#1149 Jonah 1 Part 2 Reluctant Evangelism

 

The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it, because their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship that was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and boarded it to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of the Lord.

4 However, the Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea, so that the ship was about to break up. 5 Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried out to his god, and they hurled the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the stern of the ship, had lain down, and fallen sound asleep. 6 So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”

7 And each man said to his mate, “Come, let’s cast lots so that we may find out on whose account this catastrophe has struck us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us, now! On whose account has this catastrophe struck us? What is your occupation, and where do you come from? What is your country, and from what people are you?” 9 So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.”

10 Then the men became extremely afraid, and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 11 So they said to him, “What should we do to you so that the sea will become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. 12 And he said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, because I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” 13 However, the men rowed desperately to return to land, but they could not, because the sea was becoming even stormier against them. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life, and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, Lord, have done as You pleased.”

15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 Then the men became extremely afraid of the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

17 And the Lord designated a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights. Jonah 1 NASB

Jonah 1: 3 - 17 What You Meant For Evil

But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish - He was told to go and tell the people of Nineveh the truth, that the God of heaven and earth, the Creator, is a holy God and your sins have reached the limits of His patience. Your sins are before Him, and you need to repent. This is what the prophet Nahum will later say about this city, this is how Nineveh is described:

Woe to the city of blood,

full of lies,

full of plunder,

never without victims!

2 The crack of whips,

the clatter of wheels,

galloping horses

and jolting chariots!

3 Charging cavalry,

flashing swords

and glittering spears!

Many casualties,

piles of dead,

bodies without number,

people stumbling over the corpses—

4 all because of the wanton lust of a prostitute,

alluring, the mistress of sorceries,

who enslaved nations by her prostitution

and peoples by her witchcraft. Nahum 3: 1-4

So Jonah disobeyed a direct command from God, and went in the other direction, the opposite direction, and he is not the first nor the last person to claim to know God but not want to do what God says. I think this is definitely worth exploring, worth cutting into my own heart with. 

1. Look at the passage from Nahum above, this was a wicked city, it would be like God asking me to go to Las Vegas and preach in the streets. I don't want to be there, it's very basis is to promote all the things that God is against, a drunken city, a sensual city, it pulls at a person from so many different angles. It appeals to my admiration of violence, wanting to solve things with my fist, and watch others do that in the ring. It appeals to my want of riches, the lure of fast, easy money. It appeals to my lust, thousands of scantily clad women. If Jonah is a pious man then we could understand why he may not want to be there. We should be offended by sin for Christ's sake, and we should flee from temptation, but we are hypocrites if we aren't offended by our own sin, if we think that Jesus life and death wasn't so necessary in our case, because I don't participate in the same sins as those people do. 
2. When it talks about being a city of blood and never without victims, well, that could definitely be a deterrent. I don't want to get beat up, I don't want to get killed, and the message God is sending him with, may not go over so well. So, we can understand that, fear of death, that is a legitimate concern, but God is asking Him to go, and the way He looks at it is that we should fear Him more than death that men can bring.  …27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10: 27-28
3. What if it's your enemy? What if you don't care to warn them because you think they deserve this, even though we all do, yet you think they do even more? They killed someone you know, they robbed your friend's caravan, they think differently about things than you do. They threatened you, told you not to come there, it would be bad for you. What if your country is at war with them, or it has already been prophesied that they will come against you, take your people captive? That's definitely an enemy, and the Bible does not shrink from that word, I have lots of enemies, anyone who hates God, who bullies, who would destroy other's lives, but my Lord says: 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5: 43-48
4. What if its someone you consider a friend? I don't want to tell them because they will be upset with me. I like their approval and I could lose it. Besides, what God is telling me to say is not even culturally acceptable anymore, and my friend thinks he is highly evolved and humanity is heading in the right direction by being more accepting and inclusive, except of ideas that he disagrees with or designates as non accepting, non inclusive. It's my family, I don't want them to be mad at me. 36A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; 38and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.… Matthew 10: 36-38
5. Inconvenience comes to mind, especially back in Jonah's day, this would be a 500 mile walk from Galilee, there were no planes. We all love our comforts and we link compassion more to feelings and emotions, but that's not love, that is a fleeting thing, a sigh, a one time check in the mail, but don't inconvenience me. Do you really want to put yourself in their shoes, get close to them, care for them when they might not reciprocate, I mean, what's in it for me, to make me want to get off my couch? …26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1: 26-27 What was God's motivation in saving me? What did I bring to the table other than my sin? …2So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.… Matthew 6: 2-4
6. What will my circle of friends and family think about me? Will I be considered a trader for talking to these people that are generally hated by my country? I mean we bash them all the time, and say how fortunate we are to be Jews and not Assyrians. This will look bad, like I'm slumming it or something. …38As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume. 39When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him— for she is a sinner!” 40But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said.……41“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?” 43“I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.… Luke 7: 39-43

