Jonah: Running from the Will of God

Introduction

Introduction

We are only covering 3 verses this morning. But the good news is there is only 48 verses in the whole book of Jonah so at that rate we will be done in only 16 weeks!

The only prophet Jesus directly compared with Himself was Jonah.

C. H. Cornill said he could not read the Book without tears.

J. B. Tidwell called Jonah the most Christian Book in the Old Testament.

Obviously, there is more to Jonah than controversy over a big fish.

Why look at the book of Jonah?

The book of Jonah is significant to every Christian.

Significant to us.

Significant for the Church.

Significance in understanding God and His character.

Why look at the Book of Jonah?

, in love of mankind, and in the appreciation of the character of God, this little book stands preëminent [sic] as the noblest, broadest, and most Christian of all Old Testament literature."[38]

"The overriding theme of the book is the sovereign God's grace toward sinners, illustrated in His decision to withhold His judgment from the guilty but repentant Ninevites."[39]

"The Book of Jonah is one of the most relevant books for the present time."[40]

The book of Jonah is a story about a man who ran from God and a God who pursued him.

We can all see ourselves in this story because we were all running from God.

Jonah ran from God - Ran to God - Ran with God.

The book of Jonah is significant to every Christian.

1) Significant for US. We too run from the will of God.

Glovis Chappel says that for the Christian there are only two cities on the map—Nineveh (the will of God) and Tarchish (Our will).

2) Significant for the Church. Like Jonah and Israel the church, by failure to evangelize, or support world missions misses its reason for salvation (Gen. 13:3).

3) Significance in understanding God and his Character.  God is a God of love who is patient with His rebellious children (4:6). He loves the Assyrians in spite of their cruelty and iniquity (1:2). He calls on us to suffer, if need be, to share that love.

This is probably one of the richest old testament books when it comes to Gods character and the gospel.

Question 1: Did the story of Jonah actually happen?

So here is my first question and the first question you need to answer for yourself. Did the story of Jonah actually happen? Is it allegory, is it a parable or is it a historical account?

History. There are several good reasons to accept the historical view of Jonah.

(1) He is mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25 as the son of Amittai (see Jon. 1:1) and the prophet who predicted the political restoration of Israel under Jeroboam.

2 Kings 14:25 NIV

He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea, in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.

(1) He is mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25 as the son of Amittai (see Jon. 1:1) and the prophet who predicted the political restoration of Israel under Jeroboam.

Rule out parable because the person of jonah is verified in kings and other books.

Even IN assyrian propaganda we see some of their smaller god’s. 2nd God is oneness (Arabic and isllamic texts - same name as Jonah) Amphibious being who taught mankind wisdom. As described by the babylonian priest had the form of a fish but the head of a man. And had feet. Some claim that this God may be jonah himself and the people worshipped hium as he came out of the fish and looked like he was dead. so they made a new God.

(2) The Book is presented as pure history and if it is an allegory or parable why doesn’t it have some stated lessons?

(3) If it is parable or allegory then it is the ONLY EXAMPLE of an historical character used as an allegory. in the entire Bible.

Context: None of the ancient Jews or early Christians ever doubted the authenticity and historicity of the book of Jonah and its story.

(4) The strongest argument comes from Jesus

Matthew 12:41 NIV

The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.

(4) The strongest argument comes from Jesus who told the people of His day that “at the Judgment the people of Nineveh who repented at the preaching of Jonah will rise up and condemn this generation” (Mt. 12:41) because of their failure to repent at His preaching.

(5) The Miracles? The miracle of the fish is not only possible but probable. God’s miracles are meaningful. They come at strategic points to confirm the written Word and new junctures in salvation history. Elisha, who may have been Jonah’s teacher worked miracles.

New New - Ninevah - land of the fish.

I could go on. The book of Jonah is filled with tight-fitting, historically proved details:

the shipping port Joppa (Jaffa), which was functioning at the time

(Jonah 1:3); the well-attested practice of casting lots (verse 7);

the large merchant vessel replete with hold, sail and rowing capability, befitting merchant travel of the time (verses 3, 5, 13).

Even the Aramaic language in relation to the sailors:

The deliverance of Nineveh was a mighty act of God, necessary if Assyria was to fulfill its purpose by destroying Israel (Habakkuk).

God sent a man, swallowed and vomited up by a fish, to convince them of his authority and lead them to repentance. Miracles call us to listen to the Word.

If we throw Jonah out because of the great fish, we must throw out the Four Gospels because of the Resurrection. - Bob Mercurelle

Question 2: Who was Jonah?

