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Intro

This week we will be starting a new series on the book of Jonah, throughout the next 4 weeks we will be going through the four chapters of Jonah.

So who can tell me anything about Jonah?

Anytime the name Jonah pops up one of the first things almost anyone thinks about is Jonah getting swallowed by the fish. Yes that is the same Jonah that we will be discussing over the next four weeks.

Who is Jonah?

Well there actually isnt a whole lot that we know about Jonah, the majority of what we know about Jonah comes from the book of Jonah. We know that Jonah came from a small town, which was just about two miles away from Nazareth. So Knowing what we know about Nazareth Jonah probably wasnt looked upon very highly.

John 1:45–46 NIV

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

So even when Christ was born and came from Nazareth we can see that the town was not one that was looked highly of by others around the area.

Chosen by God

So we know that Jonah was a prophet, and we know he was from a small town, however that did not affect the view that God had on Jonah. God saw Jonah and decided Jonah was the one that He was going to use, and it didnt matter where he was from, or what his past was, Jonah was chosen by God.

Jonah 1:1–2 NIV

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

We see here that God saw the wickedness that Ninevah had been committing and everyone else around knew as well, and God called little old Jonah that we dont know a whole lot about to go out and preach to this city.

Guess what in the very same way God uses ordinary people like you and me to do extraordinary things. Im reminded of Billy Graham, and the humble beginnings that he had. The first sermon he ever preached was in a town so small it doesnt have a stop light. The only reason I know where it is is because I grew up right out side of it. The size of the church that he was ordained in and started his ministry in would almost fit inside of this room. So you dont have to worry about how important others think you are, if God decides He wants to use you, He is going to use you to accomplish great things.

Jonah Ran

So we see that Jonah was chosen by God to tell Ninevah hey your making poor choices, but what we see next is a lot more like the response that we are likely to make. Jonah Ran. Jonah decided that he didnt want to do what God told him to do so he decides that he is going to run away from what God has called him to do.

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.

So we see that Jonah instead of going to Ninevah instead decides to travel to Tarshish, which is literally on the other side of the Mediterranean sea from Ninevah.

So instead of following God’s commands Jonah decides to do the complete opposite and run as far as he can away. And just like when you or I decide to try to run away from what God has called us and told us to do. It doesnt end well.

Jonah 1:4–6 NIV

Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”

So now that Jonah is running away from where God has called him to go we can see that God decided to send a storm in Jonah’s way to get his attention.

Now sometimes God still uses difficulties in our lives to try to get our attention, but that doesnt mean that every hard thing that happens to you is because you are running away from God. Sometimes its because we are dumb and make dumb decisions that cause our own difficulties. But if you feel like God has called you to do something and you are not doing it, or are running from it, and then all of the sudden things start going wrong. May I suggest trying to do what God called you to do and see if maybe just maybe God was trying to get your attention.

Jonah’s Confession

So we saw that God chose Jonah, and we also saw Jonah’s response in running away, and God sending a storm. But lastly we have Jonah’s Confession.

Jonah 1:8–10 NIV

So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)

So Jonah here admits to them that he is a follower of the one true God, and we can see that he had already told them that he was running away from the task that God had given. He also confessed that He worships the Lord, however his actions didnt quite line up with what he was saying.

1 Samuel 15:22 NIV

But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

So we can see here that more than giving our money or making sacrifices for God, God would rather have us obey Him. So here Jonah is saying yes I worship the one true God, but He isnt willing to Obey the one true God. How often is that like you and I. God I will give up anything you ask I will make sacrifices for you. Oh wait I didnt mean that. I dont want to do that, and then we end up in a mess like we see with the storm that Jonah is in, and brought upon the people around him.

And to end Jonah’s confession we see his response to the other sailors on how to stop the storm.

Jonah 1:11–12 NIV

The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

Jonah told the people on board the ship to throw him into the sea. Now I dont know about you but I would be second guessing this guy, and thats exactly what they did. Hey are you sure that is what you want, and finally as the sea became more violent they did as Jonah said and threw him into the sea.

Conclusion

Now I dont know where you are right now with what God has asked you to do. but please dont wait until it seems like your life is completely falling apart to decide to do what God has asked you to do. Lets obey the first time first so that we can truly honor God with our lives, and secondly so that we dont have to face the consequences of running from God. Because as we can see through the story of Jonah, you will never out run God. You will just be tired when you realize it.