“Running from God?”Jonah part 1
Opening Illustration: This video clip is from the lead singer of Mercy me and his willingness to follow the call of God on His life. Listen to his thoughts and even as he shares the struggle with following God’s call.
Thesis: Jonah tried to run from God and his call but where does a man run to get away from God? You can run from God but not hide! So why even run?
Scripture: Jonah 1
1The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
3But 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.
4Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5All 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. 6The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish.”
7Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.
8So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”
9He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.”
10This 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.)
11The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”
12“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.”
13Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14Then they cried to the LORD, “O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased.” 15Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.
Introduction:
Historical Background on the Book of Jonah: Following information from THE MINOR PROPHETS Jonah by Al Maxey
Jonah is the only "minor prophet" ever to be mentioned by Jesus Christ. He is also the only OT figure that Jesus Himself likens unto Himself (Matthew 12:39-41; 16:4; Luke 11:29-32). Although some contend this book is a fable and that Jonah never actually lived, the biblical evidence is to the contrary. II Kings 14:25 speaks of him as an actual historical figure. So does Jesus Christ. Josephus (an early Jewish historian) also regarded him as historical rather than fictional (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 9, Chapter 10, Sections 1-2). Also, when Paul wrote that Jesus "was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (I Corinthians 15:4), he may well have been alluding, at least in part, to Jonah’s experience.
DATE & OCCASION
From II Kings 14:25 we know that Jonah lived during the time of Jeroboam II (793-753 BC). He was sent to Nineveh --- the capital city of Assyria --- to deliver a warning from God that unless they repented they would be destroyed. There are several historical clues which seem to point to a date for this prophecy somewhere in the late 750’s BC --- perhaps around 758 BC:
• During the reign of Adad-nirari III (811-783 BC) there was a swing toward monotheism. However, at his death the nation entered a period of national weakness and even greater moral decay. "During this time, Assyria was engaged in a life and death struggle with the mountain tribes of Urartu, and its associates of Mannai and Madai in the north, who had been able to push their frontier to within less than a hundred miles of Nineveh" (Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 7).
• In 756 BC a plague struck the nation, followed by a second plague in 759 BC. In 763 BC there was an eclipse of the sun. These were "events of the type regarded by ancients as evidence of divine judgment, and could have prepared the people to receive Jonah’s message" (The Ryrie Study Bible). "No doubt this depressed state of Assyria contributed much to the readiness of the people to hear Jonah as he began to preach to them" (Homer Hailey).
• There is some historical evidence that during the reign of Ashurdan III (771-754 BC) a religious awakening occurred. This may have been the result of Jonah’s preaching. In 745 BC Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 BC) came to the throne and Assyria again became a major power. Under his leadership the Assyrians became "the rod of God’s anger (Isaiah 10:5) against His rebellious people Israel. Israel finally fell to the Assyrians with the capture of Samaria in 722 BC (through the efforts of Tiglath-pileser’s successors --- Shalmaneser V and Sargon II).
Through the preaching of Jonah, and the repentance of the people of Nineveh, the city was spared at this time. However, history tells us their repentance was fairly short-lived. Soon they had fallen back into their sinful way of life. The prophet Nahum was then sent to these same people. However, they failed to repent (as they had with Jonah), and thus were destroyed in 612 BC.
THE MAJOR MESSAGES OF JONAH
The overall message of the book is basically twofold:
1. God’s love and concern is for all people, and anyone who is willing to repent and turn to God can find salvation (Acts 26:19-20; II Peter 3:9).
2. God is a universal God. There is but ONE God, and He alone is to be the God of all people. Jonah preached to a monotheistic people, but the god they worshipped was Nebo. He warned them they must repent and turn to Jehovah, and worship and serve Him only.
Some of the other great lessons of the book of Jonah are:
• "God’s judgments, even when declared in prophecy, can be averted by genuine repentance." This is a "crucial theological truth relating human repentance to escaping from anticipated judgment" (New Layman’s Bible Commentary).
o "Jeremiah 18:7-8 --- "At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it."
• National sin demands national repentance! Just as this principle applied to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, so also does it apply to the nations of today!
• In Jonah one sees "the forerunner of the universal gospel message" and messenger (Hailey).
