The Runaway
Pastor Chang Kim
Jonah 1:1-3
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[a] has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 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.
Introduction:
2 Kings 14:25
25 He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher.
Jonah was a prophet of God and God was using Jonah, Israel was prosperous and becoming a great nation.
The Call of Jonah vv1-2
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[a] has come up before me.”
This phrase appears twice in the book, here and at the beginning of chapter 3. In each case, we see God giving Jonah a command, and in each case we see Jonah responding.
Nineveh: full of sin, idolatry, where God is not worshipped. God through Jonah wants to show compassion and mercy to the people of Nineveh.
God’s compassion and mercy is greater than His judgment.
The situation was extreme enough to gain the attention of God.
Jonah Runs Away v3
3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 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.
It was a direct disobedience by Jonah against God.
His hatred for Nineveh and disobedience was so bad, that he wanted to go to where God wasn’t worshiped, why, because he wouldn’t have to hear from God again about Nineveh.
We see the characteristics of a prophet we CAN relate to, but we are to see the characteristics of God, we ARE to relate to.
When we have people in our lives we can’t tolerate, can’t forgive, can’t show mercy and compassion, it will lead us away from the presence of the Lord. It leads us, it directs away from God.
Conclusion
Flee from the world and run to God.
Discussion Questions
What is your first impression of Jonah? Good? Bad?
Why do you think God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh? What is God’s intention?
Why does Jonah flee away from God in direct disobedience?
Have any circumstances led us to disobey God?