Prophet On The Run Jonah 1:1-3
Jonah 1:1-3 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because their evil has come up before me.
Jonah 1:1-3 Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the Lord s presence. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the Lord s presence.
Is Jonah history or allegory?
History or Allegory It is written as history.
1 Kings 21:17-18 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: Get up and go to meet King Ahab of Israel, who is in Samaria. He s in Naboth s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it.
History or Allegory It is written as history. It has an identifiable prophet, city, and context.
History or Allegory It is written as history. It has an identifiable prophet, city, and context. Jesus viewed it as history.
Matthew 12:39-41 He answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights,
Matthew 12:39-41 so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah's preaching; and look-something greater than Jonah is here.
Outline 1. The Commission 2. The Command 3. The Conflict
1. The Commission
Jonah 1:1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai.
Who is Jonah?
2 Kings 14:23-26 In the fifteenth year of Judah's King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam son of Jehoash became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
2 Kings 14:23-26 He restored Israel's border from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through his servant, the prophet Jonah son of Amittai from Gath-hepher. For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter for both slaves and free people. There was no one to help Israel.
Jonah 1. Jonah was a faithful prophet of the Lord.
2 Kings 14:25b According to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through his servant, the prophet Jonah son of Amittai from Gath-hepher.
Jonah 1. Jonah was a faithful prophet of the Lord. 2. His father was from Galilee.
2 Kings 14:25 The prophet Jonah son of Amittai from Gathhepher.
Jonah 1. Jonah was a faithful prophet of the Lord. 2. His father was from Galilee. 3. Jonah prophesied to the wicked northern kingdom during a time of prosperity.
2 Kings 14:24-25 He did what was evil in the Lord's sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit. He restored Israel's border from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through his servant, the prophet Jonah son of Amittai from Gath-hepher.
Jonah 4. Jonah was not the only prophet during this period. Elijah, 885-853 BC, Northern Kingdom Elisha, 853-814 BC, Northern Kingdom Jonah, Hosea, Amos, 782-722 BC, Northern Kingdom Isaiah, Micah 767-687 BC, Southern Kingdom
Jonah 4. Jonah was not the only prophet during this period. 5. Jonah s name means dove.
2. The Command
Jonah 1:2 Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because their evil has come up before me.
Jonah 1:2 Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because their evil has come up before me. Command: Go preach against the wicked city of Nineveh.
The Great City of Nineveh 1. Nineveh was an ancient city founded by Nimrod (Genesis 10:10-11).
The Great City of Nineveh 1. Nineveh was an ancient city founded by Nimrod (Genesis 10:10-11). 2. Nineveh was a major city in the Assyrian empire.
The Great City of Nineveh 1. Nineveh was an ancient city founded by Nimrod (Genesis 10:10-11). 2. Nineveh was a major city in the Assyrian empire. 3. Nineveh was proud of its extreme violence and cruelty.
Jonah 1:2 Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because their evil has come up before me.
I have made a pillar facing the city gate, and have flayed all the rebel leaders; I have clad the pillar in the flayed skins. I let the leaders of the conquered cities be flayed, and clad the city walls with their skins. The captives I have killed by the sword and flung on the dung heap, the little boys and girls were burnt. Assyrian King, Ashurnasirpal II
I cut off of some their arms [and] hands; I cut off of others their noses, ears, [and] extremities. I gouged out the eyes of many troops. I made one pile of the living [and] one of heads. I hung their heads on trees around the city. Assyrian King, Ashurnasirpal II
The Great City of Nineveh 1. Nineveh was an ancient city founded by Nimrod (Genesis 10:10-11). 2. Nineveh was a major city in the Assyrian empire. 3. Nineveh was proud of its extreme violence and cruelty. 4. Assyria would eventually conquer Israel.
Hosea 11:5 Israel will not return to the land of Egypt and Assyria will be his king, because they refused to repent.
3. The Conflict
Jonah 1:2-3 Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because their evil has come up before me. Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the Lord s presence. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the Lord s presence.
The Command: Get up! In Hebrew > Quwm (get up) Halak (go)
1 Kings 17:8-10 Then the word of the Lord came to him: Get up, go to Zarephath that belongs to Sidon and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman who is a widow to provide for you there. So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath.
The Command: Get up! In Hebrew > Quwm (get up) Halak (go)
The Command: Get up! In Hebrew > Quwm (get up) Halak (go) Jonah s Response: Got up to flee > Quwm (get up) Barach (make haste, go quickly, flee)
Why run? Did Jonah need a work out?
Why run? Did Jonah need a work out? Did he want to take the scenic route?
Why run? Did Jonah need a work out? Did he want to take the scenic route? Was he intimidated by the journey?
Why run? Did Jonah need a work out? Did he want to take the scenic route? Was he intimidated by the journey? Was he confused?
1 Kings 18:15 Then Elijah said, As the Lord of Armies lives, in whose presence I stand, today I will present myself to Ahab.
Why run? Did Jonah need a work out? Did he want to take the scenic route? Was he intimidated by the journey? Was he confused? Was he scared?
Jonah 4:1-3 Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious. He prayed to the Lord: "Please, Lord, isn't this what I thought while I was still in my own country? That's why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place.
Jonah 4:1-3 I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster. And now, Lord, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."
Case Study on Disobedience Jonah received a clear command. Jonah disliked the command. Jonah ran. Jonah forfeited intimacy with God. Jonah missed what God was trying to do through him.
Application 1. Are you on the run?
Application How do we run? We stop reading the Bible. We avoid fellowship with other believers. We distract ourselves with other goals.