• Also, we see the principle that "the most unpromising mission fields are often the most responsive" (The Ryrie Study Bible).
There are some so-called scholars of the Bible that reject this book as factual and instead they call it an allegory or a mythical book, but Jesus validated the book and we need to as well. The problem centers around the idea that a fish could swallow Jonah but there is a quote which addresses this problem: Quote: "The ability or inability to accept a miracle depends on whether or not one spells his God with a capital ’G’" --- Homer Hailey
Jonah is a book about a real person who made real life mistakes with God and the book does not gloss over the fact that there is something wrong with the human heart. It does not matter even if they are a Prophet of God and in relationship with Him. We can allow our selfish motives to get in the way of the call of God on our lives. We are all in need of repair today because sin so easily creeps into the heart and impairs our senses.
Illustration: RECALL NOTICE:
The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.
This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.
This defect has been technically termed, "Sub-sequential Internal Non-morality", or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.
Some other symptoms:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish, or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion
The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.
The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.
Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers Instructions Before Leaving Earth), for further details on the use of these fixes.
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on JESUS.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.
Thank you for your immediate attention.
(From sermon central contributor Joseph Bachman)
The book of Jonah reveals the sin problem in the heart of individuals today and also shows what God’s response will be to sin and to disobedience.
T.S. – Let’s explore the book of Jonah and see what happens when you run from God!
I. Jonah tried to run and God let him know that there was no place to hide.
a. Jonah ran in the opposite direction the Lord told him to go.
i. Maxey notes, “One cannot run away from God!” see (Psalm 139:7-12).
1. Psalm 139:7-12: “7Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there 9If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast 11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”
2. "Jonah learned, and through his valuable experience millions have learned, that when God enjoins a disagreeable duty, it is far easier to go and do it than to run away from it" (J.W. McGarvey). "
ii. Jonah tried to run away from God but discovered there is no place to run. The reality check is that God is everywhere so when He calls us we need to listen and be obedient to what He calls us to do.
1. "From the human standpoint Assyria was the last place an Israelite would choose for a missionary venture, so Jonah took a trip in the opposite direction" (Samuel J. Schultz).
2. Even if we disagree with what God calls us to do! We still need to do it. Obeying the call of God is essential for the Christian if we want to be in the will of God. Do you want to be in the will of God for your life? Then obey God’s call on your life!
3. Jonah knew God’s character and this caused him to disobey God – He knew that God would be consistent with His character – He knew if they repented then God would save them and show mercy on them. Jonah wanted this city to suffer for its sin and to be punished for its evil ways.
a. He was against the act of mercy, grace and forgiveness – not a good place to be!
4. We are quick to judge Jonah for his acts of disobedience but maybe we need to take a honest look at our own hearts today and ask ourselves some tough questions:
a. Are you running from the call of God on your life?
b. Are you running because you don’t agree with what God called you to do?
c. Are you in denial with God?
d. Have you decided to go against what God has called you to do because it is hard work and very demanding?
e. Are you unwilling to die to yourself and to your selfish desires so you run from God and His call?
5. God is not a quitter so even if you quit on God He will never quit accomplishing His divine plan.
a. He will do with you or without you!
b. Sometimes he will do and use you even when you are not cooperating.
c. We must remember God will always get His way!
b. Jonah’s attitude in refusing to listen to God’s direction and call did not change God’s mind on what Jonah was going to do.
i. Scarlett remarks, "If God has a controversy with his people today, it is because we are all selfish men; because our main preoccupation is with ourselves; because our reaction to every new proposal is a personal one, ‘How will this affect me, my wealth, my position, my future?’ rather than ‘How will it further the general good of men?’ "
ii. Jonah was prejudice toward the Ninevites but God wanted to save and to reach them for the Kingdom.
1. He felt God was for the Jews only - not for the Gentiles too!
a. These people were sinners and did evil! I am not giving them a chance to escape your judgment!
b. God have you lost your senses? I am not giving them a chance to repent and be saved!
