Jonah's Call

Jonah Ch 1 vs. 1 - 17 1. JONAH'S CALL v.1-3

I. THE COMING . . . OF THE CALL OF GOD. v 1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, (a) This is a . . . PRIVILIGED CALL Ps 45 : 10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; 11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. (b) This is a . . . PRE- EMPTIVE CALL. "The word of the \Lord\ came. . ." (c) This is a . . . PERSONAL CALL. ". to Jonah the son of Amittai saying,. (d) This is a . . . PRACTICAL CALL son of Amittai saying Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

II. THE CLARITY . . . OF THE CALL OF GOD. v 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

Jonah was told :- A. The Place "Arise, go to Nineveh that great city, . . ."

Absolute, imperative final, arise and go are imperatives

Nineveh 500 miles from Palestine, bordered on three sides by rivers, capital of the gentile world, East bank of the Tigris River. One of the oldest cities in the world B. The Plan ". . . and cry against it, . . . " It's Sin, It's Shame, It's Sentence C. The Purpose " their wickedness is come up before Me." Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

III. THE CONFRONTATION . . . With The CALL Of GOD. v 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. A. The Confronation With GOD'S PERSPECTIVE. "But . . . " 1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

B. The Confrontation With GOD'S PLAN. "Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish."

Jonah refused, rejected, & renounced the office of prophet rather than obey God.

C. The Confrontation With GOD'S PRESENCE. from the presence of the Lord."

Ps 139:7-10 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

D. The Confrontation With GOD'S PATH. So he went down to Joppa and he found a ship going to Tarshish: Either going God's Way Nineveh or Man's Way Tarshish. 3000 miles apart.

2. JONAH'S COWARDICE 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, from being in the presence of the Lord (a) The Reasons for His Rebellion A. Lack of Fear Prov 9:10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. sign outside a city in S Dakota, "30,000 friendly people and a few sore-heads." B. A Lack of Faith Heb.11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Jonah tried to rationalize and reason out everything instead of trusting God to do what was right. Faith says God will do what is right, whether I understand it or not C. A Lack of Forgiveness Jonah was not willing to forgive the Ninevites for the terrible things that the Assyrians had done in regard to the nation of Israel. D. A Lack of Faithfulness But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, (b) The Results of His Rebellion I. Forfeiting the Presence of God

II. Foregoing the Peace of God.

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.