Jonah is the fifth of the Minor Prophets in our English Bibles. Jonah is unique among the Latter Prophets (in Hebrew: Isaiah through Malachi) in that it is almost completely narrative, similar to the histories of Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 17—19; 2 Kings 2:1—13:21)

Jonah the earliest of the prophets whose works are recorded in separate books.

His ministry likely began when Israel was in a dire state, oppressed by Syria, and devoid of help.

He prophesied and saw the restoration of Israel - this is significant -This gave him a reputation

His prophecies, particularly the prediction of Israel's restoration under Jeroboam II, were messages of mercy and hope despite Israel's unfaithfulness. - Also likely brought with it a level of recognition and fame. Living in a restored nation and having a part to play in it/.  Jonah's early prophetic career likely overlapped with Elisha's, suggesting he may have been influenced by or even mentored by Elisha.

Question 3: Where did he live?

As with his two predecessors, Elijah and Elisha, Jonah also ministered in and to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, as well as in Phoenicia and Aram.

Jonah is the only Old Testament prophet on record whom God sent to a heathen nation with a message of repentance.[2]

Nahum's later ministry to Nineveh consisted of announcing certain overthrow, although, had the Ninevites repented again, God might have relented again.

Political and Social Climate:

Israel was divided into two kingdoms: the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah).

This era, while politically and economically prosperous under Jeroboam II, was marked by spiritual and moral decay.

1. A Golden Age of Prosperity. Under Uzziah (Judah) and Jeroboam (Israel) God’s people prospered. Jeroboam restored Israel’s borders. National pride in Israel was at fever pitch and foreigners were completely outcast.

2. A Golden Age of Preaching. The prophet who predicted this restoration was Jonah. He was a contemporary of Amos, Hosea, Joel and Isaiah.

Before God sends His judgments, He sends His preachers to call the people to repentance, so they might escape.

One of these was Jonah, the Billy Graham of his day.

Thirty years (722 b.c.) after the death of Jeroboam, Assyria destroyed Israel (2 Ki. 17).

Jonah’s messages are not recorded.

His sermons to Israel are long gone.

But the sermon of his life will be in God’s Word until Jesus comes.

It is what we ARE, far more than what we SAY that changes lives.

We have a holy God who will not let us off, a faithful God Who will not let us down, and a loving God Who will not let us go.

Now let’s watch Jonah run.

Jonah 1:1 NIV

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai:

This is significant.

The way this book starts is different from others

This points to the greater truth that God is active in the affairs in this world

We can tend to forget that God can change things.

The Bible portrays a very different view of God.

Jonah 1:2 NIV

“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

This is showing a call.

God is calling him -

God has a mission for him to go on.

Has God placed a calling on your lifee?

Absolutely yes. - God has placed some set of directions on your life.

He has saved you for his purpose.

A christian without a ministry is a contridiction.

We are all called to something.

Walk worthy made worthy.

Walk worthy of the calling.

How many times have we determined where we will go and what we will do without seeking God first?

Why does God call it a great city? To men it was considered “great,” great in numbers, pomp, pretensions, masonry. But to God it could only be great in sin, for sin is a great thing to God; it is a black cloud in His universe. For the sake of this city, in order to effect its moral reformation, and therefore to save it, Jonah receives a commission. “Arise,” shake off thy languor, quit thyself for action, go down to this city, and “cry against it.” Be earnest. The danger is great, near at hand, and approaching every minute. Observe here two things—

Jonah 1:3 NIV

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Jonah resolved not to obey God’s voice.

What a glimpse into Jonah that gives us! The Spirit could be resisted, but a living man who had to consent with his devoted will to bear the burden of the Lord.

his refusal teaches us how superb and self-sacrificing was the faithfulness of God is.

Jonah was fleeing from what?

3 times the texts references jonah was going down.

He went down spiritually.

Asserting your self will. Following your passion.

Any step away from the will of God is going down.

How convenient there was a ship heading in the opposite direction.

The devil has a ship. - Original text reads more like jonah hired the ship.

When he tempted Jonah to go to Tarshish, the evil one knew that there was a ship at Joppa waiting for a fair wind to sail for Tarshish; therefore he whispered into Jonah’s ear, “Go to Tarshish,”

"It's possible to be out of the will of God and still have circumstances appear to be working on your behalf."

"The ready way is not always the right way."

Whenever we want to get away from the will of God, especially when it comes to evangelism,

the devil has some comfortable ships waiting. What are their names?

3. Social Action. Many do the appreciated work of ministering to physical needs but refuse to do the often unappreciated work of witnessing.

Social action and evangelism are not competitors, they are partners. We must, as Christians, minister to mind (teaching), body (healing and helping) and soul (witnessing).

4. Fellowship. We use the church to escape from the world. We love our own and go no farther. When the river of Christian fellowship stops at the church it slowly becomes a swamp. We must get off our pleasure cruise, man the lifeboats and “rescue the perishing.”

BEware. The devil has a ship.

But even though the devil had a ship why did Jonah run?

Why did he run?

1. Difficulties

When God called Jonah to preach to Nineveh, the capitol city of Assyria, he rebelled. He ran in the exact opposite direction by catching a ship to Spain. Why did he run?

It was to tough and to difficult for Jonah to go.

Hard for him to get there.

Its hard he would have to go through the dessert.

{PErhaps He thought it would be incredibly difficult to speak as a Hewbrew to the Ninevites.

1) Difficulties. Nineveh was “great” in size, strength, wickedness and paganism.

ANother person in scripture we can see them running from God because of Difficulty

Exodus 3:11 NIV

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

Like Moses (Ex. 3:11) we often try to run because we think God has given us too hard a task.

Jonah’s name means “dove,” an emblem of the holy Spirit (Lk. 3:22). W

hen God appoints us to serve, He anoints us with the power to serve.

Difficulties should make us stronger because we trust in God rather than ourselves.

The early church turned the world upside down because they knew they couldn’t do it.

We fail to make a dent, with all our size and strength, because we think WE can do it.

Like Moses (Ex. 3:11) we often try to run because we think God has given us too hard a task.

Jonah’s name means “dove,” an emblem of the holy Spirit (Lk. 3:22). W

hen God appoints us to serve, He anoints us with the power to serve.

Difficulties should make us stronger because we trust in God rather than ourselves.

The early church turned the world upside down because they knew they couldn’t do it.

We fail to make a dent, with all our size and strength, because we think WE can do it.

2. Dangers

2) Dangers. Nineveh was also “great” in its cruelty.

The prophet’s life would be in great danger.

These Assyrians were unbelievably cruel (Baxter). They left conquered lands covered with corpses. They skinned their victims alive, impaled them alive on poles and pulled their tongues out.

Knowing this we don’t excuse Jonah’s retreat but we do understand it better. We see him as more than a narrow-minded bigot.

Do we really want to go to cruel and mean peoples lands? Like honestly.

BUt was this really Why jonah ran?

God said their wickness has come before me.

So they were wicked

1 Kings 19:2–3 NIV

So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,

Like Elijah (1 Ki. 19:2–3) we often run out of fear of what people will do to us or say about us (Jn. 19:38).

The safest place on earth is behind the shield (Gen. 15:1) in the center of God’s will.

The prophet’s life would be in great danger.

I mean I think he was doing something increbibly dangerous and brave by going to Tarshish.

550 miles verse 2500

The farthest you could get away from ninvah.

All to avoid Gods calling

I have heard people say I believe in God. And they openly admit to living in sin.

We have two forms of theology.

One we say and one we live. Prexcribed/practical

Prescibed says Jesus is Lord

Practical says I still get to live however I want including living in sin.

What we mean sometimes is Jesus is lord as long as it doesnt conflict with my desires.

They say well it feels right.

And its what is right to you.

What a wicked thing to say.

If I asked one of my children to do something and he refused because it didn’t feel right.

There would be a problem.

If I told him to get out of the road. and he refused because it didn’t feel right there might be some immediate action taken.

One of the struggles I have faced with many who profess to be christians is that they are saved. and yet Jesus is not Lord of their life.

Safety is not the absence of danger but the presence of Christ.

Jonah’s reason was neither Dangers or Difficulty. His was patriotism

Patriotism

Jonah’s reason was neither of these. His was

3) Patriotism He was not afraid of hard work or death (1:12) but of what God would do for Nineveh (4:1–3). He would forgive them and they would survive to destroy his country. His distaste grew out of his unbridled patriotism.

He loved his country too much. How much is too much? When we love anything (country, family, life, etc.) more than we love God (Lk. 16:25–27).

It grew out of pride.

Remember Jonah prophesied the restoration of his country. But he also knew the assyrians would be responsible for their downfall.

So Jonah had a fame and prestige and reputation.

ANd he thought he knew what was best.

He was prideful and arrogant. - i’ll show you just how prideful and arrogent. We will jump ahead for a glimpse so we can better understand Jonah.

Jonah 4:1 NIV

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.

This is after the greatest revival recorded in the Bible has taken place.

This is his response

Jonah 4:2 NIV

He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

Jonah said I knew you would forgive them!

And I dont want that.

I knew you are a gracious and compassionate God! SLow to anger

I knew you were going to forgive my enemies.

