Running From Your Life: The Run (Pt. 1)

1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

“Arise, go...” vs “Jonah rose to flee”

Verses 1-2

God had come to the presence of Jonah with an assignment. Go to Nineveh, and tell them what they’re doing is evil. We can even feel this sense of IMMEDIACY in this command. But Jonah responds in this way...

Verse 3a

This texts suggests that there was some sort of IMMEDIACY in Jonah’s response. He didn’t waste any time to ignore what God had told him.

Illustration about leaving responsibility SO quickly, lol. Maybe something like a teenager hearing their parent needing help with something, but fleeing the presence.

From going to Nineveh to Fleeing to Tarshish

Verse 3b

If you look at an ancient map during the time of Jonah, Nineveh was eastward.

So when the text says that he’s going to Tarshish, Jonah was not only trying to get away from God, but also getting the FURTHEST away from God as he possibly can.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

Down to Joppa and paid a fare

Verse 3c

Not only was Jonah physically invested (traveling), but he was also financially invested into fleeing from God.

“Why did Jonah flee? And why so far?”

According to this text, we don’t know. But we shall wait patiently, and allow the story to take us on its on terms.

Jonah 1:4-16 — Jonah and the Sailors

English Standard Version Chapter 1

4 But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

But the LORD hurled a great wind

Verse 4

Wait a second…the LORD?! Wasn’t Jonah trying to run away from the LORD??

Now, Jonah wasn’t the only one on the ship...

English Standard Version Chapter 1

Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them

The Fear of the Sailors

Verse 5a

The sailors were afraid! And they even

WHERE’S JONAH??

English Standard Version Chapter 1

But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.

JONAH IS ASLEEP

Verse 5b

JONAH IS NOT ONLY MISSING, BUT ASLEEP!!

English Standard Version Chapter 1

6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

The Captain’s Confrontation

Verse 6

The captain says, “Get up and call your God!” But the irony is HE’S TRYING TO RUN AWAY FROM GOD.

The captain is being more of a prophet than the prophet Jonah!

English Standard Version Chapter 1

7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”

The Interrogation

Verses 7-8

The intensity and frequency of their questions should be noted.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

9 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

Jonah reveals his God

Verses 9-10

The sailors KNEW.

Skim through verses 11-15

Just tell the story with IMAGERY!

Raging waters.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

Verse 16

The pagan sailors feared the LORD. Their fear of the storm turned into the fear of the LORD.

THE IRONY: These sailors obeyed God while Jonah was being disobedient.

Why is it that THE PROPHET OF GOD is the one being stubborn and disobedient?

Conclusion

Key takeaways

Christians can be the most stubborn and disobedient people

Fear is not a viable motivator

Even fleeing the presence of God brings us right back to Him

You can’t run and you can’t hide!

Jonah 1:17 — Jonah is SWALLOWED by a fish