The call of Jonah for God’s will
2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” Jonah 1:2 (ESV)
“Arise” (kom) or “up” reveals a sense of urgency. Along with (Lek) or “go,” the author reveals God is speaking in imperatives. This same call (UP!) was given to Elijah when God sent him on errands. (1 Kings 17:9; 21:18)
The defiance of Jonah to God’s will
3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord . . . Jonah 1:3 (ESV)
if we are faithless, he remains faithful— 2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV)
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Jonah 4:2 (ESV)
The plan of Jonah to oppose God’s will
3 . . . He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. Jonah 1:3 (ESV)
Perhaps the two saddest words in the book, “But Jonah.”
The verse is a chiastic structure focusing on the word Tarshish to magnify Jonah’s disobedience
To run away toward Tarshish from the Lord’s presence
He went down to Joppa
Found a ship
About to leave Tarshish
Paid the fare
And went aboard (down into it)
To go. . . to Tarshish form the Lord’s presence.
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:7 (ESV)
42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. John 12:42–43 (ESV)