Most of life's conflicts have an outer and an inner front. The outer front is the storm that people can see, the circumstances that rattle us. The inner front is the hidden storm, the violent movements of the soul. Jonah certainly faced an external conflict. At his own request the sailors, whom he hoped would help him escape his divine commission, had thrown him into the angry sea. At the end of the first chapter Jonah is literally drowning.
But Jonah's soul is also wracked with conflict. "In the struggle of faith there are internal conflicts." Jonah senses, perhaps for the first time of his life, that he is official not in control. He finally seems to take seriously the battle for his soul.
This conflict is a turning point in Jonah's life. Jonah no longer runs from God. This is real progress! Reluctant obedience is an improvement over brazen rebellion. Jonah's behavior in Nineveh is massively disappointing. In the second half of the book it is evident that his heart is still quite out of tune from God's. Jonah has only "a small beginning of [the] obedience" God requires of us. But this is a turning point. Like Jacob Jonah has wrestled with God and his life has been changed.
Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter.
Text-Featuring a sermon is a less expensive way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands on the right bar with optional newsletter inclusion. As low as $30/day.