You would love and forgive the people I hate.

Jonah 4:3 NIV

Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

You have to be pretty bitter to say things like this.

He hated the people God loves.

- In our light. Palistine - If God called you to go. Would you go to palistine. Whom God loves and will forgive sahould they turn and repent?

Jonah knew God. Psalm 139

Where can I go from your spirit and where can i flee from your presence?

Blindness is on jonahs heart due to his bitterness toward these people.

Patriotism

While he is not the super bigot some people call him, he, like us, probably would rather minister to his own “kind.” Too many of us see God as “white, middle-classed

coupled with bewilderment as to why God would spare the nation (4:1–3) that was going to destroy his country

Jonah had as great contempt for the heathen as his bigoted brethren of Israel.

He was sent on a mission of mercy to his political enemies.

As he had never learned to love his enemies, he fled from so distasteful a service

In so doing He failed to really see our brothers and sisters. Who are they? Anyone in need (Lk. 10:25–37).

This led him into disobedience

Too many of us choose sin or selfishness over service.

We are disobedient to God’s will revealed in the Scriptures.

Gods ways are not our ways.

Romans 11:33 NIV

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

God’s thoughts and ways are not ours (Isa. 55:8–9). They are far beyond us. And so is His wisdom (Rom. 11:33–36).

Like Jonah we often think we know better than God what is right for ourselves, our family, our church or our country.

Too many of us are praying to know the will of God while we are not doing the will of God we know.

It is when we “acknowledge Him in all our ways” that He “directs our paths” (Prov. 4:6).

Here is the great news.

We can learn from Jonah!!!!

It doesnt matter if you have dangers causing you to run, difficulties causing you to fear, or your priorities are out of line.

Because remember I said that every one has a calling.

What can we learn from God’s call to Jonah?

Point 1: God’s call is personal.

Personal. It was from the personal God to a person who had been CREATED, SAVED and DEVELOPED for just this task.

Like Esther, Jonah had come to the Kingdom for just such a job as this (Est. 4:14).

Masterpiece.

Esther 4:14 NIV

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Masterpiece.

I. God speaking to man in mercy.

1. Here He speaks. “The Word of the Lord.” His Word to Jonah, like His word to all men, was clear, brief, weighty, practical.

2. Here He speaks to an individual.

He speaks to all men in nature, conscience, history; but in sovereignty He singles some men out for special communications.

3. Here He speaks to an individual for the sake of a community.

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city.”

Point 2: God’s call is powerful.

Whether the call is accepted or rejected we are never the same once it comes.

If we Accept Gods call we go from conquest to conquest in the land of Promise (Josh. 1:3). Rejected we go to wander in the wilderness (Nu. 14:33).

The power of God’s call does not rest on your strength or ability to complete the task but on Gods.

Jonah couldn’t save Ninevah. He couldn’t even save himself.

“The word of the Lord came to Jonah” - It was personal but

But It was the power of God that came with the personal calling of God.

Pakistan.

God wants to empower you for the calling he has for you.

Point 3: God’s call is persistent.

God, as we will see throughout this story, doesn’t give up easily on us.

We see it in this story and many others. WHen God calls you he is persistent.

It's not as if the phone rings and God says wellp you didn’t answer the first time so i am done calling you!/

It's not Like God is ringing someone he doesnt want to talk to/. You ever done that? It's starts ringing and you start thinking how many rings is enough to hang up?

Nah me neither.

Most of the time when people ask me how do I know if it is God calling me or just me?

Apart from lining it up with scripture and seeking wise council.

ONe of the very next things is tell me what it feels like? Is it gnawing at you? In a good way?

Does the desire only appear when things are great or only when things are bad>?

DOes it keep growing more and more each day?

God’s call is persistent.

Story of pharmacy in NZ and the dwelling up in my spirit.

When you hear the voice of God what do you do?

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you completely disagreed with what was going on? What was your response? Maybe you were in a church! What did you do? Did you leave?

You know we as a church are becoming more and more missionally minded. You are probably going to hear so much about missions and what God is doing through us and this church and kenya then you ever dreamed of!

But i want to tell you something from the bottom of my heart. I never want you to see these places and people as a burden or a hassle. Or as needy and undeserving.

Because I am here to tell you that we are all of those things. And yet God still chose to show his love and mercy toward us.

I want you to see each and every missional opportunity as a real person in need of real things and the most important thing of all is gospel!

If you have never heard it before I am here to tell you this.

God has a call on your life. You have been created to do good works in Christ Jesus.

Does it say Caleb has? Or Pastor Crosswhite? No all of God’s children

Are you running today? - If so I want to give you a chance to be bold and turn back to God.