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"But Jonah arose to flee"

Text: Jonah 1:3

A NEGATIVE RESPONSE TO GOD

Jonah did not want to obey this command from the Lord. He decided that he would attempt to flee from the Lord instead.

“But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the
presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa,
and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid
the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to
Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”
Jonah 1:3

1. “God’s command to Jonah… ‘Arise, go to Nineveh'” (Jonah 1:2)

2. But Jonah arose to flee

a) Jonah did arise as he was bidden.

b) But he arose only to flee.

3. From the presence of the LORD

a) How would Jonah be able to flee from the presence of the Lord?

b) Psalm 139 has a classic description about the presence of the Lord.

“Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.”
Psalm 139:7-10

4. Purchasing a berth to go to Tarshish

a) He found a ship going to Tarshish.

b) He paid his fare.

c) He went down to his berth in the hold of the ship.

5. Where was Tarshish?

a) Its actual location is debated.

b) It is however definitely as far away from Nineveh as possible.

c) Shipping routes were limited in the early days.

d) Tarshish could be as far away as Spain.

e) Jonah’s concern was “to flee from the presence of the LORD!”