Learning From Failures

RUNNING FROM GOD 

So, what might you learn from reading about failures? Well, here are 17 basic lessons you can glean from the 48 verses of Jonah. 

Jonah was an Old Testament prophet sent to warn very evil people of God's judgement. But, Jonah himself was a mess. He was disobedient, pouty and belligerent. Jonah's story is a story of God's grace and God's sovereignty. 

I challenge you to spend ten minutes reading the story for yourself, and then ponder these simple truths.

CHAPTER 1

1. God gives clear instructions to His children and He expects us to follow them. 
2. Sin has multiple layers of consequences and places us in bondage -- Emotional consequences (fear), physical consequences (distress), spiritual consequences (separation from God) and many other consequences (dangers for sailors and Ninevites.) 
3. Sin should be confessed, not ignored. (1 John 1:9) 
4. God always notices sin and He will chasten and discipline His own. (Proverbs 3:11-12) 
5. God uses multiple sources to reveal sin. (Sailors, storms, sun, shades, winds.) 
6. Exposing our sin is an act of God's love. (Safety in righteousness, not in sin.) 

CHAPTER 2 

1. Repentance involves acknowledging who God is, confession and change. 
2. Repentance is personal and it means you must have a real, personal encounter with God. 
3. Repentance involves sacrifice. 
4. God's grace comes even to those who willingly disobey. 

CHAPTER 3 

1. Lost people (like the Ninevites) matter to God and must matter to us. 
2. Genuine repentance requires sacrifice. 
3. God's grace can be for both the saved (Jonah) and the unsaved (Ninevites) 

CHAPTER 4

1. When you're indignant with God, it illustrates your need to receive instruction from Him. 
2. God uses our own circumstances to illustrate His values. 
3. Our time on Earth is about developing our character, not our comfort. 
4. We should always celebrate grace.