Jonah the Runaway

Sermon Note

[Jonah 1:1-2] The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: [2] "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are."

We serve a God who SPEAKS to us.

Everyone needs God's MERCY.

[Jonah 1:3-4] But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish. [4] But the LORD hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart.

God’s plans are often outside our COMFORT ZONES.

We can’t OUTRUN God.

[Psalm 139:7-10] I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! [8] If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. [9] If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, [10] even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

When you run from God you may find yourself in the middle of a STORM.

[Jonah 1:10] The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the LORD. "Oh, why did you do it?" they groaned.

Sometimes it takes hitting ROCK BOTTOM for us to turn to God.

[Jonah 3:1-5] Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time: [2] "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you." [3] This time Jonah obeyed the LORD's command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. [4] On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: "Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!" [5] The people of Nineveh believed God's message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.

God LOVES the people you don't like.

[Jonah 4:1-3] This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. [2] So he complained to the LORD about it: "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. [3] Just kill me now, LORD! I'd rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen."