This evening we'll be looking at the first chapter in Jonah. Jonah is a minor prophet, not because his message is small, but because of the size of his book. It's only four chapters long. So if you turn with your Bibles with me to Jonah 1, we'll read the whole chapter. The word of the Lord came to Jonah, son of Amittai. Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me. But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own God, and they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. The captain went down to him and said, How can you sleep? Get up and call on your God. Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish. Then the sailors said to each other, Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity. They cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. So they asked him, Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you? He answered, I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land. This terrified them, and they asked, What have you done? They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so. The sea was getting rougher and rougher, so they asked him, What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us? Pick me up and throw me into the sea, he replied, and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you. Instead, the men did their best to row back to the land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. Then they cried to the Lord, O Lord, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man. For you, O Lord, have done as you pleased. Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard. And the raging sea grew calm. At this, the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. Brothers and sisters, you've likely heard the story of Jonah and the whale. Last year, it was the focus of Vacation Bible School. And I know a women's group has been studying it, and it's been the topic in Sunday School as well. But it is a fascinating book, and it deserves our attention. But the problem we face is that since we know this story so well, we just recount it and don't think more deeply about what it really means and why it was recorded for us. This story is not just a biography of Jonah's life, Nor is it recorded to provide examples for us to follow. Stories like Jonah's are recorded because they are pictures of redemption. They point us forward to Jesus and the redemption that he made possible through his death on the cross. We shouldn't read this story for pure entertainment. And we shouldn't read it to find positive examples to follow or even negative examples to avoid. There's both of these in here, but that's not the purpose of this book. The story of Jonah reveals God's displeasure with sin, both in Israel and her neighbors. It demonstrates God's great compassion to repentant sinners. But most importantly, as God reveals more and more of himself throughout history, it demonstrates what Jonah's message points us to, to God and to the message, the gospel message of the redemption through Christ and his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. The central message of the book of Jonah can be seen through the events and how the story takes place. But in case we're slow to read and slow to understand, Jonah makes this point even more clear to us as he restates it several times as he says, Salvation is of the Lord. This evening we'll be focusing on this first chapter that we read, specifically on verses 1 through 16. We're not going to be able to talk much about Jonah being swallowed by the whale tonight. We'll have to save that for another sermon. But as we consider Jonah God's messenger, we'll first look at his call, and then we'll look at his flight. In verses 1 and 2, we read that the word of the Lord came to Jonah, son of Amittai. He said, Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me. In looking at Jonah's call, we must first understand who Jonah was. We know that he was a prophet, commissioned to proclaim God's word. But we seldom realize that this was not Jonah's first call as a prophet. Previously, early in his life, he had been called by God to proclaim blessing upon Israel. He was to proclaim that the borders of Israel were going to be increased. And this increase in borders took place, ironically, by the very people he was now called to proclaim to repent. See, the Assyrians were a great kingdom, just northeast of Israel. And they were ferocious people. And Jonah was to tell them to repent of their sins. But earlier, they had, by God's providence, conquered Israel's enemy just to the north, the city of Damascus and the region around that. Assyria had conquered them, enabling Israel to increase their borders, which would provide more farmland, better control of trade, and also a better buffer for security reasons. So we've looked a little bit about who Jonah was in his first call, but let's look a little bit more now to the second call. The first call, we said, was a call of blessing. The second call, in contrast, is a call of repentance. Jonah's told to go to this wicked people because their wickedness has come up before God. Now, children, if you've seen the VeggieTales movie, you know that the Ninevites are portrayed as wicked people because they slap each other with fish. Well, children, the Ninevites were wicked people, but it was not because they slapped each other with fish. They did things that were much, much worse. Here are some of the things that they did that were atrocious and sinful in God's eyes. The prophet Nahum prophesied a little while later, or after Jonah, describes them as plotting evil against the Lord. And beyond this, the Ninevites were fierce, savage warriors. They were very cruel, especially when they plundered their enemies. From historical records, we get the picture of ferocious warriors who piled high the carcasses of their enemies, who brutally mutilated the bodies of their conquered foes in order to create fear among the other nations. In addition, they were involved