When a person runs from God - Jonah 1:1- 3
1. One of best known books in the Bible
- World considers Jonah mythical literature
- laughed at as a kind of fable.
2. Referred to in scripture as real prophet
Christ said, "As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly
of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matt. 12:40)
3. A little book about God
- Not a book about a big fish, a great city or a disbedient prophet
- Without God the book would make no sense
2. Reveals Gods patience with Jonah, His mercy toward him,
His willingness to use Jonah
3. Text reveals a man struggling with the will of God
- He will not be able to run or hide from Gods' sovereignty
- Studying Jonah can reveal much about ourselves
a. None of us need convincing that people run from God
b. Some run to escape a call to salvation, others a call to service
- Today we don't have to physically run - so many escapes
- Schedules, indulgences, involvements, materialism all are used to run from him
4. Jonah was a man God had used in the past
- 2 Kings 14 :25 - God Had spoken through him to Israel before
- Jonah again hears the call of God on his life
What happens when a person runs from God's call
- Remember old tv series "The Fugative"?
- David Jansen played part of doctor falsely accused of murder
- Spends his life running from police, narrow escapes etc
- Sequel few years ago brought closure when real murder caught
6. Spending life a fugative from God - running is a waste
7. Why would a person run from God?
- Lets consider three reasons presented here
v. 1 - when a person runs from god he has heard from god
When God speaks
1. God speaks without confusion & with clarity
Jonah understood clearly what God said
Have had people say “I think God is speaking to me.”
- if He is speaking you will know it
- You will know what He is saying
- For me - God's call to preach was never misunderstood, just denied
2. when God speaks - He Speaks Without Contradiction
- Whatever God leads you to do it will not contradicat anything else he has ever said
- He will never tell one person a thing is wrong and another it is right
“Preacher, I know what the Bible says, but this is what God told me to do.” .... nope won't fly
A grave danger is to mistake an experience or feeling for the voice of God
- Always base your understanding of God on Scripture not an experience
The tongues movement is largely built on feeling
- I know what scripture says but I can't deny what happened to me
- If it isn't in the word I don't have to explain it
3. How does he speak today?
God speaks through His Holy Spirit
- In O.T. he spoke in various ways (angels, visions, maricles)
- In Gospels he spoke through his son, Jesus Christ
John 1:1 "In beginning was word, word was god, word was with God
v. 14 "Word became flesh and dwelt among men"
- Following ascention he sent H.S. to take up residence in life
Holy Spirit speaks to us through
- The Bible.... As you read the Word of God
Spirit takes that word and reveala truth
You adjust your life through obedience
God works through you to accomplish his purpose
- Prayer - That two-way fellowship & communication with God
- circunstances - that through which he affirms his truth
*Never determine truth by looking at the circumstance
* When I have heard from God then I can know its truth
* H.S. takes Word & reveals God's perspective on them
- Church - Local Body of believers banded together to do his will
* Am to be a active, functioning member
* Is through this body he does his work today
* Apart from this body you cannot fully know God's will in my relationship with him
*Knowing and doing will of God should be desire of every believer
* Knowing and doing his will is greatest adventure life can offer

Jonah is running - Would expect sinner to run - but not a saint
Conviction makes the sinner uncomfortable
Does not want to face consequenses of his sin
v. 2 To accept God's task involved a needed change
Change such as this can be painful
Jonah nursed personal grievences against Ninevah
God's call would indicate a divine intent
Jonah wanted his enemies destroyed, he loved his hate
Their gross immorality deserved it
His prejudice enjoyed it
Jonah's objection likely involved fear
- Like a Jew in Berlin during Hitler's reign
- He would be asked to proclaim a message
Ninevah's sin had not gone unnoticed
Jonah's refusal put him on a collision course with will of God
- There is no doubt what God wants
v. 3 - when a person runs from god he believes he can escape from god
- Heard from God - Knew what he wanted
- Taking a boat ride when outside will of God is not good thing to do
A contrary saint - First word of the verse "but" ...."Billy Goat" Christians
Jonah had his own mind made up
- what he would do - how far he would go in faithfulness
At the root of our lives are some Jonah-tendencies
- fight against obedience like Jonah did.
Character of Jonah disclosed
- If Nineveah repented no one would want him preaching in Israel
- The easy exit likely seen as an open door from God
Jeremiah (17:9)"The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?"
- Open doors are not necessarily a sign of God's will
- Stop before God has to intervein

"But Jonah ." is not the end of the story!
- What patience God has
- Jonah was the messenger... . God will not let go
- His rebellion was no suprise to God

His Every act was contrary
v. 3 "ran away from the Lord" "Went down to Joppa"
"sailed for Tarshish to flee the Lord"
Where is your Tarshish? May be tavern, dance hall, casino boat
- Questionable activity, worldy interests, things
- Your Tarshish is anywhere you leave God's will out of life
Psalm 139:7-11 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"

A) Make Following God's Will The Priority Of Your Life
B) Make Finding God's Will The Passion Of Your Life
v. 3 When a person runs from god he is in for a costly journey
- When we disobey God... run from Him...the adversary always provides handy transportation.
- was ita coincidence that a boat heading toward Tarshish ?
"Paying the fare"
"sin will carry you futher than you want to go; keep you longer than you want to stay; and cost you more than you want to pay."
Note the direction away from God
v. 3 - "Down to Joppa"
v. 5 " Down into the ship"
Consequenses - You can run, but you can't hide
Expect to run into misery - Thats were Jonah is headed
Expect to bring misery on others when you run

Close
1. Jonah's story is our story - each of us
- Who of us have not run from God some time in life
- Biggest question is "What will God have to do to get us back?"
2. Sure there is a story behind your run from Him
- Personal fears, problems, goals
- Works out to God's will versus our will
3. Don't place others in danger because you run from Him
- Men in the ship, City of Nineveh were in danger
4. Remember - No matter where you are he knows
5. Don't run from him, run with him

Dean West

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