Jonah 1:1-3 Nineveh: Difficult, Challenging, Known Nineveh: Difficult, Challenging, Known Tarshish: Foreign, Exotic, Unknown Tarshish: Foreign, Exotic, Unknown The Lord calls us all to Nineveh. The Lord calls us all to Nineveh. We flee to Tarshish. We flee to Tarshish.

Jonah 1:4 Nature is the Lord’s servant. We are the rebels. Nature is the Lord’s servant. We are the rebels. George Whitefield: “When the creatures rise up against us, it is as much as to say, You have sinned against God, and we take up our Master's quarrel.” George Whitefield: “When the creatures rise up against us, it is as much as to say, You have sinned against God, and we take up our Master's quarrel.” Isaiah 57:20-21 “But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Isaiah 57:20-21 “But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Jonah 1:5-6 The cargo represents the sailors livelihood. The cargo represents the sailors livelihood. This was a fight for survival. This was a fight for survival. When the storm rages, we realize that the cargo is not that important after all. When the storm rages, we realize that the cargo is not that important after all.

Jonah 1:7-10 Ancient gods were local gods. Ancient gods were local gods. “the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land” “the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land” The sailors recognize the truth before Jonah: you cannot run from a god who rules over heaven, earth, and sea! The sailors recognize the truth before Jonah: you cannot run from a god who rules over heaven, earth, and sea!

Jonah 1:11-16 There is only one more place for Jonah to run – the depths of a watery grave. There is only one more place for Jonah to run – the depths of a watery grave. The sailors give it one last valiant try: “the men rowed hard … but they could not.” The sailors give it one last valiant try: “the men rowed hard … but they could not.” Try as we might, not effort of human will puts us right with the Almighty God. Try as we might, not effort of human will puts us right with the Almighty God. Jonah’s journey reaches its inevitable end. Jonah’s journey reaches its inevitable end.

Fleeing from the presence of the Lord means … Hiding down in the ship Hiding down in the ship Sailing from God’s calling Sailing from God’s calling Being hurled into the sea Being hurled into the sea Sinking down into the depths Sinking down into the depths Fleeing is falling, because apart from God, there is nowhere to go but down.

Mark 4:35-41 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” …

Mark 4:35-41 … And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”