How well do I know God?

Below is a transcript of a talk I gave at Rora Christian Fellowship in Devon. To download the talk go to Recommended listens

I have recently been challenged by the story of Jonah and would like to share some thoughts with you.
Jonah was running in the opposite direction to where God wanted him to be going and consequently found himself in a bit of 'hot water', inside a large fish. Jonah flees from before the face of God, charters a ship bound for Tarshish, a place the opposite end of the Mediterranean. This man was desperate to get away. What he failed to understand was that whilst he thought he was getting away from God he ended up being where God was, or God ended up being where Jonah was. What we find is that God used Jonah's disobedience to save a bunch of unregenerate sailors who in a time of great distress and fear for their lives found themselves throwing their cargo overboard. The cargo had a value, after all they were a cargo ship. This cargo apparently now is of very little value as they are lightening the load in a frantic effort to save their skins. The storm had caused these sailors to re-evaluate their lives. God causes storms in our lives in order for us to re-evaluate our lives and we need to throw all those things that we thought had value over board, thus rendering them valueless. What we also find is that these sailors were calling on their gods to save them only to find that their gods seemed to be deaf. Jonah is reprimanded by the captain and told to pray to his God, who, unbeknown to the captain just happens to be the great God, Jehovah, the God of the Israelites. The sailors are so distressed for their own safety they ask Jonah what they should do, Jonah s reply was suicide, "throw me over board" to which these ungodly men found they just could not do so rowed harder to get to shore. I was challenged to think about the question "what shall we do?" and was reminded of another place in Acts 2:37 when, at pentecost and after Peter's great sermon, the crowd was so convicted they cried out "what shall we do?". Do we have an answer in times like this? When all seems so hopeless and live is falling apart are we able to offer hope, do we know what God wants us to say? In Jonah's case it was "throw me over board", what he recognised in that moment was that he was responsible and that God wanted him to go to Ninevah not Tarshish. Our actions affect those around us, especially those who are nearest and dearest to us. As men we need to begin to understand and live a life that gives God the glory, not any old god, but the living God who is always on our side. Jonah needed to change direction and recognised he had to get out of this messy situation, a sinking ship, not just for himself but also for the benefit of the sailors, so he takes desperate action fully aware that God can save him but prepared to die so the sailors would stand a better chance of living.
What we find is that through Jonah's faith in Almighty God is that men who had previously been besieging 'their gods' for salvation are now praying to Jonah's God and asking for salvation (Jonah 1:14), they also then 'offer a sacrifice and took vows',  (Jonah 1:16) in other words they sought salvation from the living God.

As we read on in the story we find that Jonah, inside this great fish, was offering prayers of thanks to God, well you would if you had been saved from the eternal abyss wouldn't you? Chapter 2 sees Jonah reciting the psalms, all I want to say here is that we need to read our bibles and really get to grips with scripture, the inspired word of God, even if we do not understand it I believe that God will always bring to our remembrance that which we have digested as and when we need spiritual help and guidance. Jonah was certainly in a dark place and really needed to know God was near. He had really messed up yet God used the whole situation of his disobedience to bring about salvation to some lost and hurting sailors and also preservd his life in the process. You would think that Jonah would have learnt that it is better to obey and to have been bold rather than turn and run the other way.
Chapter 3 shows us that God is the great God of the second chance, "the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time." It is wonderful to know that God does not give up on us even when we disobey and run the other direction. Jonah decides that he does not want to spend three nights inside a fish, he does not want to go into that 'dark place' so does as is asked. We know that city was a great city and what we read is that Jonah enters the city and says "40 days and it is all over". He is not really prepared for what God is about to do with so few words, the people believed God, prepared a fast and put on sackcloth (a garment woven from goats hair and worn next to the skin), itchy and uncomfortable. Such was the repentance of these people.God saw that these people returned from their evil and He repented (the word is translated relented) but God repented, He turned around and walked away. I find that so comforting that this almighty God is prepared to turn away from Sin and His intention of destruction when men and woman repent, He repents and remembers nothing.
Is Jonah happy with this situation, it does not appear that he is. Chapter 4 sees Jonah becoming angry. I mean you spend three nights in a fish after enduring a challenging time in a storm at sea to discover that you only have to say "40 days and it is all over" and the whole city of Ninivah repents, God repents and all is now back on track. Jonah found himself asking the question where do I fit into all this? what about poor old me? I have been through all this only to find that I am now redundant? What do you mean by all this God? What we find at the bottom of all this is that right from the outset Jonah knew his God very well indeed which was his justification for going the opposite way. So I ask the question How well do I know God?
Jonah could have spent his time discipling and encouraging the new repentant converts of Ninevah yet he spent his time thinking about his own self. He should have been in the city getting alongside these new disciples instead of finding shade for himself.
What about you and I? Are we prepared for God to use us for His glory or are we seeking shade under a plant?
Do you and I know God to be "gracious, merciful,slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness" to the point that it motivates us to share it with others or does it cause us to flee from His presence?