is true for the agnostic faith and is grounded in the ridiculous notions that such things could possibly be true.

And they say to themselves no sensible person would ever believe that, and since I am sensible.

I therefore do not believe the Christian on the other hand, comes to the miraculous via the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For this is the touchstone and the cornerstone of the apostolic emphasis concerning the nature of Christianity itself. Paul, who himself was totally opposed to Christianity regarding Jesus as an imposter and I regarded his followers is as crazy eventually becomes the great evangelist and the great proponent of the particular claims of Jesus of Nazareth and what was it changed and what it was an encounter with Christ. How can we encounter Christ because Christ was alive and so Paul says it is the resurrection which give basis to everything else. One settle the matter of the resurrection and then Jonah and the great fish simply slots into line one settle the matter of the resurrection, and then in Genesis 1 to 11 narratives settle into place and so that's the real issue is, there are sufficient evidence in the New Testament in the unfolding arrival of the church in the transformation of the disciples in the in the act. In the absence of a body in the tomb and all that is of more is involved.

Is there sufficient basis.

There for us to say all of the evidence points to the fact the only reasonable explanation as to why this Christianity could ever be true is that Jesus is himself alive from the dead, and it is there that we start and then from there we go to the rest of hearing the great apologies you finally do the same thing and Francis Schaeffer in the 60s and 70s was absolutely crystal clear any of his writing. Start always from that cornerstone. So if you're agnostic today and your stumbling over the miraculous. I'm glad that you're here and I want to encourage you to think the issue out. Perhaps the reverse of what you been doing.

In other words start with this real issue and then work from there and with Paul. You can conclude very quickly. Jesus Christ is not alive from the dead, than the whole thing is a shambles. And there's really no reason for us to consider a little analysis of discourses on the miraculous.

As we go past the reason I do it is because one of the reasons that people fiddle around with the book of Jonah. They call it a parable to call it a story they call it a mythology and on about people are teaching in Christian colleges and universities.

One of the reasons that they do this is because they just are unprepared to bow their hearts and minds to the fact that God is God and he can do anything he wants any time he wants with anyone he wants any way he chooses because he is God. See. But as soon as there is no place here.

And of course we have to remanufacture a limited okay what is the key to this book. I think it's in the final sentence. Verse 11 of chapter 4. The question that God asks a rhetorical question should I not be concerned about that great city. Should I not be concerned about that great city, one of the things we need to learn to do is answer the questions that God is asking what we want God to do is answer the questions that we are asking that's okay. There is tremendous profit in addressing ourselves to the things of the Bible raises your final selection of them as you read your Bibles, and God is asking the question here of his servant, don't you think I should be concerned about the city of Nineveh. They after all it is such an unrighteous and dreadful place now. With that in our minds is the key to what's taking place. Let's go right back to the first word of the book the word of the Lord came to Jonah, son of MSI go to the great city of Nineveh actually in the Hebrew, the first word is our rise goal in the NIV has dropped arrives maybe regarded as superfluous because you can go unless your eyes are. I don't know what the translators did, but the fact is, the word arises an important word because God is not saying if you ever happen to be passing NIV beleaguered drop-in end and preach for a little while. He's actually arresting Jonah in the midst of his life and he say I want you to get top right now and I want you to go to Nineveh I want you to arise.

I want you to read orientate your thinking and I want you to proceed in the direction that I'm telling Nineveh was a fairly attractive place.

It was in northern Mesopotamia. It was on the east bank of the Tigris River.

It developed to a substantial city, and indeed if you take a contemporary map to find the city of morsel MO SQL then it was opposite that that the city of Nineveh, a had been built so that is the place that's involved a great city of Nineveh. Incidentally, there are a lot of things left unstated in this little book as well. The style of his terrorists. It's punchy you know it doesn't take a lot of time. This is the word of Lord into Jonah son of Emmett I go to the great city of Nineveh you know is like let's get this thing going here who is anti-nobody says where was his mother. We don't know all those kind of question why because of the purpose and direction of the book. It is punchy in the way that a newspaper article may be punchy, rather than more laborious. It is not.

