Running away from God, Rev Dr John Kwasi Fosu
Amazing Grace Baptist Church, Hamburg Bible Study Material on Jonah 1:1-3
Introduction
In our previous lessons, we have been looking at an introductory study of the book of Jonah with a focus on the authorship and theological themes. This material begins the verse-by-verse study of Jonah 1:1-3. The main aim of this lesson is to study Jonah’s call to preach the message of repentance and his reluctance to obey running away from God.
God’s Call to Jonah (Jonah 1:1-2)
The chapter and for that matter the book of Jonah begins with the phrase, the word of the LORD came to Jonah. It is not clear how God spoke to Jonah but it is likely that God spoke to Jonah in God’s own unique and powerful way that Jonah could understand. God specifically told Jonah to first, go to Nineveh and second, cry out against it. Jonah was to rebuke them for their sin and call them to repentance. The city of Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. It was a large and prominent city at the time. It was not part of the cities of Israel. In this case, God assigned Jonah to go to a pagan, a Gentile city and call them to repentance. For God saw their wickedness.
Jonah runs away from God (Jonah 1:3)
As a prophet, Jonah was expected to obey God. This request would appear to be a simple task for many prophets and preachers. Jonah was asked to get ready and travel 500 miles to Nineveh. Rather than go to Nineveh, Jonah pays to take a boat heading towards a city over 2,000 miles away. It could be observed that Jonah is not only running from God but is paying some of his own money to make this happen.
Running away from God comes at a cost
Running from God always comes with a cost. The first that Jonah had to face was the cost of being separated from God. Further, paying for a boat was a cost Jonah did not anticipate. The example of Jonah can be applied to our lives. We sometimes run from God. Running away from God costs us in diverse ways. The cost ranges from hurting friendship, a tarnished reputation and in some instances, a lowered sense of self-worth. Any practical example from you?
Conclusion and Application
This material about Jonah 1:1-3 has focused on God’s call to Jonah and his attempt to run from God. Running away from God came at a cost. This case study about Jonah’s life should inform us that we are to choose the path of obedience whenever we feel God’s call. We are called upon not to run away from God and thus experience the pain of separation. Thus, we are to choose the path of obedience and thus embrace God’s call and purpose for our lives.
Questions
- How did Jonah receive God’s instruction?
- Why did God send Jonah specifically to Nineveh?
- What do you think made Jonah to run away from God?
- At what cost or price did Jonah have to pay?
- Do we sometimes run away from God?
- What are some of the consequences that we face today when we run away from God?