2. He did not like it when God said I love these people too!
a. He was jealous – even mad at God!
i. Have you ever become angry with God because He loves someone you hate?
b. Humpal states, “What is your Nineveh? What is it that God has asked you to do that you are trying to run away from? Whatever the reason for Jonah’s disobedience – his prejudice, his hatred for his enemies, his fear that the Ninevites would treat him cruelly – the fact is he was rebelling from God. Perhaps you have your own reasons for disobeying God; maybe you have rationalized your behavior and come up with some very good excuses. But you are just being like Jonah – running away from your responsibility. And as we will see with Jonah, you cannot hide from God no matter how hard you might try” (Quote from http://www.elite).
c. Maxey notes, “This book is a stern rebuke of a narrow exclusiveness that characterized the Israelites. Jonah, whose attitude was typical of his people, had no desire to see the Assyrians saved --- they were the enemy! He fled rather than preach such a distasteful message to this distasteful people. And even after finally preaching it, he sat outside the city waiting to see if God would change His mind and still destroy them. When he realized God was indeed going to show mercy to these people, he prayed to die rather than have to witness such a thing! (Jonah 4:1-3).”
c. When we today hold to such an attitude --- "We are the only ones God favors…" "We would rather die than see those people saved!’” "We’re not about to preach the gospel to that bunch" --- then we have repeated the sin of Jonah. Further, we have failed to perceive the universal love of God. Jonah symbolizes a narrow, sectarian spirit!
i. Jonah had the Pharisee syndrome that Jesus would have to deal with during His ministry time!
1. In the New Testament when Jesus refers to Jonah it is always in the midst of dealing with the religious Pharisees of his day.
a. In the Luke reference of Jonah and its application he proceeds to rebuke the spirit of Pharisees right after referencing Jonah in the belly of the whale and tying that to his resurrection.
2. He also references the importance of obedience to God in the Matthew reference of Jonah.
d. Jonah needed to understand that God would have His way in spite of his running away.
i. Why do we try to fight against God?
1. Because we think we can change God’s mind?
2. Because we are selfish and do not understand the importance of love and forgiveness.
ii. The reality check to learn from Jonah is that we can never win – it’s always a losing battle!
1. God will always come out on top!
iii. So maybe we just need to cooperate with God no matter what He wants us to do!
T.S. – Men and women have been trying to hide from God and their sin of disobedience since Adam and Eve first tried this tactic in the Garden of Eden. But the reality check is disobedience leads us right into the storms of sin and rebellion to God.
II. Disobedience from God’s call will always lead us into a storm of life.
a. Disobedience will always impact our lives negatively. Trust me disobedience never brings peace and harmony!
i. Our actions and lack of action will impact our life and we cannot stand back and blame God for our actions of disobedience. Even though many people still do!
1. Philip Yancey, in his book "Reaching for the Invisible God" describes the way God get’s blamed for things in this way.
"When Princess Diana died in an automobile accident, a minister was interviewed and was asked the question “How can God allow such a terrible tragedy?” And I loved his response. He said, “Could it have had something to do with a drunk driver going ninety miles an hour in a narrow tunnel? Just How, exactly, was God involved.”
Years ago, boxer, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, killed a Korean opponent with a hard right hand to the head. At the press conference after the Korean’s death, Mancini said, “Sometimes I wonder why God does the things he does.”
In a letter to Dr. Dobson, a young woman asked this anguished question, “Four years ago, I was dating a man and became pregnant. I was devastated. I asked God, “Why have you allowed this to happen to me?”
Susan Smith, the South Carolina mother a couple years ago who pushed her two sons into a lake to drown and then blamed a fictional car-jacker for the deed, wrote in her confession: “I dropped to the lowest point when I allowed my children to go down that ramp into the water without me. I took off running and screaming, ‘Oh God! Oh God, no! What have I done? Why did you let this happen?”
Now the question remains, exactly what role did God play in a boxer beating his opponent to death, a teenage couple giving into temptation in the back seat of a car, or a mother drowning her children?
Is God responsible for these acts? To the contrary, they are examples of incredible human free will being exercised on a fallen planet. And yet it’s in our nature as mortal, frail, fallen people to lash out at one who is not, that being God" (From sermon central contributor Ken Kersten).
