Jonah 1: Running from God
Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
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.
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.
Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
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.
And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.
Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, We beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee.
So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows.
Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah 1 introduces us to a prophet, a rebellious heart, and a sovereign God. This chapter sets the stage for a powerful story about obedience, repentance, and God's boundless grace, offering profound lessons for us today.
The Call and the Choice (Jonah 1:1-3)
In the 8th century BC, a time of spiritual decline in the northern kingdom of Israel, God spoke to Jonah, son of Amittai. Jonah was part of the school of the prophets, alongside figures like Amos and Hosea. God's command was clear: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me" (Jonah 1:1-2). Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, was known for its immense size and even greater wickedness. The Assyrians were notorious for their brutality, showing no mercy to their enemies, employing torture and gruesome displays of violence.
However, Jonah chose a different path. Instead of heading east to Nineveh, he went to Joppa, a port city, and boarded a ship bound for Tarshish, a location likely in modern-day Spain – essentially the opposite direction. Jonah 1:3 tells us, "Jonah ran away from the LORD and went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for Tarshish. After paying his fare, he went on board and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD." This wasn't just a geographical relocation; it was a deliberate act of rebellion against God's direct command.
Why did Jonah disobey? The text suggests two primary reasons. First, he likely feared the Ninevites. Their reputation for violence preceded them, and Jonah may have felt that going to Nineveh was a death sentence. Second, and perhaps more significantly, Jonah didn't want the Ninevites to repent. As revealed later in Jonah 4:1-2, he feared that if they repented and were forgiven, they, as a major power, might eventually conquer Israel. In Jonah's eyes, they deserved judgment, not mercy.
Do we have our own "Ninevites" – people we struggle to extend grace to, those we'd rather see judged than forgiven? This passage challenges us to examine our hearts and confront any prejudice or unwillingness to share God's love with those we deem undeserving.
It's important to note that Jonah, as a prophet, was fully aware of God's omnipresence. He knew he couldn't literally escape God's presence. His flight was a rejection of God's will, a breaking of fellowship. When we disobey God, we're not just changing our location; we're disrupting our relationship with Him.
Running from God always comes at a cost. Jonah paid his own fare, highlighting a crucial principle: when we're in God's will, He provides. But when we deviate from His plan, we often bear the financial, emotional, and spiritual burden ourselves. Disobedience can cost us time, money, peace, and joy.
The Storm and the Sailors (Jonah 1:4-10)
God, in His sovereignty, wouldn't allow Jonah to continue on his rebellious course. Jonah 1:4 states, "Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up." This wasn't a random act of nature; it was a direct consequence of Jonah's disobedience.
When we find ourselves in the midst of unexpected "storms," we should consider whether they might be a result of our own disobedience. These "storms" can come in many forms – relationship problems, financial difficulties, health issues – and may be God's way of getting our attention.
The sailors, terrified by the storm, cried out to their respective gods and began throwing the ship's cargo overboard to lighten the load (Jonah 1:5). Jonah's sin had far-reaching consequences, affecting the lives of everyone on board. Our actions rarely affect only ourselves. When we run from God, the storms we create often impact those around us.
Amidst the chaos, Jonah was asleep below deck (Jonah 1:5). He had become so detached from God's will that he was oblivious to the storm raging around him – a storm directly related to his disobedience. The ship's captain, a pagan, found Jonah and urged him to pray to his God, hoping for deliverance (Jonah 1:6). The irony is striking: an unbeliever urging a prophet to pray! God will use anyone, even those we least expect, to rebuke us and call us back to Him.
To determine the cause of the storm, the sailors cast lots, a practice similar to rolling dice, believing it would reveal the person responsible. In God's providence, the lot fell on Jonah (Jonah 1:7). When questioned, Jonah confessed that he was a Hebrew who worshiped the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land (Jonah 1:9). This revelation terrified the sailors even more, as they realized that Jonah was running from the very God who controlled the storm (Jonah 1:10).
The Prophet's Plight and the Sailors' Plea (Jonah 1:11-17)
The sailors asked Jonah what they should do to him to calm the sea. Jonah, still unwilling to fully repent, told them to throw him overboard (Jonah 1:12). He was willing to accept death rather than obey God's command. The sailors, reluctant to take a life, tried to row back to shore, but the storm grew even fiercer (Jonah 1:13).
Finally, realizing they had no other choice, they cried out to the LORD, pleading not to be held accountable for Jonah's death (Jonah 1:14). They then threw Jonah into the sea, and the storm immediately ceased (Jonah 1:15). This dramatic event led the sailors to fear the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice and made vows to Him (Jonah 1:16).
These sailors, who initially prayed to their false gods, ultimately turned to the true God, demonstrating God's sovereignty even in the midst of disobedience. Our rebellion doesn't thwart God's plans; He will accomplish His purposes, whether we choose to participate willingly or not. God used Jonah's disobedience to bring these pagan sailors to a saving knowledge of Him. We only determine where we fit in His plan.
Jonah was still unwilling to submit to God, and was willing to choose death instead (Jonah 1:12, 15). Yet, God wouldn't let him escape. Jonah 1:17 tells us, "Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." This was not a random occurrence; it was a divinely orchestrated event to preserve Jonah's life and bring him to repentance.
When we run from God's calling, He will send circumstances to find us. The wind obeyed, the sea obeyed, and the fish obeyed, but the prophet still had a problem with obedience.
Jonah 1 ends with Jonah in the belly of the great fish, a symbol of confinement and a turning point in his journey. It sets the stage for chapter 2, where Jonah finally cries out to God in repentance, demonstrating that even in the deepest depths of despair, God's grace and mercy are available to those who call upon Him.
Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
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.
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.
Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
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.
And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.
Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, We beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee.
So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows.
Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah 1 introduces us to a prophet, a rebellious heart, and a sovereign God. This chapter sets the stage for a powerful story about obedience, repentance, and God's boundless grace, offering profound lessons for us today.
The Call and the Choice (Jonah 1:1-3)
In the 8th century BC, a time of spiritual decline in the northern kingdom of Israel, God spoke to Jonah, son of Amittai. Jonah was part of the school of the prophets, alongside figures like Amos and Hosea. God's command was clear: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me" (Jonah 1:1-2). Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, was known for its immense size and even greater wickedness. The Assyrians were notorious for their brutality, showing no mercy to their enemies, employing torture and gruesome displays of violence.
However, Jonah chose a different path. Instead of heading east to Nineveh, he went to Joppa, a port city, and boarded a ship bound for Tarshish, a location likely in modern-day Spain – essentially the opposite direction. Jonah 1:3 tells us, "Jonah ran away from the LORD and went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for Tarshish. After paying his fare, he went on board and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD." This wasn't just a geographical relocation; it was a deliberate act of rebellion against God's direct command.
Why did Jonah disobey? The text suggests two primary reasons. First, he likely feared the Ninevites. Their reputation for violence preceded them, and Jonah may have felt that going to Nineveh was a death sentence. Second, and perhaps more significantly, Jonah didn't want the Ninevites to repent. As revealed later in Jonah 4:1-2, he feared that if they repented and were forgiven, they, as a major power, might eventually conquer Israel. In Jonah's eyes, they deserved judgment, not mercy.
Do we have our own "Ninevites" – people we struggle to extend grace to, those we'd rather see judged than forgiven? This passage challenges us to examine our hearts and confront any prejudice or unwillingness to share God's love with those we deem undeserving.
It's important to note that Jonah, as a prophet, was fully aware of God's omnipresence. He knew he couldn't literally escape God's presence. His flight was a rejection of God's will, a breaking of fellowship. When we disobey God, we're not just changing our location; we're disrupting our relationship with Him.
Running from God always comes at a cost. Jonah paid his own fare, highlighting a crucial principle: when we're in God's will, He provides. But when we deviate from His plan, we often bear the financial, emotional, and spiritual burden ourselves. Disobedience can cost us time, money, peace, and joy.
The Storm and the Sailors (Jonah 1:4-10)
God, in His sovereignty, wouldn't allow Jonah to continue on his rebellious course. Jonah 1:4 states, "Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up." This wasn't a random act of nature; it was a direct consequence of Jonah's disobedience.
When we find ourselves in the midst of unexpected "storms," we should consider whether they might be a result of our own disobedience. These "storms" can come in many forms – relationship problems, financial difficulties, health issues – and may be God's way of getting our attention.
The sailors, terrified by the storm, cried out to their respective gods and began throwing the ship's cargo overboard to lighten the load (Jonah 1:5). Jonah's sin had far-reaching consequences, affecting the lives of everyone on board. Our actions rarely affect only ourselves. When we run from God, the storms we create often impact those around us.
Amidst the chaos, Jonah was asleep below deck (Jonah 1:5). He had become so detached from God's will that he was oblivious to the storm raging around him – a storm directly related to his disobedience. The ship's captain, a pagan, found Jonah and urged him to pray to his God, hoping for deliverance (Jonah 1:6). The irony is striking: an unbeliever urging a prophet to pray! God will use anyone, even those we least expect, to rebuke us and call us back to Him.
To determine the cause of the storm, the sailors cast lots, a practice similar to rolling dice, believing it would reveal the person responsible. In God's providence, the lot fell on Jonah (Jonah 1:7). When questioned, Jonah confessed that he was a Hebrew who worshiped the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land (Jonah 1:9). This revelation terrified the sailors even more, as they realized that Jonah was running from the very God who controlled the storm (Jonah 1:10).
The Prophet's Plight and the Sailors' Plea (Jonah 1:11-17)
The sailors asked Jonah what they should do to him to calm the sea. Jonah, still unwilling to fully repent, told them to throw him overboard (Jonah 1:12). He was willing to accept death rather than obey God's command. The sailors, reluctant to take a life, tried to row back to shore, but the storm grew even fiercer (Jonah 1:13).
Finally, realizing they had no other choice, they cried out to the LORD, pleading not to be held accountable for Jonah's death (Jonah 1:14). They then threw Jonah into the sea, and the storm immediately ceased (Jonah 1:15). This dramatic event led the sailors to fear the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice and made vows to Him (Jonah 1:16).
These sailors, who initially prayed to their false gods, ultimately turned to the true God, demonstrating God's sovereignty even in the midst of disobedience. Our rebellion doesn't thwart God's plans; He will accomplish His purposes, whether we choose to participate willingly or not. God used Jonah's disobedience to bring these pagan sailors to a saving knowledge of Him. We only determine where we fit in His plan.
Jonah was still unwilling to submit to God, and was willing to choose death instead (Jonah 1:12, 15). Yet, God wouldn't let him escape. Jonah 1:17 tells us, "Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." This was not a random occurrence; it was a divinely orchestrated event to preserve Jonah's life and bring him to repentance.
When we run from God's calling, He will send circumstances to find us. The wind obeyed, the sea obeyed, and the fish obeyed, but the prophet still had a problem with obedience.
Jonah 1 ends with Jonah in the belly of the great fish, a symbol of confinement and a turning point in his journey. It sets the stage for chapter 2, where Jonah finally cries out to God in repentance, demonstrating that even in the deepest depths of despair, God's grace and mercy are available to those who call upon Him.