in witchcraft, prostitution, and in their business practices, they exploited all their customers. They cheated everyone. These are grave sins in God's sight. So why does God call Jonah to call these Ninevites to repent? The text tells us that Nineveh was a great city. In chapter 3, verse 3, it's described as a very important city. And a visit to it required three days. Furthermore, at the end of the book, in chapter 4, verse 11, God describes it as having 120,000 people who cannot tell their left hand from their right hand and many cattle as well. Now, this 120,000 doesn't encompass the whole population of Nineveh. This is only the people who can't tell their left hand from their right hand. Perhaps the young children and maybe some ignorant people. But if Nineveh is such an important city, this begs the question, why did Jonah not want to go? Was he afraid for his life? Was he afraid that these wicked people might do something to him? Or was there something else? Was there something more that caused Jonah to flee? Well, let's discuss that for a little bit. The Assyrian Empire, as I said, was located just northeast of Israel. If Israel is on the coast of the Mediterranean, Assyria is to the northeast. And as I said, they previously conquered Israel's enemies just to the north. Because of this, Jonah might have felt that his call was close to treason. For if God was on the side of the Ninevites, they would easily come and conquer Israel next. They were right in the path. Major trade route went right down that route. And Israel was next on the list. So Jonah must have thought in his mind, if these Ninevites turn to God and repent of their sins, who is to say that they will not come in and punish us? For Israel, after their blessings, had been called to repentance many times. But in their sinful, stubborn hearts, they had not turned to God. They had not repented of their sins. In fact, many years later, Assyria was used by God to come and destroy Israel. And many Israelites were taken away in captivity. In the book of Jonah, God's compassion and love for his created creatures extends beyond the nation of Israel. Even though the gospel call hasn't gone out to all lands. So God's plan was to use his servant Jonah to tell these people. In a way, it was a blessing, for if they were not warned, if they had not repented of their sins, their city surely would have been destroyed. So God desired to use Jonah to warn these Ninevites to repent. And as you know, Jonah finally did get to Nineveh. And as he proclaimed the word, the people did repent. And because of their repentance, their city was saved. Because of repentance, destruction was staved. It was held off, at least for a time. So again, why did Jonah not want to go to Nineveh? The clear answer is found in verse 2 of chapter 4. Jonah knows that God will have compassion on these people if they repent. In fact, he even quotes from an Old Testament passage which says, The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Jonah knows that if he goes to Nineveh and preaches repentance, these people will surely repent and turn from their sins, and destruction will not come their way. In the same way that Jonah was jealous for God's mercy, he didn't want these Ninevites to come to the Lord in repentance. We too can fall into that trap. It's easy for us as Christians to start thinking that we're so much better than other people. In fact, we sometimes live that we are Christians because of who we were or because of who we are. But in reality, we know that that's not the truth. We know that we're Christians because of God's electing love and that we're Christians because through Christ, God has chosen us to be His people. And rather than this selfish jealousy demonstrated by Jonah. Believers are called to be like Christ, loving God and our neighbor. And what greater demonstration of love than to go to our neighbors and show interest in their eternal salvation? Because Jonah did not want to see Nineveh repent, he disregarded his calling and ran in the opposite direction. Having looked at Jonah's call then, We'll move on and consider his flight. There's some fascinating things in this flight, but unfortunately, again, we will not be able to touch on them all. But one of the important things that we must look at, even first, is that unlike many of the prophets who foretell Christ's coming by their words, in Jonah, the first chapter at least, we're pointed forward to Christ's coming by the way the story plays out and by what happens to Jonah. By his actions and the way the story plays out, we're pointed to Christ. This is a crucial element of the story of Jonah, and we'll look at it more in depth as we come to the end of the sermon. But first, we must look at the devastating consequences of his disobedience. As we said, the Lord called Jonah to go to Nineveh. And the Lord said, Jonah, get up and go to Nineveh and call on them. Jonah got up, but it wasn't to call on Nineveh. In fact, he ran, he was headed to a remote city called Tarshish, the complete opposite direction. Assyria is in the northeast, Jonah went south and west. He went down to Joppa, and there he boarded a ship heading further west. And he went down into its hull of the ship. It's interesting to note that there's a repetition of words and ideas in this description. It's one of going down, down, and down. Jonah went down from the hill country of Israel, down to the Mediterranean coast. From the deck of the ship, he went down into the hull. Later we see that he gets tossed overboard and he goes down into the water, sinking deeper and deeper. And this is not just a physical description of Jonah's flight, but it is a description that mirrors Jonah's spiritual descent as he flees from the presence of God. The story gets even more interesting when we see that God hurled a storm onto the sea where Jonah was sailing. Rather than bringing hope to people lost in sin, Jonah steers his newly acquainted comrades directly into the