Jonah flees from the presence of the Lord
Updated: Aug 17
Date: 9 August 2026, 9.30 am
Speaker: Eld Peter Seah Sermon Text: Jonah 1:1-17
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TRANSCRIPT
Jonah and a fish is a very popular Sunday School story.
However, it is more than a children’s story. There are doubts about whether it is an actual historical event or a fable; a fable is a short story to teach a moral lesson.
The doubt centers on how a man could live inside a fish for days? We should have no doubt at all that it is a real historical event because Jesus our Lord made reference to it. In the Gospel of Mathew chapter 12, Jesus chided the Jews of His time for their unbelief because after showing them many miracles to prove who He was, they still asked Him for a sign.
Jesus identified Jonah as a prophet. This is verified in the Book of 2 Kings 12
- Jonah was that prophet who served under King Jeroboam II of Israel, specifying his father as Amittai. Although Jeroboam was a wicked king who did evil in the sight of the Lord, Jonah was sent to convey the good news that God would help him restore Israel’s borders. For us to learn that Jonah was not just an ordinary man, but a prophet of God makes the Book of Jonah a little heavy reading, as we inject our judgment of him as a man of God.
Jonah is a very unique Book in its own way. It has only 4 short chapters. Unlike most books it has no introduction at all. It begins abruptly with the word of the Lord, and the book ends similarly with the word of the Lord. So, clearly God is the main character of the book, contrary to what we may think, that it was Jonah and the fish. The first 2 verses in the opening chapter tell us what God and what Jonah each did respectively, and the last chapter discloses their reasons for why each did what they did. And in between, lies a wonderful account of God’s breath of divine grace, patience and love, in dealing with His disobedient servant. The Book is action-packed from start to finish so you do not want to miss out portions of it since it is so compact. It is like the message of the Bible, which must be read in its entirety in order to understand the whole counsel of God. If we missed out the Old Testament, we would believe that God was not one of grace until the New Testament. This is not true. The Book of Jonah is just one such Old Testament account which speaks of the abounding grace of God.
Before we go further, let us understand the geography related to the book to know where are the key places which are mentioned.
At the top on your right is the city of Nineveh, the place God wanted Jonah to go. Joppa is just below, the place where Jonah started his journey, and Tarshish is way on your left at the top. A look at the distance between Tarshish and Nineveh tells us how much Jonah wanted to flee from the presence of God, this phrase was repeated twice in the text – Nineveh was the capital of Assyria (present day Mosul in Iraq), a formidable neighbor and longtime enemy of Israel. They were well known for their extreme cruelty and wickedness as a people, to an extent God felt it’s up to an unacceptable level and He had to intervene by sending Jonah to warn them. The warning also carried a message of God’s saving grace should they repent from their wicked ways. Tarshish by most written accounts is said to be situated in southern Spain. Joppa is south of present-day Tel Aviv, the capital of Israel today.
Back to our text. God told Jonah to arise and go to Nineveh and Jonah did arise, but he arose to run away in the opposite direction, to Tarshish instead. He went down to Joppa and boarded a ship and paid for his fare, cargo class. It appears he was the only passenger on board. Perhaps it was the only earliest ship departing from Joppa and he was desperate to get away from God. Now, can one really flee from the presence of God? King David in Psalm 139 says, where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in the realm of the death, you are there! Even when David thought darkness can hide him then the darkness became light to God. In other word, you can run but not hide from God! And since Jonah was a prophet surely, he knew about this. So, it was likely that Jonah wanted to flee to a place where God was not known at all, not heard and not talked about. The physical distance he wanted to put between him and God mirrors the spiritual distance in his heart.
And if he was desperate and thought his action was swift, God met him just as swiftly when the ship left port. God pinpointed where his ship was and hurled a great storm upon it. So forceful was the storm that it threatened to break up the ship to such an extent the experienced sailors knew that it was no ordinary storm.
Accordingly, they took immediate remedial action which was to throw some of the cargos into the sea in order to lighten the ship, so that they could row quickly back to shore. In addition, the sailors spontaneously cried out to their respective gods for help. So, the deck of the ship was soon filled with praying men, folks who ordinarily were rough men used to drinking and cursing and likely have no thought of God, except for Jonah who was sound asleep in the heart of the ship. So, we have a sad situation where the sailors were praying whilst Jonah the prophet was sleeping. The captain remembered this lone passenger in his charge, so he went down to awake Jonah, chided him and encouraged him to pray along with the crew to his own God. The sailors soon discovered that all their gods were of no help at all. They took another step to find out the cause of the disaster by casting lots, which sovereignly fell on Jonah. Jonah was questioned and there and then in the presence of the whole crew, the prophet who wanted nothing to do with God, had to publicly declared to the crew who God was, the God whom he belonged to : ‘the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land’. Now, take note that Jonah said he feared God. Yet his action was anything but.
