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The Book of Jonah: A Clear Call and a Clear Fall
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God speaks clearly. In Jonah's story, we see this truth demonstrated from the very beginning. The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai with unmistakable clarity: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."
This is not a suggestion. This is not a whisper that can be misunderstood. God speaks directly, without ambiguity, and Jonah knows it.
There are three essential components to God's message:
First, a clear commissioning. The command is simple: Go. Go immediately. Go with urgency. Go now. Many English translations render this as "arise and go" or "get up and go," but the Hebrew emphasizes a single, driving imperative—the main push is that you go.
Second, a clear destination. Jonah is called to "the great city of Nineveh." This is no accident. Nineveh was a massive metropolis by ancient standards, located about 500 miles east of Israel near the Tigris River (in modern-day northern Iraq). It was great in size, great in population, great in military power, great in technological advancement, and great in its economic and administrative sophistication. It was a cultured, complex society—much like modern cities with their restaurants, business districts, entertainment venues, and infrastructure.
God is not against culture itself. Culture is God's idea. He made humanity to create and cultivate. What God opposes is wickedness within culture—values, actions, and practices that rebel against Him.
Third, a clear intention. God calls Jonah to preach against Nineveh's wickedness. Their evil "has come up before me," using an image of spiritual stench rising into God's nostrils. Just as acceptable worship and prayer rise as a pleasant aroma before God, so the Ninevites' sin rises as a stench of rebellion. They were known as a brutal, violent people—a superpower that had plagued Israel for nearly two centuries. Their greatness had bred arrogance. Their success had fostered pride. And their ways offended a holy God.
But this call to Jonah is not ancient history alone. The call remains for us. Jesus commissions His followers in Matthew 28: "Go and make disciples of all nations." In Acts 1:8, He says, "Be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
God still calls His people to go into the Nineveh-like cities of our own time. The cultures around us—North Texas culture, American culture, the cultures at our doorstep—all belong to God. All are accountable to Him. And we are called to carry His message to them, just as Jonah was.
But the story takes an abrupt, shocking turn. Verse 3 delivers a twist that defies all expectation:
But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish.
Jonah does get up and go immediately—but to run from God, not toward Him.
This is stunning. Here is a professional preacher, a seasoned servant of God who has enjoyed success and celebration in his own ministry. He is a Bible-believing God-follower, just like the intended audience of this sermon. Yet he picks and chooses when to obey God and when to disobey.
Jonah's refusal is rooted in comfort and success. He has built something in Israel. He is celebrated there. He enjoys his position. The prospect of leaving that legacy behind to start afresh among foreigners—and worse, among enemies—is unbearable to him.
But Jonah's resistance stems from something deeper: he knows God's character. He understands that God may be merciful to Nineveh. And Jonah does not want that. He disapproves of God's plan. He would rather disobey than see God extend compassion to people he despises.
He is willing to pay financially for his rebellion. Verse 3 tells us he "paid the fare"—in fact, the Hebrew suggests he may have chartered the entire vessel himself. A successful preacher with means, he literally finances his own escape from God's will.
When God says "Go," and we say "No," a clash of wills erupts. The fundamental question is: Who determines the use of my life? Who decides how I spend my days? Is it me, or is it God?
Jonah convinces himself that providential circumstances—the boat arriving at just the right time—signal God's approval. But circumstances are not a safe guide when you are in disobedience. When we disobey God, what appears to be providence may actually be Satan's provision.
Warren Wiersbe wrote: "It is possible to be out of the will of God and still have circumstances appear to be working on your behalf."
Running from God's will is always running toward Satan's will. If Satan can keep you sailing away from God's calling, he will provide you with getaway ships every day—getaway jobs, getaway relationships, getaway churches. An endless parade of alternatives to where God actually wants you to serve.
Jonah's disobedience smells just as foul to God as Nineveh's wickedness. Perhaps worse, because Jonah knows better.
The warning is clear and simple, yet profoundly difficult:
When God says "Go," don't say "No."
Whatever God calls you to this week, however much you want to refuse, don't say no. Even if everything within you rebels, even if the cost seems too high, even if comfortable alternatives appear—don't say no.
In late 2014 and early 2015, God clearly spoke to me: "Go to America." I was comfortable in the UK. I had a good ministry. My family was there. I received annual trips to sunny Spain. Life was good. When God said "Go," I wanted to say "No."
I wrestled with that call. I tried to convince God it was a mistake. "You want me to uproot my children from family? Separate my wife from her parents? Leave the church we love? Lord, I've paid into retirement for years—all of that will be lost. And they'll even call me an alien over there."
I was reluctant. I wanted to disobey. But God led me to this very passage—Jonah 1:1-3—and I saw myself reflected in Jonah's rebellion. By God's grace, despite my grumpiness and reluctance, I obeyed.
Moses was reluctant to obey. Gideon was reluctant. Elijah was reluctant. Jeremiah was reluctant. Being reluctant is not sin. Disobedience is.
Obedience to God, even though it is hard and costly, is allegiance to Jesus Christ. It is loyalty to Him. Jesus Himself says: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me." That is costly. That is hard. But it is worship. It smells like devotion in the nostrils of God.
When you are tempted to disobey God's call, Satan will send you a fleet of boats to Tarshish. Do not pay the fare. Do not board.
When God says "Go," you must go. You just go.
