Jonah 2 Following Jesus When You’d Rather Run AwaySample

God Delights in Repentance

Have you ever asked yourself these questions? When did I begin to follow God? When did He save me? How has He been faithful? At the end of Jonah 2:9 it is clear that Jonah has repented, but we might wonder when did Jonah repent? Jonah showed several marks of true repentance:

· Jonah proclaimed his fear of the LORD, and he was honest about his sin and rebellion, no longer covering it up (Jonah 1:9).

· Jonah allowed himself to be cast into the sea (Jonah 1:12).

· Jonah began to pray; he called out to God during the three days and three nights in the belly of the fish (Jonah 2:2, 2:4, and 2:7).

· Jonah had a new heart of gratitude (Jonah 2:9).

· Jonah renewed the commitment to his vow (Jonah 2:9).

· Jonah gave glory to God in all of this (Jonah 2:9).

In all this we see that repentance as more than a one-time event. Though it begins at one time, it must continue and mature. Repentance is an event, but it is also a process.