stormy wrath of God. Rather than preaching repentance and faith, which would bring people to salvation, Jonah endangers the lives of the sailors. He jeopardizes the cargo on the ship. And as we read in chapter 1, verse 4, he even jeopardizes the ship itself as it threatened to break into pieces. God certainly got the attention of the sailors who scurried here and there, left and right, back and forth, running around, trying to secure the ship. In fact, they even threw the cargo overboard. They were doing everything in their power to save their lives. These men were scared to death. they feverishly sought the faces of their gods, attempting to pacify any one of them they might have offended. You see, in the ancient Near East, outside of Israel, people believed in many gods, and often certain gods had rule over a certain domain. There were storm gods, gods of the sea, fertility gods, grain gods, etc., etc. You get the picture. These pagan sailors thought that one from among their crew must have done something to incite a storm god or the God of the sea. Something had to be done lest they lose everything, even their lives. This is why, after calling out to their gods, they dumped their cargo to lighten the ship to make it more buoyant. The point should be noted, however, that their assessment of the situation was right. They were completely correct in thinking that this storm was brought upon them by someone displeasing a god. That someone displeasing a god was Jonah in his sinful flight And the God that was displeased was the true God, the God who had created that very sea and had caused it to be thrown into a stormy tempest. In contrast to these sailors who were scurrying about, we see Jonah in the hull of the ship, fast asleep. He had no idea what calamity was brought upon the crew. We may ask, as the captain did, how can he be sleeping? One may at first think that he's sleeping without regard to his flight from God, as if he were sleeping with a clear conscience. But I think the better answer is that Jonah's sleeping because he is exhausted. He is physically exhausted from his journey to Joppa. He's spiritually exhausted because he knows he's running from the Lord. And he's mentally exhausted because he's considering the consequences of his sin. So he sleeps and he sleeps deeply. And he's not wakened until someone comes and wakes him. Brothers and sisters, you may have experienced similar exhaustion. If you've ever run from the Lord's call in your life or been involved in a sin you knew you needed to repent of, this is the sort of thing that Jonah's experiencing. This exhaustion of knowing that there's not peace with God. But brothers and sisters, if you're in that place in your life today, Turn. Turn from your sin. Turn back to God in repentance. For you will never escape his clutches. You will never get far enough from him. He will not let you go. As we see this storm raged, Jonah lay sleeping until the ship's captain went down and woke him up. He asked him what he thought he was doing. Here, too, there's a repetition of words. We saw earlier that God's command to Jonah was, Get up and call. Here the ship's captain uses those same commands. He says to Jonah, get up, call on your God. Maybe he will see us and save us from this calamity. Jonah got up and he had nowhere to go, but he did not call on his God. He did not seek the face of the Lord. After having been wakened by the sailors, Jonah drew the short straw and was barraged with questions. In verse 8, the sailors asked him, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you? Jonah gladly supplied them with answers. In fact, all of Jonah's answers are true. And his confession about worshipping the true God, the God of heaven who made the sea and the land, are completely right. But his confession and his life don't match. He knows it, and so do the sailors. So, still avoiding Nineveh, what does he tell them to do? He says, throw me overboard. What kind of response is that? He would rather die than turn and go back and submit to his commission. But what's the response of the sailors? They demonstrate the proper response. After Jonah told them to throw him overboard, they turn and they dig with all their might with these oars and try their hardest to row back to dry land. But, as the text tells us, the storm grew even more furious and more ferocious as the waters raged and the winds blew. You see, Jonah's heart had not turned. The sailors could not turn it for him. He had to turn in repentance, and he was not yet willing to do that. The irony of Jonah's flight as a disobedient servant is heightened even more when we consider the actions of the other characters in this greater story. Everything and everyone is listening to God and doing what he demands. He is sovereign over all. The sea raged at his request. The storm that he had hurled on the sea was under his command, threatening the ship, but yet not destroying it. Later, the fish that swallowed Jonah was under God's providential command. And later, the Ninevites, when called to repent, quickly repented in sackcloth and ashes. Jonah is the only one who's not listening to the word of the Lord. He's the stubborn servant. The hard-hearted messenger who will not submit to the Lord's will. And again, even these pagan sailors who do not know the Lord God are in tune more with his will than is the Lord's own servant, the Lord's own messenger. The sailors had no choice. They had to do what Jonah said or all would be lost. First, however, they pleaded with God. They did not want to die for taking Jonah's life. They asked that Jonah's blood not be upon their heads. They did not want to be held guilty for killing Jonah. They didn't want to kill an innocent man. After lifting up Jonah and heating him overboard, the seas did grow calm. And once again, demonstrating a proper response, these sailors feared God. They offered sacrifices and even vowed vows. They knew that Jonah was right. The God of Israel was God over