The crew asked him what had to be done to stop the wrath of this powerful God whom they had just got to know? When Jonah told them the answer was to throw him into the raging sea, far from immediately doing so in order to save their own lives, they refused to! If earlier, with much effort and strength throwing the many crates of cargo into the sea did not result in anything, now they had just gotten the answer, and Jonah happened to be the lightest and easiest to be thrown overboard, they refused! Astonishingly, they took the hard way out instead, by rowing with all their might to get the ship back to shore. It was only when they realized their efforts were futile because God would not let them, did they most reluctantly return back to Jonah. After they had unwillingly threw Jonah overboard, the raging storm ceased at once. We can understand how amazed the men must have been to experience such a miraculous event. Fear gripped them and they offered sacrifices and made vows (which were all acts of worship) to God. Meanwhile God had prepared a great fish to rescue Jonah.
I would like to share 3 points for our reflections.
Point 1 - The character of God (grace, mercy and patience)
Imagine with me. Had Jonah been serving a king, and as a prophet his equivalent rank would be a very senior minister in the king’s service, he would certainly be executed for his act of rebellion. Yet look at how God who is King of kings dealt with him. Can you imagine that there was ever such a King who would take off His royal robe, walk down from His throne and go after His subject who had just refused to carry out His command, and then pursue him in order to guide him back to his duty? Let us pause for a moment… because it’s unimaginable! What a God of grace, mercy, compassion and patience!
True, God unleashed a violent storm so forceful that it almost broke up the ship, and it revealed the extreme fragility of men in the face of the Almighty; yet, not one man was injured, not one! Instead, men were saved. It is one thing to have explosive power but devoid of control and another to have both power and control, in this case, God has both and He controls with infinite accuracy. God set up the whole theatre of events described for us, for the education of just one lone individual, Jonah the son of Amittai, His serving prophet. Accordingly, we noted that Jonah was the only person named in the Book. The captain and crew were identified only by their occupation. If Jonah had not been the sole attention of God, he would not be named but just called ‘sleeper’. God loves each and every one of His children. We are His center of attention, precious to Him, so much so He would leave His 99 sheep behind to go after the one who had strayed and bring him back!
Sovereignty of God
God’s plan cannot be thwarted. Jonah, the reluctant missionary’s escapade provided a gospel opportunity for the crew of the ship instead. That day was a day they met God in His power at sea. Notice that Jonah did not even have to preach a word on salvation! Regrettably he also did not get to witness the momentous event of conversion since he had been thrown into the sea. The captain and crew upon reaching shore would certainly share about their amazing experience with God and it will spread like wildfires in the cities and towns. Therefore, perhaps we should pause here again and ask ourselves - does God really needed the help of Jonah for His missionary work? Similarly, does He need you and me to help Him with His work? Or is God so gracious in giving us the privilege to partner Him in His work?
2nd Point - The sailors
The crew were men who did not know the true God. Yet when told He is the God of heaven and earth, they wondered how Jonah would dare offend such a Mighty being; sometimes others have more awe and respect for our God! These were rough men, laborers, habitual drunkards perhaps, who no one would pay attention to in day to day business. Yet, in their moment fearing for their lives, they did not do what would immediately made good sense to them, throwing Jonah into the sea. When they were finally forced to, note that they did not appeal to Jonah to ask for forgiveness. Instead, they appealed to God, the God who they had just been made to know. They instinctively knew they were accountable to God and not to man when it concerned life. In contrast to Jonah and contrary to our expectation, these men had the milk of human kindness. So, never judge a book by its cover. Don’t judge men or women by their outward appearances or occupations. Jonah who knew God and His love, may have ignored them when he first boarded their ship as he went straight into the hold of the ship to sleep. These sailors were truly men of character when it counted. It shows that the natural men made in the image of God carry in themselves a sense of righteousness and justice and an acknowledgment of the sanctity of life.
Incidentally, note that a while ago, when at the port these men were busy loading valuable cargos onto the ship, but when their lives were threatened, these cargos were the first to be thrown into the water. It reminds us that when faced with death-threatening situation we immediately realized what matters most to us. Our minds instantly sieve out all the trivials and arrived at the single most important priority which we do not give a thought in normal time. Years ago, when I was still working, my colleague shared with me that on one of his flights going back home to France, his plane was struck by lightning. When it was able to land safely, he quickly left the airport with his family who were waiting at the arrival hall to drive him home. On the way out they reminded him he had not collected his luggage.
He said never mind, just go home. He was just so relieved he could be with his family again. Whatever he had packed into the luggage for his family from his trip was not as important as having his family right then with him which, a while ago up in the air, it was uncertain. There are many accounts of how people when trapped in crisis endangering their lives become aware of what truly matters. Some expressed regrets they had not told their loved ones about their love for them, they regretted getting into small squabbles, regretted they did not have the opportunity to say sorry and obtain forgiveness, etc. If only during normal times, we are able to step back and consider the key priorities in our lives and leave the rest aside, we will certainly live a more meaningful life. If God allows us to live a little longer, would our priority be to live for Him doing what matters most? Let us watch out for the encumbrances which endanger our spiritual lives. We are to present ourselves to God as those who come back alive from the dead.
3rd and final Point - Jonah
Jonah did not refuse God’s message because he was afraid of death or because of the wickedness of the Ninevites. Far from it, he was courageous and not afraid to die. Throughout the book he would despair of life as he vacillated between agreeing with God one moment and then changing his mind later. When he knew the cause of the storm was really due to him, he also knew he could ask God for forgiveness and God would have forgiven him, but he did not. He persisted in his disobedience and was prepared to be thrown into the raging sea. It looks like once he made up his mind to disobey God, his spiritual life went downhill and fast; synonymous with his actions going down south to Joppa, going down into the ship’s hold and finally going down into the bottom of the sea. By intentionally fleeing from the presence of God, he had tuned God out totally. This is a very dangerous development. Tuning out God completely made him deceptively at peace with himself because he can be on his own; have his own way, his own thought; and so comfortably lulled, he was able to fall into sound sleep! Not even the storm and chaos could rouse him. When we tuned out, we soon normalized our behavior, then we justified our behavior, and then we knew no guilt! having our conscience seared. It’s spiritual shipwreck!
Yet God was patient with Jonah and despite his escapade, provided a great fish to house him in the water in order that he can continue to be taught to see the error of his way. Punishment from a heart who cares is different from a heart of revenge.
Like Jonah, are there certain words from God that we feel strongly we would not want to obey? For example, God says we are to love one another. We know this may be a very difficult command for spouses and or siblings or friends who have not been able to get along. Do not be like Jonah who persisted in his rebellion. Do not be like Jonah and be in the process of fleeing from the presence of God with respect to His word. Do not be deceptively lulled to sleep night after night. God says His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts, do not turn them around and say to God, ‘my ways are not Your ways and my thoughts not Your thoughts’, in regard to this command to love one another. If you do, you are in effect saying God is wrong! God cannot be wrong? His word is flawless (2 Sam 22:31; Proverbs 30:5). In the person of our Lord Jesus, God Himself set us the supreme example of complete submission. Complete submission to His death in order that we all live! He died for us even while we were still His enemies!
It is one thing to flee from the presence of God and completely another, when you feel that God flees from you instead. When that moment came as Jonah soon discovered, it was darkness, terror and death. It was then that Jonah came to his senses.
In our Christian walk, the path of least resistance is the best response. Had Jonah proceeded straight to Nineveh close by, he would not have to go one big round and in dramatic circumstances to return back to Nineveh for duty. In contrast to him centuries later, another servant of God would set out from the same city Joppa, also on a mission to the gentiles. However, in contrast to Jonah this servant set out in complete obedience. The apostle Peter asked, ‘how could I stand in God’s way’!
Perhaps, Jonah as a prophet, knew God’s word more than God’s heart. God’s heart is for all His creation, unconditional love which is in contrast with ours, riddled with discriminations and conditions.
Jonah’s disobedience is one we easily resonate with. He was once a faithful serving prophet until this fateful episode. Today, the word of God has similarly been given to us, to arise and go and share His gospel. What has been our response? Have we all like Jonah stood up to run away in different directions to flee from His presence or, run in different directions to spread His word? We must remember it is not how well we start our faith journey with God but also how well we end with Him. The apostle Paul exhorts us to take heed and watch out for spiritual shipwreck. A man or woman of God can err badly midcourse.
I told you at the beginning that the Book of Jonah does not have an introduction.
Now, I want to tell you at the close of my sermon, that the Book does not have a conclusion too. It does not tell us if Jonah eventually ended up wholeheartedly submitting to God after all His mercy and compassion shown to him. I believe God has framed the book in such a way that by the time you have read to that point of the Book, you would have taken over the role and character of Jonah yourself; the answer therefore lies in and with you.
Reflection questions:
What can you learn about the characters of God, Jonah and the mariners from today’s message?
Are there some instructions from God which you have already tuned out for some time now and no longer feel any guilt? Do you plan to continue to do so or repent and make a change?
In serving God, do we feel He owes us a debt of gratitude or do we feel indebted to Him for his grace in allowing us to work for Him?
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