Jonah 1:1-17
One of the greatest doctrines of the Christian faith and attributes of God that needs to be restored and recovered especially in the context of Ghanaian Christianity is the Sovereignty of God. There are many churches among us where God has been belittled and man exalted. There is common teaching going on out there that says that “God needs man’s permission before he can act or operate on earth.” The biblical God, Yahweh, is Sovereign over all things. He has total and absolute control over the affairs of this earth. He has not delegated this authority to anyone.
The Sovereignty of God simply means that God is in full and absolute control over his creation and there is not a single thing in the universe outside of God’s control. Further, it means that God does as he pleases. And this idea is clearly seen in verse 14: “…for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.” These pagan sailors acknowledged what the Bible clearly teaches: Our God is in the heavens; he does all that pleases him Psalm 115:3).
The Light of nature shews that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereingty over all; is just, good and doth good unto all; and is there to be feared, loved, praise, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might (London Baptist Confession Of Faith and Westminster Confession of faith).
Note how the word great is used in the (Jonah 1:1; 4;10). This says something about the Sovereignty of God. God called Nineveh, a great city to repentance. God hurled a great wind to bring Jonah to repentance and God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah to preserve him. In all of these, the Sovereignty of God is displayed. God has power over the nations. God has power over his creations. No matter how great they are.
The Sovereignty Of God Over The Nations
The whole book of Jonah is God sending Jonah to Nineveh described as a great city to call them to repentance (Jonah 1:1). Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria, a superpower of the time. Assyria is present-day Iraq (Mesopotamia). And the city of Nineveh is a city in Iraq called Mosul. History has it that Nineveh was a trade centre and an affluent city of the then world. It was known for its massive buildings and water infrastructure. Assyria had a ruthless and wicked army that brought fear into the hearts of other kings. Assyria at a point was used by God to discipline Israel for their sins by carrying Israel to captivity (2Kings 15:23-29). From 2Kings 15: 23-28, we are told the Kings of Judah did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Then in 2Kings 15:29, the King of Assyria came to carry them to captivity. A similar narrative is given again in 2Kings 17:22-23 where the Israelites are recorded to walk in ways not pleasing to God. And they were carried into captivity
Nineveh as a great city was noted for some evil and wickedness, which the Scriptures clearly indicated has come up to God. What are some of the evil? We can glean further from Scripture (Nahum 3:1-4; Zephaniah 2:13-15).
Now despite all its greatness, this is a city under the authority of God. There is no earthly power or authority that is autonomous to God. Every power that be is under the authority of God (Romans 13:1). Though great, the great city of Nineveh was accountable to God. Here is a general principle that all nations on the earth are accountable to God.
The Sovereignty of God Over Nature.
God controls the elements of nature, his own creation. When Jonah fled, God moved so to speak to bring Jonah to obedience. And how he does it is by sending a great wind. (Jonah 1:4). These mariners I am very sure were experienced. They may have seen many storms and controlled them. But this storm seems different. It was beyond their control. And their response tells it all: “Then the mariners were afraid”. (Jonah 1:5). Now even we, when we see lightning and stormy winds don’t we get afraid.
In the middle of nowhere in the sea, these mariners truly have a reason to be afraid. Their life was in danger. “The ship threatened to break up,” the text says. The great wind produced a mighty tempest. The original word for tempest speaks of a hurricane or a whirlwind.
I think their response also may indicate that they thought this wind was no ordinary wind, so they each called on their gods. It is interesting to note also that the wind in the original is Rauch, the same word used to describe the Spirit of God in Hebrew.
The point here is that God was the one behind the great wind. The great wind didn’t come by itself. God was behind the great wind. Psalm 107:23-27 says those who do business in deep waters see the glory and work of God.
Now not only in the wind but also in the creatures of the sea, God has control. He appointed a great fish. Some commentators have said the great fish was a sperm whale. This is noted to be the largest whale in the sea and can indeed swallow a human being.
Remarkably, we are told God appointed the big fish. He prepared it even before Jonah was thrown into the water. God know that will happen.
One True God
The Lord hurled the great wind which threatened to break the ship. And what was the response of the Mariners? “each cried out to his God” (v.5)
We see a clear distinction here between the God of the Bible and the gods of the pagans. Here is a picture of a pantheon of gods; that is different gods who couldn’t help or do anything. Despite crying out to their gods, they will still empty the ship of its cargo so they don’t lose their lives: “they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them.” (v.5). God is Sovereign, he has no equals and no one can stop his hands from carrying out his plans.
God is not one God among many gods. The God of the Bible is the One True God, he has no equals Deut 6:4. In the first commandment, God clearly commands that “You shall have no other gods before me.” We may not necessarily have physical idols, but the things that engage us or the things we love can take the place of God and become idols in our lives.
When Jonah was questioned about his identity he spoke words that also shows clearly the One of God among so-called gods (v.9). When Jonah said “ God of the sea and dry land” Jonah has defined the extent of God’s Sovereingty. He is sovereign both over sea and land. Simply he is Sovereign over all the earth.
God Is Sovereingn Over The Salvation of Sinners
God draws sinners to himself by his sovereign will (John 6:44). Jonah was sent to Nineveh, he took another direction and in this encounter, these pagan sailors who were not in the plan of God so to speak encountered God. God drew them to himself . Despite his disobedience, God glorified himself among the pagan sailors. After they had thrown Jonah overboard, the sea ceased. This surely shows Jonah’s God is real. They feared (v.14); that is they revered God. And made sacrifices and vows. This is a picture of a people who have come to believe in God. Many commentators have interpreted this as the sailors coming to salvation. God uses various ways to reach sinners and bring them to himself. And in Jonah’s situation we see this manifested clearly.
If God is sovereign, nothing can happen to you outside of God’s will. The sovereignty of God will give us peace in the midst of chaos. The sovereignty of God will put our hearts to rest in this evil world.
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