Prophetic Antithesis
1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. 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.
4 But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”
7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” 9 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” 13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they called out to the LORD, “O LORD, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows. 17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jon 1:1–17.
We are used to hearing stories about a person who makes it rich, an athlete signs a new deal, win a race or tournament, and money starts flowing, and the bling starts flashing. Carson Beck, GA quarter back made headlines for acquiring a ferrari. Super star in a super car. $270,000 Lamborghini.
Warren Edward Buffet American businessman, investor, and philanthropist who currently serves as the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He is one of the best-known investors in the world. His worth about 133 billion dollars.
What may surprise you about this man is his frugality. He lives simply. His average day begins with breakfast trip to Mcdonald’s for a McMuffin biscuit. If Buffet is having a good day he will splurge for a piece of bacon, but if markets are bad he will stick to sausage patties. He once took fellow billionaire Bill Gates out to dinner, to a McDonalds, and paid for dinner, with a coupon. Antithesis of being a billionaire.
Buffet lives in the same residence in Omaha, Neb., that he bought in 1958 for $31,500. Buffett has no intention of putting his own home up for sale. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
While some millionaires and billionaires may have a garage full of fine cars, Buffet prefers fixed up cars he can acquire at bargain prices. In 2014 he traded in his twelve year old cadillac for a newer model.
His frugality is not what you would expect of a person of his wealth. It is ironic. What you expect is not what you get. You expect a billionaire businessman to have a little more bling to their life. There is an irony in who he is and how he lives.
The book of Jonah uses the literary device known as irony to convey its point.
-Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs Irony creates a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning. Sarcasm.
In the book of Jonah we come across something highly ironic. Jonah is a prophet, one who hears from God and speaks his word to his people. Prophets were to draw the people back into a relationship with God. But Jonah is the prophet who doesn’t listen and doesn’t obey God. He is the antithesis, the opposite of what you would expect of a prophet. You would expect him to eagerly follow God, to be one who is an example for the people.Sometimes we learn from positive examples, this is what you should be like, but sometimes we learn powerful lessons from people who are an example of what not to be. Jonah fits the later category, and from him we learn a powerful lesson. Jonah is a prophetic antithesis.
- Jonah Runs From God
1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”
Jonah the son of Amittai is a real person. 2 Kings 14:25 mentions him and even tells us, where he is from and also that some of his words were heeded by the king and that blessings were encountered by him doing so. The book of Jonah has some miraculous events that has led some to say the book is a fable, fiction, or a parable, and if we read as a parable the theology of the book is not lost, but the book of Jonah doesnt allow for that. When Jesus told fictional parables to teach moral principles he never tried to anchor them in historical settings. Jonah presents an account of real events with real people with a weight that God moved and acted in time.
The word of the Lord comes to Jonah. Leslie Allen “The story open with a time honored expression for the communication of the divine will to a prophet. It has an awesome aura about it and deliberately evokes such prophetic narratives as 1 King 17:8, Jer 1:4, Hag 1:3. Connecting Jonah with great heroes of the Bible who heard the voice of God.
And tells him to go to Nineveh. The Problem with Nineveh. Nineveh is one of the main cities in the country of Assyria, one of Ancient Near East super powers. They will actually conquer Israel in 722 bc (Jonah written 740bc). No prophet had gone there before.
Barbaric people. Ashurbanipal, grandson of Sennacherib, was accustomed to tearing off lips and hands of opponents. Tiglath-Pileser flayed (literally peel their skin off) victims alive and made great piles of skulls. Smith, Jonah. 225.
2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”
Their evil has come before the Lord and Jonah is to go call them out about it. Aar can be evil or it can be hardship. Has a bit of double entendre. They may be experiencing evil because of their evil.
Nineveh is to the east. Jonah hears this word and Jonah decides to go to Tarshish. He went to Joppa and found the first Carnival cruise he could find. Or maybe more like the deadliest catch.
Maps 1,2, 3
3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
It is staggering and shocking that a prophet of God flees from the presence of the Lord. It is not what you would expect. Jonah made a premeditated decision to run from God and he carried it out. Wherever the reason, it ultimately comes down to Jonah not trusting in God. It is said several times he went to Tarshish to flee from the presence of the Lord, building the irony. You cannot escape God. You cannot escape his presence.
Jonah doesn’t get it. He doesn't like what God told him to do so he doesn't do it, and he thinks he can escape the consequences. The prophet of God doesn't listen to God. Jonah is emblematic of God’s people who also were not doing what God told them to do.
The fears that lead to disobedience are not logical. They are illogical. Sin distorts. Fear of God will straighten you out.
There is an ironic statement that the ship began to break. It is literally the ship thought about breaking up. It is a personification. He is not thinking about his situations. Business is a great way to mask disobedience. Don't have time to think about it. Are problems befalling you? Then consider where God might be trying to get your attention. Too often people have things falling apart all around them but they refuse to consider what God may be doing.
I typically know what I need to do. I just don't want to do it.
- Jonah Does Not Fear God
Jonah flees from God. **He is more swayed by the power Nineveh than he is the power of God.** He is ruled by his fear rather than God. Ironic.
There is a lot of irony here. Jonah runs. The Lord chases.
The Lord hurls a great wind on the seas, and a mighty storm rises. Jonah is the prophet, but he does not fear. The pagan mariners are the ones who fear and do the right thing.
4 But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.
Jonah shows no concern for what God is calling him to do. He is tuning him out. Is he in denial, avoidance of the uncomfortable, blind to what is going on? Possibly.
