Jonah, The Fugitive

Running From Obedience

The Thing We Are Supposed To Do

Jonah 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying…

If we are Christ followers, all of us know something that we are supposed to be doing. We find all of those somethings in Scripture. So the reality is, we are just like Jonah. We know we have something to do.

We know Jonah was a prophet: 2 Kings 14:25b …accordingto the word of the LORD God of Israel, which He spoke by the hand of His servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet who was from Gathhepher.

The Instructions Are Clear

Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.

Jonah was the first missionary who was commissioned not only to speak out against the ways and practices of a foreign nation, but also to go to that nation and speak ‘in person’ against them.

In the Old Testament God had never sent His messengers as missionaries to other countries. Israel was to serve and worship God as a nation that was located at the crossroads of the world, where the three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa meet. The nations not traveling by water would take the route through the land of Israel. God took the people of Israel, and placed them there at the crossroads. He had them build a temple to worship Him, and in order that they might be a witness of God to the world, by serving Him.

The Disobedient Response To Instruction

Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD; and he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

Jonah knows what to do, but does the direct opposite. Tarshish was opposite from Nineveh—about 2000 miles.

Jonah was not thinking he could go where God was not, for he knew the Scripture. Psalm 139:7 Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?

Jonah knows God is everywhere, but still chooses to run. Just because we know something, does not mean we act on it.

Often, when we are disobedient, we just get very involved in something else, so that we become unavailable. We find our own Tarshish. To run from God is like trying to flee from light. The only thing you wind up with is darkness. Tarshish is the place where we try to escape God’s call.

Running Against The Wind

Jonah 1:4 But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.

Jonah bet his life on the false idea that he could flee the presence of God. How often do we think that through our disobedience we can avoid God’s Word for our life?

God hurled a storm like a javelin to arrest Jonah. People say there is no peace in our sin, but it didn’t bother Jonah.

Disobedience Endangers Everyone

Jonah 1:6 So the shipmaster came to him and said unto him, “What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God, if it so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.”

Jonah had created a storm and now they all know it. Christians suffer for two reasons: because of living right, and because of living wrong. 1 Peter 4:14. They asked Jonah “Why would you try to run from a God who is over everything?”

Why Run If You Can’t Hide

Jonah 1:11 Then said they unto him, “What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. Jonah could not get away from God’s instructions.

How Stubborn We Can Be

Jonah 1:12 And he said unto them, “Take me up and cast me forth into the sea.”

Jonah could have repented on the spot, but he was so self-willed that he would rather drown than go to Nineveh.

What price are we willing to pay to be disobedient?

Jonah 1:14 Therefore they cried unto the LORD

They tried to save Jonah but could not. Christians who are disobedient will be a problem for everyone.

Jonah Quits Running

Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah.

If we are committed to Jesus, He never stops dealing with us. Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one whom He loves. Let’s not be fugitives. Run to Him.