2. The truth is the disobedience of these people toward God and his ways are to blame for their storms in life.
b. Disobedience will always impact our life and take us out from under the umbrella of Grace.
i. “Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from Grace.” Thomas a Kempis.
ii. “When one sets out to baffle God, there is bound to be a storm" (George L. Robinson).
iii. Why do we do it? Disobey God and then try to make God out to be the bad guy?
1. Because we are stupid! Because we are selfish? Because we do not want to take responsibility for our sinful disobedient acts!
c. Disobedience will always impact those around us negatively.
i. Sin always impacts those we love!
1. Sin will never bring blessing to your loves ones only hurt, pain and turmoil.
ii. My choice to disobey God will have an impact on those who work with me, live with me and associate with me!
1. It’s the Law of Sowing and Reaping! It’s a fact of life – disobey God’s Law and you will suffer the repercussions!
iii. Disobedience to God is not just individual problem but a community issue.
1. People’s disobedience individually will impact a community at large.
2. When one person decides to sin it impacts everyone around them.
3. We can try to be in denial about this but this is a historical fact of life.
a. Just go read the daily Newspapers around the country or watch the evening news!
i. People’s disobedience has impacted many people negatively!
iv. Jonah tried to sleep through the storm on the boat but the others said “No way!’ Get up and pray because we are in trouble! They asked him to pray to his God because they were in a terrible storm – not brought on by Jonah’s disobedience to God!
1. Humpal states, “It is remarkable that Jonah was able to sleep through the storm and all the commotion happening on the deck. I have noticed that sometimes people use sleep to avoid their problems. When they are facing some difficulty in their life, the tension becomes so great that they feel tired all the time. As long as they are sleeping, they don’t have to face their responsibility. Jonah was trying to sleep through his storm.”
a. Trying to sleep through a storm never works you will be dragged out into the storm whether you want to face it or not.
b. Most likely by those who are around you!
2. David Humpal also notes, “Jonah is in a real dilemma. All the others on board have been calling out to their gods who were not gods at all, but just wood, gold, and silver images. Jonah knew the one true God, and yet he lay asleep. America is facing many difficulties. Everyone is crying out to their own gods looking for answers, but their gods of science, education, psychology, and social action are just wooden idols. They need to turn to the living God for their answers. The problem is that the church is asleep. We are resting, hiding from our responsibility of preaching the message of Christ. America will not be renewed by new programs or a new political agenda. America will only be renewed when it turns back to God. Jonah was to take the message to Nineveh. We are to take the message to our neighbors, our community, and our nation. Jonah didn’t want to call on God because he didn’t want to face him. When we are being disobedient, we don’t spend time in prayer because we are reluctant to hear what God might say to us. This neglect of our prayer life affects our entire spiritual well-being. Suddenly we become discouraged and feel overwhelmed by our problems. Jonah was in real distress!”
a. Rev Magazine in their March/April 2008 edition has a cover that perplexes me (Show the Cover).
i. The cover shows a church ship hitting an ice berg and the caption reads, “Is the American Church in Crisis?”
1. The article unveils the most recent survey down by TACRP research which states that only 17.3% of the USA’s population is in church on any given Sunday (see page 55 of magazine).
2. They revealed that church attendance and worship of God on Sundays is at an all time low and is going to get worse. They predict it to slip to 14.7% by the year 2020.
b. The problem is Americans are disobeying God’s Commandments especially the one about keeping the Lord’s Day holy and honoring Him.
i. But they don’t see the connection between all the storms pounding on this nation day in and day out – instead they sleep in denial to the cause of America’s woes.
ii. While we were in India we discussed the crisis in America and Dr. Dave, myself and a bunch of other pastor’s from around the world agreed that a huge storm is going to be unleashed on this nation within the year. This is to try to wake up the dead sleeping church in America. God is going to send a storm to cause people to wake up and repent! If we refuse to repent and change our ways then we will face the next action of God which is to be thrown overboard into the cold water filled with man eating fish.
T.S. – Disobedience to God’s call and direction will always put you into the storms of life and create a mindset of stress and despair. And if you choose to stay in the state of rebellion toward God this mindset will get you thrown overboard into a sea filled with man eating fish.