The pagan mariners fear and are crying out to God. Wrong God right actions. Jonah has the right God and wrong actions. Need both of those to go together. They are searching for what is going on. Jonah is dead. Jonah doesnt even consider it.
7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
They are searching for why this disaster has come upon them. Jonah is not interested in knowing the answer! He has done nothing. Made no effort.
11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous.
Just throw me over. Jonah doesn’t care. No concern for his life or how the loss of his life might affect others. He is blind. It seems he is so self focused he has lost all concern for others. Not seeking to do good to others in any way.
God is the source of life. The source of hope. When you disconnect from him you become cold and unfeeling. This is happening to Jonah.
Frostbite. Freezing temperatures continue to progress and cause numbness. Once numb
It seems Jonah has tuned out the voice of God. He has become hard hearted.
Counseling without getting into a person’s walk with God is not helpful. Counsel is only as a good as the information on the situation is accurate. Jonah is not looking for help following God. He is looking for help getting away from God.
8 Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”
9 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”
Sunday school answers. Flows from the lips but not the heart.
My kids quit hearing my voice. I have to get their attention. Wake up.
Jonah has grown cold and distant from God. He no longer fears God. Some people may wake up in the morning and say I'm not going to listen to God. It may happen after a trauma. You will have to square with that one way. I think more often people get there gradually. It is saying no here and there and soon it becomes easier and easier to say no. Just busy and have other stuff to do. Cant make church. Then cant make small group. Then not serving in church. Harboring bitterness and anger. Dont have any good news to share with people.
How are you doing obeying the voice of God. Jonah had great theology. He knows much about God.
What are you committed to? What does your life say about the greatness of God? God calls us to tell the truth? Have you grown cold ? Jesus calls us to be committed to his church. How are you honoring God with your finances? How are you loving others? People are upset today that churches are not having more influence in the world. We are only as effective as we are committed. Greatest problem in war is when you troops abandon their post. We have this today.
Sin, we are prone to wonder. Prone to leave the God we love. Jonah is a prophet who should be majoring in hearing from God. But he is now fleeing from God and doesnt understand what he is doing. Sin is never rational. He is emblematic of God’s people who were not listening, and we have to ask ourselves are we listening to the voice of God? Does he have our attention?
Are you isolating or getting around people who are doing thing you need to be doing? If you are hiding from God then you dont want to be around people who are walking in the light. Trust him and follow him. What are you training your kids to do.
- Jonah Hits Bottom.
There is a clear progression of Jonah’s digression. A repeated word. Jonah went down to Joppa. He went west. He went down into the ship. He then goes down into the inner recesses of the ship. He goes down to the bottom of the ocean. He is eaten by a fish and in his belly three days. That is a bad day. How is your day. I’m doing better than Jonah.
Think cant get lower a storm comes. Think cant get lower you are thrown over board. Think cant get worse and you are swallowed by a giant fish.
Running from God often leaves us in isolation. We have a bad plan and don’t want to bring it into the light. Alone. Uncaring. Indifferent. Disobedient.
He is unfeeling and uncaring about himself or any of the other people. As he had no concern for Nineveh so also Jonah shows no care for himself or others.
Jonah appears spiritually hardened and unaffected by the dangers around him.
- God is Acting
*Jonah is fumbling but God is Acting. Running but god is pursuing.
Every night has its dawn. Every tragic story has a triumphant hero. God is the hero of the Bible. In the midst of the common plot line of people failing, he is acting and achieving his purpose to care for people and save them. His plans with Nineveh will be achieved, and he is working something in Jonah too.
God calls Jonah. God sees Nineveh. God sends a storm. God appoints a fish. Left to himself the story of JOnah ends with him hitting the water. The story is pregnant with suspense because God is acting. If God is not acting there is no chapter 2, 3, 4 of Jonah. There is no future for Nineveh. The fact that God is working is what give Jonah and all of us hope. If you are in the cellar of life then there is hope. If you keep pushing God aside and ignoring him there is hope. But you have to quit ignoring him.
When you were dead, God made you alive. Jonah is as good as dead, but God is working. Jonah is fleeing but God is pursuing. What is your hope for your kids? God. What is your hope for your spouse? God. What is your hope for your friends? God. What is your hope for yourself? God.
Have you messed up beyond the reach of God? No, Jonah messed up big time. How much worse can it get. You are at the bottom of the sea in the belly of a fish, stomach acid and half digested shrimp oozing over you. But God is going to work.
Know people did start reflecting on their situation until they landed in the back seat of a police car, or until their spouse left, or until they lost their job. Or many other things.
God sends another prophet, a perfect prophet, he sends his own son to reveal God’s will and acts for our salvation. He will give himself that we might be forgiven of our even and raised out of the depths and into new life.
24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ execute the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
God’s grace comes. God’s grace opens our eyes. God’s grace keeps reaching into our situation and pulling us out. He shows us a love that will not let us go. A love that pursues us even when we are running. It shows us how to love others. When we love we dont let them go easily.
The dumbest thing we can do in life is to not give ourselves to where God is working. To think that God cannot change the people around us. We sit in dead disobedience where we are not speaking of the power of God to change people. We want to see God do what he had done in the past and are not open to him working in new ways, new places, new people.
God does not change his plans for Jonah. Jonah is still called to go to Nineveh and God will get him there. But Jonah needs to line his heart and life up with what God is doing. And that is our greatest challenge. Life is not about us getting our desire. If thats the case we are in Tarshish all alone in the darkness. God has something better. We need his spirit to blow through the dark caverns of our hearts and change us. We need the spirit of the living God to fall on us and work through us. To rewaken God as the first priority of our lives. Wake us from our sleep.
