>Jonah 1: Running Away from God
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
Act One. Scene 1. Gath-Hepher in Zebulun, village near Nazareth
I. COMMISSIONED BUT DISOBEDIENT
A. BACK-STORY OF JONAH
>>1. AUDIBLE CALL OF GOD
Jonah 1:1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai
(also II Kings 14:23-25)
>>2. ASSIGNED TASK
Jonah 1:2 “Rise up and go to the large city of Nineveh, and preach against it, for their evil has come up before Me.”
Act One. Scene 2. Joppa. After 60 mile run from God.
B. FRONT-STORY OF JONAH
>>1. ATTEMPTED ESCAPE
Jonah 1:3a So Jonah rose up but ran away from the presence of the Lord toward Tarshish.
(also Nahum 3:1-4; Matthew 28:19-20)
>>2. APPARENT SUCCESS
Jonah 1:3b He went down to Joppa and found a ship headed toward there. After paying the fare he went down into the ship, to sail with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
(also Ps 139:7-10)
II. CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE
Act ONE. Scene 3. Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
A. UNFOLDING-STORY OF JONAH
>>1. ACT OF GOD
Jonah 1:4-5a But the Lord hurled a great wind over the sea with such violence that the ship threatened to break up. The mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. They hurled overboard the ship’s cargo to lighten the vessel.
>>2. ASLEEP IN THE STORM
Jonah 1:5b-6 But Jonah had gone down into the hull, laid down and was deeply asleep. The captain went to him and said, “What? Are you sleeping? Rise up and call to your god! Perhaps He will notice us so that we might not perish.”
B. FULL-STORY OF JONAH
>>1. ALBATROSS
Jonah 1:7-8 Then 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.
So they asked him, “Tell us who is at fault for bringing this evil on us. What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country? What nationality are you?”
>>2. APPREHENDED
Jonah 1:9-10 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear YHWH, the God of heaven, Who made the sea and the dry land.” Then the men were terrified and asked him, “Why have you done this?” (They knew this because he’d already told them he was fleeing the presence of the Lord.)
C. ENDING-STORY
>>1. ADMISSION
Jonah 1:11-12 As the sea grew rougher and more turbulent, they asked him, “What should we do to you, that the sea might calm down for us?”
He replied, “Pick me up and hurl me overboard and the sea will quiet down, for I know it is my fault that this great tempest has come on you.”
>>2. ACCOUNTABILITY
Jonah 1:13-14 Instead, the men dug hard, rowing toward land, but they couldn’t, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore they cried to the Lord, “O Lord, don’t let us die for taking this man’s life. Don’t hold us accountable for shedding innocent blood, for You, Lord, have done as it pleased You.”
Act One. Scene 4. In the Mediterranean Sea.
>>3. APPEAL TO GOD
Jonah 1:15-16 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him overboard, and the sea stopped raging. At this the men greatly feared YHWH, and they offered a sacrifice to YHWH and made vows to Him.
(also Mk 4:35-41)