…30But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”… Luke 5: 30-32

To Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord - This is the second time it mentions the presence of the Lord. Jonah has purchased a ticket in Joppa, which is on the coast of Israel, also called Jaffa, it is by modern day Tel Aviv. This is on the far eastern coast of the Mediterranean, and Jonah is hopping on a boat to take him to the far west side of the Sea, near Gibraltar. Tarshish would be in present day Spain, and it would take him some 2500 miles further away from where God was telling him to go. What was the logic here? Some think, that he, like the neighboring pagans, viewed God as a god of locals, of a place, a regional deity, so he could physically get away from His presence, but I don't think that's the case. Later he refers to God as the Lord God of heaven, who made the sea and dry land, and God is also sending him to a land far away from his home, a land where they worship other gods. It seems more likely, as some commentators have pointed out, that he is getting so far away from where God is calling him, in the hopes that God will either not save this people or get someone else to go. I think Moses is a good example of this, and also Jeremiah to a degree. Jeremiah did not want to give the repentance message anymore because it was painful, nobody liked it, they mocked and laughed at him, it was never a "let's put Jeremiah on our shoulders and run him through the streets, shouting, thank God for this man." Something else compelled Jeremiah to do what he no longer wished to do.

…12Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.” 13But Moses replied, “Please, Lord, send someone else.” 14Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well, and he is now on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.… Exodus 4: 12-14

…8For whenever I speak, I cry out; I proclaim violence and destruction. For the word of the LORD has become to me a reproach and derision all day long. 9If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail. 10For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”… Jeremiah 20: 8-10

However -  This signifies a change of plans, not Jonah's, his mind is still made up, but God chose him to do a specific task. 

The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea - Apparently Jonah did not think about this in his perfect get away, maybe he had only seen the Sea of Galilee on calm days, though we know storms crept up fast there as well too, but here he is on even bigger waters. So much for getting away from the presence of the Lord, human autonomy, and all other stoic claims.

Every man cried out to his god - They were pagans so they all had their own deity or deities, much of the world was polytheistic. People always want a god for times like these, even atheist have been known to cry, "Oh god", when things are not going well, and fishermen and sailors are some of the most superstitious people I have ever met. They have their lucky shirts, lucky hats, rituals that they do the same way every time before going out on the water, and they thank the fish gods when it has been a struggle, or cry to them when days go by without a fish. These men cried but the storm just kept getting worse.

Get up, call on your God - They found Jonah down stairs asleep, and asked that he pray to his God as well. How can you be sleeping? Well, Jonah was avoiding everything, and it was a long trip ahead of him, so sleeping is a brilliant way to avoid things as well. Now think about this, "call on your God", and then read this:

…38But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” 39Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. 40“Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”… Mark 4: 38-40

Let's cast lots - Oh boy, like drawing straws, but this time God will make sure it goes to the right man, for this crew knows no better. 

What is your occupation - I'm a prophet and the most reluctant evangelist the world has ever known. Amazing, God is teaching repentance here to Jonah and these mariners. 

I am a Hebrew and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and dry land - Wow, so he tells them Who God is, all the way back to the beginning, the Creator, so that makes Him above everything and before everything. 

Because he had told them - So he shares his testimony with them, that God told him to do something and he fled God's presence. Now these men know even more about God, He was not relegated to Israel, not stuck on land, no, He owned the sea as well, He made it.

Hurl me into the sea - Another way for Jonah to escape going to Nineveh, drowning, but instead these guys try to make a break for shore. It proves futile and the storm rages worse.

Have done as You pleased - Now these men are trying to connect with the true God, and they don't want to be held accountable for Jonah's blood, wow, Jonah could learn something from them. Think about that, God tells you to not be ashamed of His name, to acknowledge Christ as Lord, and then He tells us to teach our children, live before men in a manner fitting of His name. Will Jonah be innocent of the blood of Nineveh if he refuses to give them the message that God asked Him to?

The sea stopped its raging - Oh my, they got rid of Jonah and it went calm. They don't know a god like that, their gods are idols, imagination, superstition. Peace, be still, that's what God says, and sea obeys the One Who made it.

…40“Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?” 41 Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Mark 4: 40-41

The men became afraid of the Lord - The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

Offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows - These men came to believe. This is aside from Jonah, he is not exactly the method man, but God chose to use him, to have him proclaim His word, and that's all he ask us to say, not make up fancy stories or catchy phrases, it doesn't matter what you look like or where you are from, it is the power of God that saves, just preach the word. 

And the Lord designated a great fish to swallow Jonah - Jonah needs to be broken down, and the stomach acids from this fish will do just the thing.