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Fleeing from God (1 of 6)
Series: Jonah
D. Marion Clark
Jonah 1:1-4
Introduction
Responding to the call of God is a mixed bag among biblical characters. There is Abraham, the model of obedience. God calls him to leave his homeland and he leaves. God calls him to sacrifice his son, and he rises early the next morning to carry out his sad mission. Then there is Moses, the hesitant one. God calls him to lead his people out of Egypt, and Moses does his best to excuse himself, finally pleading with God to send his brother Aaron instead. There is Jeremiah who humbly questions how such a youth as he could serve God. But there is no one like Jonah. No remonstrance; no objections - just flat out running away.
For six weeks we will consider the story of Jonah. Romans 15:4 tells us: ''For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.'' We will consider the instruction intended for us through what Jonah experiences.
There really is nothing like this book. It is placed among the prophets because Jonah was a prophet, and yet it does not actually deliver prophecy to the readers as the others do. The main character - a prophet of God no less - turns out to be the one who doesn't learn his lesson, while the pagans, who know nothing of the true God are the ones who respond to him best. It is both comedy and drama; in the midst of its humor it delivers a deep, poignant display of God's sovereignty and his mercy.
Text
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai,
One is tempted to discount the book of Jonah as merely a work of fiction because of its story format. The first line, however, tags the main character as an historical figure. 2 Kings 14:25 refers to the prophet Jonah, who was the son of Amittai. He served in Israel during the reign of Jereboam II.
We begin this story with the Lord giving his prophet a job assignment ...
Series: Jonah
D. Marion Clark
Jonah 1:1-4
Introduction
Responding to the call of God is a mixed bag among biblical characters. There is Abraham, the model of obedience. God calls him to leave his homeland and he leaves. God calls him to sacrifice his son, and he rises early the next morning to carry out his sad mission. Then there is Moses, the hesitant one. God calls him to lead his people out of Egypt, and Moses does his best to excuse himself, finally pleading with God to send his brother Aaron instead. There is Jeremiah who humbly questions how such a youth as he could serve God. But there is no one like Jonah. No remonstrance; no objections - just flat out running away.
For six weeks we will consider the story of Jonah. Romans 15:4 tells us: ''For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.'' We will consider the instruction intended for us through what Jonah experiences.
There really is nothing like this book. It is placed among the prophets because Jonah was a prophet, and yet it does not actually deliver prophecy to the readers as the others do. The main character - a prophet of God no less - turns out to be the one who doesn't learn his lesson, while the pagans, who know nothing of the true God are the ones who respond to him best. It is both comedy and drama; in the midst of its humor it delivers a deep, poignant display of God's sovereignty and his mercy.
Text
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai,
One is tempted to discount the book of Jonah as merely a work of fiction because of its story format. The first line, however, tags the main character as an historical figure. 2 Kings 14:25 refers to the prophet Jonah, who was the son of Amittai. He served in Israel during the reign of Jereboam II.
We begin this story with the Lord giving his prophet a job assignment ...
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