If you like a leader. It's not one of those boring SEs in the middle of the think it is far more just getting the material out and getting out quickly. That's the place. Here's the proclamation what are you supposed to say what I want you to go to the great city of Nineveh, he says, and preach against it. The reason being that it's wickedness has come up before me.

That was part of this is difficult to understand. So far I want you to go here you know where. Yes I want you to say this, you understand that yes I do. So you to go and you are to denounce the wickedness of Nineveh. Why would God be allowed to go into the city and denounce it because he is the judge of all the air is the reason why an innovation be singled out for its wickedness. Well, apparently it was one of the most make wicked places of the then known world to doubt that you can read in Nahum in chapter 3 the striking words of God through his prophet Nahum concerning the city of Nineveh. Eight and listen to the nature of its condition. Woe to the city of blood full of lies full of plunder. Never without victims. The cracker flips the clatter of wheels galloping horses and jolting chariots, charging cavalry flashing swords and glittering spears. Many casualties piles of dead bodies without number.

People stumbling over the corpses.

All because of the once and lust of a harlot alluding the mistress of sorceries who enslave nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft. I am again. She declares the Lord Almighty. I will lift your skirt over your face.

I will show the nations your naked pretty dramatic step.

God is enraged about the circumstances in so he goes to his manly says Jonah you're my man for the moment.

This is the place and here's the proclamation go in there and denounce it for its wickedness of the interesting thing is this that when you read the denunciations of God, you discover that it is always in the heart of God too long that as a result of his declaration of judgment and condemnation.

It makes sterile within those who hear it a heart of repentance and of faith, so that what he says he will do in judgment. He will end up not doing on account of his mercy, and again the Bible answers any question that may be in our mind concerning the validity of such an assertion in Jeremiah chapter 18 and verse seven. This is what God says this time through Jeremiah. If at any time. I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed. And if that nation.

I warned repentance of its evil then I will relent and not inflict on it.

The disaster I had planned. So I said I want you regarding the Nevaeh and I 100 denounce it. Both God and his servant know they have enough theology. At least Jonah has enough theology to understand that if he goes and pronounces condemnation, the possibility is that the people will turn in sackcloth and ashes and repent that as we shall see unsettles so the place is clear. The proclamation is clear and what about the purpose. What is the purpose of this little book. Why is it even in the Bible. While there are more answers than we can even get one is to make perfectly clear to the people of his day and to wise that God's ways in dealing with nations and cities, and individuals are not our ways that it is impossible for us to explain the world geographically, historically, sociologically and psychologically.

All of these things may point is in a certain direction, but ultimately we cannot make sense of the rise and fall of empires. The advancement of cities and their demise, except for the fact that God is the God who is judge overall ear and he sets things up and he brings them down in the book of Jonah is a classic reminder to us that the actions of God in judgment and in mercy are not constrained by our understanding of what's taking place. In other words, we don't have to understand everything so as to give credence to the end of the heart of God. Indeed, the fact of the matter is that our very finitude prevents us from understanding everything and if we mainly understanding of everything the basis whereby we determine what God can or cannot do.

And of course we put ours place ourselves in the place of God, and he does only what we see fit. In the book of Jonah. Classically to Jonah says I am God you go.

I'll do what I'm going to do quite a perspective shift as we begin our study of Jonah called man overboard listing to truth for Alistair Begg is titled today's message the man who said no it's a privilege for us to be able to open God's word with you. We hope you'll join us every day as we go through this series and to make the listening as convenient as possible. This daily program is available on a number of different platforms online and on local radio stations that includes the truth for like mobile app were on YouTube and was on Celexa were available anywhere you listen to podcasts and as a reminder, if you currently listing online but you like to listen to Truth for Life on your local radio station. You can find the station and the time Truth for Life errors by visiting Truth for Life.org/station finder or on the app, select find radio stations near you.

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As we continue our study of the life of Jonah. Hard to imagine the children would defy one of God's direct commands, but Alister warns us we may be more like Jonah realize true to join us Tuesday Bible teaching of Alister Beck is furnished by truth or lying where the learning is for