III. Rebellion to God’s call will always get you thrown overboard.
a. Sometimes in life we need to be thrown into the water to wake us up from our insanity toward God.
i. Jonah is of course the one who suggested the antidote to the problem – “Throw me into the sea!” In other words “Kill me it’s my fault!”
1. So overboard he goes but it is not the end instead it’s a new beginning because the fish swallows him whole. Why the fish? To help him gain eternal perspective from inside belly of this fish.”
a. Have you ever had one of these, “Wake up calls from God?”
b. As I said earlier many people are predicting that America’s about ready to be thrown over board for their rebellious attitude toward God and His ways.
b. Rebellion against God and His call will always get us placed into a position to get wet and maybe even to become fish food.
c. Rebellion is never the answer with God and we need to learn this lesson from the life and times of Jonah.
d. Rebellion is always dealt with in Scripture with God’s Judgment.
i. I Samuel 15:23: “3For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”
1. Saul lost the kingdom because of sin and rebellion toward God’s Word.
2. Solomon’s evil lost the kingdom also and caused it to be ripped from his son.
3. Korah’s rebellion cost him and many of his followers their life at Mt. Sinai.
4. Judas’ rebellion cost him his life and his sanity!
ii. “Someone has defined rebellion this way: ‘Reserving for myself the right to make the final decision’” (Source Unknown). Donnie Martin from sermoncentral.com
1. You have no right to make the final decision with God and with His word!
iii. Humpal states, “When we become rebellious towards God – we become very self-centered. All that matters is our own feelings. We lose sight of the needs of others. Jonah was called by God to help people. We know that God had given him the office of prophet. He had been appointed to minister to others. But now he had lost all concern for the needs of those on the ship. All he could do was think of himself. As Christians, we need to be careful that we don’t allow ourselves to become so filled with self-pity that we lose sight of other’ needs.”
iv. Rebellion never leads to revival but obedience to God always leads to revival!
1. Finney stated, “Revival is nothing more that a new found obedience to God.”
Conclusion:
A major lesson in this first chapter is that God can use disobedience to lead people to Him.
• The other sailors got saved!
We also learn that you cannot run from God and hide – He always knows where you are.
Disobedience and rebellion will never bring peace and harmony to your life only storms.
Disobedience and rebellion toward God will impact you negatively and those around you negatively.
We need to learn from the life of Jonah to be obedient to God because disobedience does not pay off. We need to learn from the mistakes of Jonah and obey God so that we experience revival.
Closing Illustration:
John Leo is a columnist that I enjoy very much. He writes for U.S. News and World Report. In the Oct. 12, 1998 issue he comments on the relationship today between rules, Madison Avenue and society. He titles his column “The Selling of Rebellion.” He writes:
Consider the recent ad for the Isuzu Rodeo. A grotesque giant in a business suit stomps into a beautiful field, startling a deer and jamming skyscrapers, factories and signs into the ground. One of the giant’s signs says “Obey,” but the narrator says, “The world has boundaries. Ignore them.” Trying to trample the Rodeo, the hapless giant trips over his own fence. The Isuzu zips past him and toppling a huge sign that says, “Rules.”
But the central message here is very serious and strongly antisocial: We should all rebel against authority, social order, propriety, and rules of any kind. “Obey” and “Rules” are bad. Breaking rules, with or without your Isuzu, is good.
A great many advertisers now routinely appeal to the so-called postmodern sensibility…Burger King’s “Sometimes, you gotta break the rules.” Outback steakhouses (“No rules. Just right”), Don Q Rum (“Break all the rules”), Neiman Marcus (“No rules here), Columbia House Music Club (“We broke the rules”), Comedy Central (“See comedy that breaks the rules”), Red Kamel cigarettes (“This baby don’t play by the rules”), and even Woolite now says, “All the rules have changed.”
“No rules” also turns up as the name of a book and a CD and a tag line for an NFL video game (“no refs, no rules, no mercy”). The message is everywhere—“the rules are for breaking,” says a Spice Girls lyric.
From sermon central contributor Rick Labate
The Bible is clear – “Do not break the rules of God instead follow them with your whole heart! Do not disobey God instead obey and receive the revival of your heart!”