this storm. And it was through the death of Jonah that their lives were saved. Now, we know that Jonah wasn't actually killed in this storm. But the sailors didn't know that. To them, he was thrown overboard and no one could survive this storm. Jonah then points us to Christ. He's a type of Christ. Jonah was lifted up, given over to death, in order to appease God's wrath. He was sacrificed in order to save the lives of the sailors. One man was given for the salvation of the many, not of their souls, but of their lives. Brothers and sisters, this ought to jump off the page as we read this story. For Christ too was lifted up. He was given over to death, to suffer and to die on the cross in order to quell the stormy wrath of God that is directed at our sin. Remember what the high priest Caiaphas said in John 11, 50? Let me read it. He said, You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish. Christ alone was sacrificed that many may live, that we may live, and that we may no longer fear the wrath of God. See, if we believe in Christ, our sins are forgiven and we enjoy the peace that we have with God, even as the sailors experienced the peace and the calm of the storm. Consider these sailors with me just a little bit longer. These men are more righteous than even the Israelites, even the very people of God. Listen again to what they said before they lifted up Jonah and heaved him overboard. They cried to the Lord, O Lord, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man. For you, O Lord, have done as you pleased. Now, in contrast, look again to the New Testament. Recall what happened on the day of Christ's crucifixion. After having been declared innocent by Pontius Pilate, again, another innocent man. Well, Jonah wasn't really innocent, we know, but the sailors considered him to be such. Christ, however, was innocent. And recall what the crowds shouted, even after Pontius Pilate declared that he was innocent. They shouted, crucify him, crucify him. And after that, they said, let his blood be upon us and upon our children. What hard-hearted, stubborn people. Let us never be so hardened as to trample on the very blood of Christ, the precious blood that was shed for our sins. We ought to be mindful that it was Christ's blood that was shed for us, for our sins, that we may live, that we may have peace with God and live eternally. Moving to the end of the story, we see that the sailors, having thrown Jonah overboard, rest in the peace that his death brought them. They realize that the greatness of God, that he is the one who would, excuse me, they realize the greatness of God, that he is the one God who has authority over all things, over the earth, the skies, and the seas. But think also of this story that they would tell when they reached the shores of Spain. Remember, Tarshish was most likely in the country of modern-day Spain. So think of the story that they would tell. A story of deliverance from the clutches of death, even by the death of one man who was given up for them. Isn't it amazing how Jonah's attempt to flee to the furthest ends of the earth resulted in God's glory as the knowledge of God, The one true God was brought to the very ends of the earth. And think also of Paul's eagerness in the book of Acts to reach the shores of Spain, to tell them of a story, a story of redemption, a story of deliverance from death, not by a runaway messenger, but by a faithful messenger, Jesus Christ, who was offered up on the cross to save them from their sins if they would just repent and believe. Jonah's attempt to flee to the furthest ends resulted in God's glory as the knowledge of the one true God and his mighty deliverance was broadcast to the furthest ends of the world, which even prepared the way for the gospel. We've considered the first chapter of Jonah this evening. Though brief and selective, we must remember how to read this story. We cannot read it just for entertainment, and we cannot read it for positive examples or negative examples. we must read it for the purpose that it was intended, to point us to Christ. For in this chapter, great truths are revealed about God. As I said, his compassion, his desire to see people repent and turn from their sin. And again, we must recognize that Jonah, as a type of Christ, points us forward to the perfect messenger who delivered his message willingly, faithfully, lovingly, and with compassion for those who were lost. He did not turn and run away. He did not neglect his call. He willingly submitted, even giving up his very life, that we may be saved. Brothers and sisters, as we consider the story of Jonah, let us find comfort in this message. Let us find comfort in this story that Jonah brings to us as he points us towards Christ, towards the redemption. And let us glorify God for his wondrous acts of redemption. Let us praise his name. Amen. Let us pray. Our dear Lord God and Holy Father, we praise your name for the great redemption that you've given to us, for providing us with stories in the Old Testament that tell us wondrous stories, but also point us to you and to your plan in redemption, that it was a plan from the beginning to save a people, to bring them to yourself, a people not just called Israelites, But a spiritual people, a people who are your children and children of Abraham, not by blood, but by faith. Lord, we pray that as we consider the redemption that we have, that we not take lightly the blood of Christ that was shed for us. And that we praise you and we thank you for giving up your very only son so that we may be saved. And Lord, we pray that as we live our lives, that we may not run away from your call. Your call to be faithful, to love you, to love our neighbors. Lord, and help us to have a genuine interest in our neighbors, to love them as you have loved us, and to share with them the gospel message, that they too may turn from their sins and repent and live eternally. Father, we pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen.