Jonah is assigned by God to go to Nineveh and warn the city of its wickedness and impending destruction. However, Jonah rebels against God's command and flees by boat to Tarshish. A great storm arises at sea threatening the boat, and the sailors discover through casting lots that Jonah is the cause. They throw Jonah overboard, and he is swallowed by a great fish. After three days, Jonah prays to God in repentance. God then commands the fish to vomit Jonah up on dry land, and Jonah proceeds to Nineveh to deliver God's message as originally instructed.

1. Jonah
The Runaway Prophet
Jonah Chapter One

2. Why God has to send
The Assignment: Jonah to Nineveh?
• Go to Nineveh – verse 2 • Their city will be destroyed
• It is known as a great city in forty days (Jonah 3:4).
• Their wickedness has • There are 120,000 people
captured God`s attention who will die with the
• Nineveh – the meaning of destruction unless they
the name Nineveh is “the repent (Jonah 4:11).
house or place of fish.”
• A prophet has to be sent to
• Nineveh today, is Mosul in warn them and to bring
the country of Iraq.
them to repentance.
Jonah: The Runaway
Prophet

3. The Response to the Is Running Away from God`s
Assignment: Assignment Evil?
• Jonah ran away to Tarshish • It is rebellion – defined as
instead of going to Nineveh resistance or defiance of
(verse 3). authority
• Tarshish is the present day, • The biblical view of rebellion:
Spain. It is southwest of
Europe. • For rebellion is as the sin of
witchcraft, and stubbornness is as
• While Nineveh (Iraq) is in the
Middle East. iniquity and idolatry. Because
thou hast rejected the word of the
• Jonah intentionally ran so far LORD, he hath also rejected thee
away from his assignment to from being king. (1 Samuel 15:23)
show his objection to the task.
Jonah: The Runaway
Prophet

4. The Result of Rebellion: The Result of Rebellion:
• The Lord throw a great wind on the • Everyone started to cry to their
sea (v.4) “gods.”
• A great storm was also sent (v.4)
• The prophet was confronted
• The result of the storm was a after the sailors cast lots and
possible ship wreck. Other people`s
security is affected because of the lot fell on Jonah (verse 7)
someone`s rebellion. • The cause of rebellion was
• Passengers of the boat where Jonah identified.
was began to throw cargo. • He has to be thrown into the
Rebellion causes material loss.
• There was a spirit of terror among
sea to calm the storm (verse
the sailors (verse 5). It opens the 12). An attempt to kill becomes
door for an oppression of fear. the reluctant choice. (verse 14)
Jonah: The Runaway
Prophet

5. The Result of Rebellion The Result of Rebellion
• A great fish was appointed • He was brought low (Jonah
to swallow Jonah (verse 2:6).
17). • Rebellion will drain you of
• Rebellion feels like hell strength (Jonah 2: 7).
(Jonah 2:1). • Rebellion will make a
• Expulsion from God (Jonah person suicidal (Jonah
2:4) 1:12).
• Demotion – instead of a • Rebellion is going to affect
crown of honor, he gets a those who are with you “in
crown of weeds (Jonah 2:5) the boat.” (Jonah 1:5)
Jonah: The Runaway
Prophet

6. Can A Person`s Repentance Be
Accepted Despite of the Rebellion? Continuation…
• Yes. Read Jonah 2:7. • He recognized that he is
• What did Jonah pray? dying (v.5)
• He spoke to God about his • He acknowledged that he is
distress (Jonah 2:1) embarrassed of his rebellion
• He cried for help in the (v. 5)
depth of his hell (V. 2) • He declared to God that he
• He acknowledge that it is will do his vow (v.9).
the hand of God who cast • He declared that God can
him away. (v.3) save him from his
predicament (v.9)
Jonah: The Runaway
Prophet