BIG IDEA:
RUNNING AWAY FROM GOD NEVER WORKS –
IT ONLY EXPOSES A HEART THAT IS OPPOSED TO GOD’S SOVEREIGN AGENDA
INTRODUCTION:
People try to run away from God for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways:
1) Run away from His Presence – Desire to Hide from God
2) Run away from His Calling or His Mission – Desire to Do Your Own Thing
3) Run away from His Accountability over you – Desire to Escape Judgment
But there is no escaping God. That doesn’t change the reality that in their desperation and panic, people’s first impulse is to try to flee and escape.
I. (:1-3) A JUDGMENTAL SPIRIT AVOIDS MISSIONS OF COMPASSION AND MERCY
Why?
– thinking people don’t deserve to be helped
– thinking it’s not my job or responsibility to get involved
A. (:1-2) Jonah’s Calling – The Compassion of God for a Lost World Cannot be Reconciled with a Judgmental Spirit
(4:1-3 provide the commentary here)
1. The Prophet of God Should Always Welcome the Word of God
“The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying”
Should always be an exciting experience to receive new revelation from God.
2. Jonah’s Commission Was Clear But Distasteful
“Arise, go to Nineveh the great city, and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”
a. Apparently he had no problem traveling quickly to hop a boat headed the opposite direction
b. Reputation of wicked Nineveh well-known
c. Proclamation was one of Judgment
d. But Heart of God is one of Compassion and Mercy
e. Heart of Jonah was one of Bitterness and Condemnation
B. (:3) Jonah’s Rebellion – Substituting His Judgmental Agenda for the Lord’s Mission of Mercy
“But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”
Called the reluctant prophet … but we could use much stronger terminology … direct rebellion here
II. (:4-9) OPEN REBELLION FLIES IN THE FACE OF OUR PROFESSED FEAR OF GOD
A. (:4) Terrifying Situation – The Perfect Storm
“And the Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up.”
B. (:5a) Appropriate Fear Motivates Pagans to Take Desperate Measures
1. Reality of Their Fear
“Then the sailors became afraid”
These were hard core sailors, in their element, but recognizing they were up against unusually powerful forces of nature
2. Renewal of Their Religious Commitments
“and every man cried to his god”
There are no atheists in the foxhole of battle
3. Resourcefulness of Their Desperate Tactics – did everything humanly possible
“and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them.”
C. (:5b-6) Denial of Rebellion Associated with Exhaustion and Prayerlessness
“But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down, and fallen sound asleep. So the captain approached him and said, ‘How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.’”
Jonah recognized as a religious personage; if he didn’t care about his own safety, at least he should be praying for the safety of the others
D. (:7-8) Exposure of Jonah as the Cause of the Calamity
1. (:7) The Inquiry – Who is to Blame?
“And each man said to his mate, ‘Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us.” So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.”
2. (:8) The Inquisition – Who are You really and What did you do?
“Then they said to him, ‘Tell us now!
– On whose account has this calamity struck us?
– What is your occupation?
– And where do you come from?
– What is your country?
– From what people are you?’”
E. (:9) Empty Profession of Faith – not practicing the fear of the Lord
“And he said to them, ‘I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.’”
III. (:10-16) PACIFYING THE LORD REQUIRES THE PAYING OF THE APPROPRIATE PRICE
In this instance, Jonah had to be tossed into the sea to quiet the storm
A. (:10-12) Figuring Out the Price that Needs to be Paid –
Only One Price Will Satisfy
1. (:10) Indignation at Jonah’s Foolishness to Put Them All in Jeopardy
“Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, ‘How could you do this?’ For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.”
Even the pagans understood that you cannot flee from an all-present Sovereign
2. (:11) Pursuit of Justice
“So they said to him, ‘What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?’ – for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy.”
– How to punish the transgressor in appropriate fashion
– How to spare the victims further damage
3. (:12) Only One Solution
“And he said to them, ‘Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.’”
Cf. how salvation attacked as exclusivistic – there is only one price God will accept
B. (:13-14) Last Ditch Effort at Mercy
(Jonah unwilling for people of Nineveh to be shown mercy; but here the pagans are willing to extend mercy to Jonah if at all possible)
1. (:13) Self Effort can seem Magnanimous, but actually is Counter Productive
“However, the men rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them.”
2. (:14) Plea for Absolution / Accepting the Inevitable
“then they called on the Lord and said, ‘We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for Thou, O Lord, hast done as Thou hast pleased.”
C. (:15) Paying the Price Demanded
“So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging.”
D. (:16) Genuine Conversion Results in Genuine Fear of the Lord and Obedient Commitment
“Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.”
(:17) CONCLUSION: SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR THE REBELLIOUS RUNAWAY
A. Divine Appointment
“And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah”
B. Death and Resurrection Experience
“and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.”