A Man Who Ran from God PT 1

The Reluctance of Obedience: Jonah's Journey

Bible Passage: Jonah 1:1–17

In 1831, the famed missionary Adoniram Judson felt the irresistible call of God to bring the Gospel to Burma.

Initially hesitant due to fear and uncertainty, he chose to stay in America, running from his calling.

However, after profound reflection and prayer, he obeyed.

Arriving in Burma, he faced immense challenges, but his legacy transformed countless lives.

Judson's story reminds us that running from God's call may shield us from temporary discomfort, but obedience unlocks a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Here is the timeless truth about all of us like missionary Judson we all have a calling on our life. God has place a individual call on our life according to his will and his plan.and tho it may call us to place that we have no desire when we surrender to his will we see the hand of God in our life mightily.

Summary:

This passage narrates the call of Jonah by God to go to Nineveh, Jonah's flight in the opposite direction, and the storm that follows, leading to his eventual casting into the sea. It highlights the struggle between divine calling and personal reluctance.

Application:

This passage serves as a reminder that God often calls us to difficult tasks that challenge our comfort zones. By examining Jonah's initial disobedience, we can reflect on our own responses to God's commands and identify areas in our lives where we may be resisting His will.

Teaching:

This sermon teaches the importance of obedience to God’s commands, emphasizing that disobedience can lead to consequences not only for ourselves but also for those around us. It encourages self-examination and a deeper understanding of God’s purpose for our lives.

Big Idea:

Obedience to God's call is essential, and resisting it can lead to turmoil and consequences, but God's grace offers us a chance for redemption and a new beginning.

1. The Call and the Run

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 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.

Ex: Jonah is a prophet from the Jonah, the Jewish prophet in the Hebrew Bible, hailed from Gath-hepher in the Northern Kingdom of Israel This town was near Nazareth in the area later known as Galilee who had God had placed a great call on his life.

The Bible says that he was called by God to go preach to the city of Nineveh.

One of the capitals of the Assyrian empire and at the height of that empire one of the great cities of the world.

Nineveh was situated in what is now northern Iraq. They were a wicked city Assyria was a militaristic society with a reputation for violence and cruelty in warfare.

Their religion was polytheistic. Ashur, Adad, Sin, Shamash, and Ishtar were the chief deities of the Assyrian pantheon, Ashur being regarded as the most powerful.

The Assyrian gods were patron gods, worshiped for their blessing and protection of specific cities.

The patron deity of Nineveh was Ishtar, goddess of love and war.

There were also a violent people who done cruel and evil things to people they dealt harshly with people.

And Jonah is called by God to go preach the Word of the Lord to them.

But when Jonah here this from the lord the first thing he does is flee flee and run from the call God has placed on his life .

And because of the history of this people Jonah because very reluctant to go to where God has called him to go.

Brother and sisters this world that we live in reminds me of the city of Nineveh we live and world where it is cruel and wicked and worship false Gods and idols.

And God had chosen and called his people to go and cry out and make a difference in those places .

THIS why we have to be commited to the cause of christ and not just religion and organizations but to the will Of God because God has call for all of us their is people and places that need our witness and testimony to be heard.

and as long as you have breath in your body God Still has c all and a work for you to do. But Jonah tries to flee because Jonah understand how these people can be

. And because of fear Jonah tries to flee to tarnish. watch this he tries to flees 2500 miles away from the Lord called him to Go.

Consider the story of Moses, who was called by God through a burning bush.

In that moment, Moses felt the overwhelming weight of responsibility and fear of inadequacy. God reassured him, stating, "I will be with you."

This illustrates that being called by God often involves stepping outside of our comfort zones, relying not on our capabilities but on His power and presence.

It teaches us that in our weakness, we can find strength through faith, as God equips those He calls to fulfill His purpose.

You could explore how Jonah's reluctance to obey God's command reflects our own hesitations. By examining the initial verses, the call and Jonah's swift departure highlight the tension between divine call and personal desire. Perhaps this could serve as an invitation to examine where we might be running from God's call in our lives and consider the importance of aligning our actions with our faith.

2. The Storm of Intervention

Jonah 1:4-6 4 But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.

6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

EX:Jonah goes on run and because of that he has to pay the high cost of disobedience the lord sends a great wind storm so strong that ship threaten to breakup while they are on the sea the storm is so server that even the mariners who were experienced fisher and and sailors the storm was strong that if even freight them .

matter of fact they became so fearful they begin to throw cargo over board off the ship.

If these sailors were Phoenicians, then the storm must have been terrible indeed.

The Phoenicians were legendary for their seamanship and navigating skills.

There is High cost we must pay when we disobey what it is the Lord is calling us to do.

In what areas of your life might you be experiencing storms that could be signaling a need to reassess your obedience to God?

Picture a ship navigating through stormy seas.

The captain receives instructions to alter course to avoid danger, but he believes he knows better and remains on his current path.

Suddenly, a treacherous wave capsizes the ship. Just as this captain's disobedience leads to disaster, our refusal to follow God's guidance can lead to tumultuous consequences in our spiritual journey, reminding us that there is always a cost to our choices.

In the tale of Jonah, he was commanded by God to go to Nineveh but chose instead to flee to Tarshish. As a result, he faced a storm, a near-drowning, and ended up in the belly of a great fish for three days. Jonah's disobedience came at a steep price—not only delaying his mission but suffering tremendous distress. This powerful narrative emphasizes how disobedience can lead us away from our purpose and into turmoil.

Maybe you can emphasize how God intervenes amidst disobedience through the tempestuous storm. This section of Jonah's story resembles the disturbances we face when resisting God's will. Consider suggesting that life's storms can be opportunities to refocus on God's intentions, trusting that He is present even in chaos, leading us towards repentance and new beginnings.

3. The Confession and Consequence

Jonah 1:7-10

Perhaps illustrate how God's purpose prevails through Jonah's confession. This passage shows as Jonah is identified by lots, he must confront his disobedience. This could serve to remind us that God's purposes will stand, and honesty in acknowledging our struggles is a step toward reconciliation with His will, emphasizing grace's role in prompting transformation.

4. The Surrender and Salvation

Jonah 1:11-17

You could reflect on how God uses Jonah's eventual surrender for redemption. As Jonah is cast into the sea and swallowed by the fish, we see a metaphor for surrender's beauty leading to salvation. Consider this an invitation to trust in God's redemptive nature, encouraging the audience to see hardships as pathways to experiencing His profound grace.