The Call Of God

Jonah Ch 1 vs. 1 - 17

THE CALL OF GOD 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. . ." Gen 1 v 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (c) This is a . . . PERSONAL CALL. ". to Jonah the son of Amittai saying,. John 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.. ." (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 ...The WHERE Of The Call Is Clear. "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, capitol of the gentile world, East bank of the Tigris River. One of the oldest cities in the world B. The Plan ... The WHAT Of The Call Is Clear. ". . . and cry against it, . . . "

It's Sin, It's Shame, It's Stain C. The Purpose ... The WHY Of The Call Is Clear. " their wickedness is come up before Me." What happens with men is known to God. Proverbs 11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. 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 Samuel 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 renegged, resigned, & renounced the office of prophet rather than carry out the mission

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,. . . part of modern Telaviv. As far away as he could go in going to Tarshish.

IV. THE CONTROL . . . Of The CALL Of GOD. v 4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. (a) JONAH PAID THE FARE; FOR DISOBEDIENCE. A. He Disobeyed in the . . CHOICE he made. Away from the will of God B. He Disobeyed in the . . COURSE he took. C. He Disobeyed in the . . . CROSS he forsook.

(b) JONAH PAID THE FARE; FOR NEGLIGENCE. v 6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. A. Jonah was asleep . . PHYSICALLY. B. Jonah was asleep . . SPIRITURALLY. A. WITNESS THE . . . WIND. v 4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.