JONAH 1:3
1. The prophet Jonah was told to arise and go to Nineveh.
2. If the prophet had been obedient, he would have gone east.
3. The text tells us he tried to go west (the opposite way).
4. Not only did this prophet try go west, he planned to go far west.
5. Jonah’s planned destination would have taken him about 2,500 miles from where he was.
6. Some sources believe his planned trip would have taken a whole year to make.
7. A man who was a prophet tried to run from God.
8. As we look at what Jonah did, we can and we should learn from his mistakes.
9. Today the plan is to draw out key points of application based upon Jn. 1:3.
10. The first point to consider is who did the running.
11. Jonah was not a false prophet.
12. He was not a wicked man.
13. He was individual who knew about and served the true God.
14. He was a prophet of and for God.
15. Yet, there was a time in His life when he said “no” to the will of God.
16. Today there are several Christians in this room.
17. Each day we are presented with the very choice Jonah got to make.
18. Will we say yes to God’s will or will we say no?
19. Again and again we choose between going to God or turning from Him.
20. God’s will may be likened to a series of tests.
21. Each day we are exposed to situations, circumstances, and problems which test our character.
22. Some of the tests are easy. Others are hard.
23. Choosing what is right is not always easy.
24. The Bible repeatedly shows that making the right choice is often difficult.
25. As we look at Jn. 1:3, we find that the strongest people of God are tested.
26. Not only are all tested, we find that it is possible for good people to fail.
27. Good people (and I am describing God’s people) can make some very poor choices.
28. Jonah made some bad decisions.
29. As we look at what he did it is easy to pick on him.
30. We can find plenty of fault with this wayward prophet.
31. Before we are too hard on Jonah let’s think about some other people in the scriptures.
32. Other men—well known men—were quite similar to Jonah.
33. Moses was guilty of a similar sin (Ex. 4:1).
34. God said “go speak” and Moses said, “I am the wrong choice. They will not believe me.”
35. Moses did not literally run, but he did try to escape God’s will.
36. God said go and the great lawgiver said “no.”
37. Elijah was guilty of a similar transgression (1 Kgs. 19).
38. If Moses, Elijah, and a prophet all wanted to dodge God’s will, guess what?
39. The same temptation will come to each one of us.
40. At various times each one of will be enticed to somehow sidestep the will of God.
41. The book of Jonah reminds us to always run towards God and His will, not away from it.
42. Those who run from God are headed right for Satan and a boat load of brand new problems.
43. This is precisely how this chapter describes a runaway prophet.
WHEN
PEOPLE RUN FROM GOD THEY OFTEN REASON THAT IT IS “THEIR CHOICE.”
A. People frequently suggest that their decision affects no one but themselves.
B. The book of Jonah says this idea is false.
C. After the prophet decided to run from God he affected the lives of others.
D. Verses 5-6 READ .
2. When people run from God it is not uncommon for innocent bystanders to be hurt.
3. In this story the ship carrying the prophet was in danger of being broken (verse 4).
4. The people on board had done nothing wrong but they experienced great terror (verse 5).
5. Cargo was lost because God’s prophet was on the run (verse 5).
6. One of Satan’s most successful lies is found in the first chapter of Jonah.
7. Whenever we hear someone saying, “This is my choice and it only affects me,”
8. We can know that such a person has been deceived.
9. Running from God has far reaching consequences that go beyond the individual.
10. One of the personal consequences in this story is found in verse 5.
A. Notice from the end of the verse that Jonah was “asleep.”
B. He was not just asleep, he was “fast asleep” (ASV/KJV).
C. This expression comes from a single word that is found only 7 times in the Old Testament.
11. It has the sense of a deep sleep where the person is “cut off from the outer world” (CBL).
12. It might be compared to an anesthetic that puts a person completely under before surgery.
13. This is a rather unusual term and it has been explained in various ways.
A. One intriguing suggestion is the idea that Jonah collapsed because of fear and guilt.
B. Not too long ago 4 national guardsmen were being interviewed by CNN.
C. Forces in Iran had picked up these soldiers.
D. They were not beaten, but they had been blindfolded, interrogated, and held at gunpoint.
E. One of the soldiers said two things that I found to be memorable.
F. He said to an American he had never met, “I like you and I don’t even know you.”
G. The feeling of being back on safe soil and around fellow Americans was overwhelming to him.
H. The man also said, “Just talking about our ordeal makes my heart pound.”
I. Imagine how a prophet fleeing from the true God must have felt.
J. His heart must have been pounding as he went to the shipyard and bought the ticket.
K. Getting safely on board, perhaps thinking about being caught, knowing the trip would be long,
L. All of these items would have naturally lent themselves to fear and anxiety.
14. When Jonah finally found a safe spot in the ship he may have literally collapsed.
15. The worry and stress could have left him physically and mentally drained.
16. Other explanations for the deep sleep are possible, but this one is consistent with the text.
17. The stress Jonah must have been under still exists.
A. When people run from God they know the truth.
B. In the back of the mind there is always a reminder of where the person should be.
C. This book tells us that we do not need to struggle with these kinds of emotions.
D. Making the right choices in life—staying with God—eliminates a lot of guilt.
E. People in the world make a lot of money because people want things to help them sleep.
F. Helping people get rid of guilt and stress is a lucrative business.
G. The faithful child of God has a natural and free sleep aid.
H. When we walk with God we can lay our head down at night and know we are right with Him.
I. The person who is not walking with God struggles with fear, worry, and restlessness.
18. Another consequence when running from God is in verses 9-10 – READ.
19. The time came when Jonah had to make a confession.
20. He had to say to people of the world, “I am a Hebrew who knows the true God.”
21. Verse 10 says he told the others on board he was “fleeing” from Jehovah.
A. These may have been some of the most embarrassing words Jonah ever had to say.
B. Running from God and what is right often leads to this kind of consequence.
C. A young man once described by Jesus tried a similar thing (Lk. 15).
D. This young fellow was not a prophet but Lk. 15:21 says he made a confession.
E. The young man came to his father and said, “I have sinned against you and heaven.”
22. The book of Jonah really makes God’s prophet look bad.
23. Only after things got out of control did the prophet fess up to who he was.
24. Jonah’s lack of obedience is especially awful when it is compared to other parts of the book.
25. Think about all of the items in this story that were obedient to God.
A. The waves were obedient but the prophet was not.
B. The lots cast by the sailors were obedient to God’s will but Jonah was not.
C. The storm, the vine, and the fish were all obedient while the man of God did not obey.
D. The worm was obedient while the spokesman for God was resistant.
E. Even the people of Nineveh were obedient to heaven’s will.
26. The one person who refused to submit was a prophet of God.
27. In our day and time this very same problem can occur.
28. Christians can know the will of God as well as anyone.
29. When it comes to doing it, some simply say “no.”
30. Some reason their choice will only affect them.
31. Others base their disobedience upon other things.
32. This book contains an important message for every living person.
33. Find out what the will of God is and do it.
34. God’s will may not be exactly what we want to do.
35. God’s way is always the best way.
36. It helps us eliminate a lot of the problems faced by others.
37. It also lets us have the best life now and certainly in eternity.
38. When we sing the invitation song in just a moment consider these two questions:
A. Are we running to God and wanting to follow His will or are we running from Him?
B. Are we saying “yes” to God’s will as we go through our daily lives or “no?”
39. If we are running from him we are on a sinking ship. The time to exit that ship is now.