First Account: Jonah's Calling and His Response

Jonah Series: Wrestling with Obedience

Message #1

Jonah 1:1-3.

ETS: God commissioned Jonah to Nineveh, but Jonah went to Tarshish instead.

ESS: We should be careful to not let selfish preferences hinder obedience to the Lord.

OSS: [Consecrative] {I want the hearers to recognize a calling on their life and surrender in obedience.}

PQ:

What are the aspects of this passage?

UW: Aspects

TS: Let us examine together the two aspects found in these verses.

Note: Jonah is a literal book, matter of fact in history— not merely a fictional story. (See Mt. 12:38-45 and Luke 11:24-32) There are, however, certain aspects of it that function as a type— to show what was to come. Additionally, there are certain aspects of the book itself that have broader implications than just for the original audience— for instance, God’s call and grace to Nineveh displays God’s call and grace towards Gentiles. God loves all people.

The first aspect is the calling of God to Jonah. [vv. 1-2]

Get up! Go!

To Nineveh:

The city of the Assyrians— the great people who had opposed the Israelites and wreaked havoc in their lives.

The city of wickedness and evil practices (their evil has come up before me)

Preach against the city of Nineveh.

The message God wanted him to preach to Nineveh was one of destruction— see Jonah 3:4.

Thought for us: God does not tolerate evil, wicked lifestyles that do not honor Him. He will deal with them in His time and according to His plan.

The second aspect is the response of Jonah to the calling. [v. 3]

Jonah got up...

But it wasn’t to go to Nineveh.

Jonah fled to Tarshish from the Lord’s presence.

Tarshish was in the opposite direction of Nineveh. (see map) — 1950 miles in the opposite direction.

Tarshish was not only in the opposite direction, but it was also the furthest point in the opposite direction.

Why would Jonah do such a thing?

Jonah 4:2 “2 He prayed to the Lord, “Please, Lord, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster.”

Jonah knew that God would relent and not destroy them if they would listen. He knew God was compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love.

So, what’s the issue, Jonah? Don’t you want to see people restored by God’s grace as opposed to being destroyed by God’s wrath? This is simple, right?

The Assyrians had been a constant pain for the Israelites, so selfishly, Jonah did not want good for them. Knowing that God would be gracious, compassionate, slow to be angry, abounding in love, and one relenting from sending disaster, Jonah went the other way.

Thought for us: It is easy to point a finger at Jonah before realizing the fullness of the situation and the background. God was requesting Jonah go to the people who had been hurtful and caused oppression to the Israelites. Selfishly, Jonah did not want good for the Assyrians of Nineveh. Unfortunately, Jonah let this selfishness— though valid it may be— hinder obedience to God’s calling. We should be careful to not let selfish preferences (no matter how valid) hinder our obedience to God.

Response Questions:

[1] (evangelistic call)— If you have been running from the calling of God on your life to follow Him- You have an opportunity to turn towards him today and stop running; to accept Him as Lord and Savior and begin following Him in obedience.

[2] (consecrative call)— If you have been running from a specific calling God has placed on your life to do a specific task required in following Him— you have an opportunity today to stop running from the calling and run towards God in obedience, submitting fully to following Him.