The Tragedy of Disobedience

When we get entangled in some sort of grievous sin, we often remain blind or hardened to its effects. Others often get wrapped up in this as well as a form of collateral damage. Though we may sin in isolation, the effects of sin are never isolated solely to the sinner. One example from Scripture that supports this observation is Jonah’s disobedience to God’s call. Let’s look at how Jonah’s disobedience jeopardizes his life and the threatens the life of others.

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JONAH RUNS AWAY FROM THE LORD

Introduction: Have you ever run away from home? Were you successful in your attempt? National statistics show that over a million people annually, the great majority being juveniles, attempt and are successful at running away from home. While the outcome of these successful runaways is at times positive, more often than not the results are catastrophic, leaving both the runaway and those left behind devastated. Just a few of the heart-rending problems that result from running away are…

The great book of Jonah opens with the prophet running away from both his home and his country. No doubt Jonah gave some thought to the consequences of his actions; even so, he made a terrible choice. Jonah is about to cause and endure indescribable suffering. In a scene of high drama and suspense, Jonah is seen fleeing as far away as he can, seeking to break all ties with his former life.

a. Jonah’s disobedience caused him to leave both home and country.

“But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”

Jonah 1:3

1) He fled to Joppa.

When Jonah made this disastrous decision to run away from the LORD, he decided to flee as far away as he could. Of course, Jonah knew he could never escape God’s presence, for the LORD was present everywhere (omnipresent, Ps. 139:7–10). But he apparently felt if he could get far enough away from Israel and Assyria—the two places involved in God’s new commission—then God might bypass him. The LORD might choose another prophet for the difficult task.

2) He booked passage on a ship to Tarshish (Spain).

Sadly, Jonah was in open rebellion against the LORD. In seeking to get as far away as he could, Jonah made a deliberate decision to travel to Tarshish. Most likely, this was Tarshish (Tartessus) of Spain, one of the nation’s major seaports. Tarshish was approximately 2,500 miles west, which represented the farthest point of the world to which Jonah could flee. Having made his decision, Jonah took a quick journey down to Joppa, where he found a ship that would soon sail for the distant port of Tarshish.

b. Jonah’s disobedience endangered others as well as himself.

“But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them.”

Jonah 1:4-5a

For this reason, the LORD did everything possible to keep His dear prophet from destroying his life and ministry. But, the LORD also loved the Ninevites, despite their wickedness, and wanted to send them a message of hope and salvation.

1) The LORD stirred a great, violent storm.

After the ship had sailed some distance away from land, the LORD suddenly sent a strong wind across the sea, stirring up a fierce storm. The storm became so violent and turbulent that the ship was about to break up.

2) The seasoned sailors became very frightened.

Even the seasoned sailors were frightened, so much so that they began to cry out to their false gods (v. 5). In an attempt to save the threatened ship, the sailors threw all the cargo overboard to lighten the load. Although unknown to the sailors and Jonah at the time, this storm had come from the very hand of God Himself. It was taking place for a very specific purpose: to stop Jonah from ruining his life and ministry.

c. Jonah’s disobedience had a devastating effect on his spiritual life: he fled from God instead of seeking God in prayer.

“But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.”

Jonah 1:5b-6

1) He fell into a hypnotic sleep.

Jonah was weak and completely helpless. Nevertheless, he slipped into a restless sleep.

2) He was aroused & rebuked by the captain: For not praying in such an hour of danger & distress.

Apparently, Jonah had become so sick from the ship’s being heaved to and fro by the gigantic waves that he was forced to go below to lie down. Like so many who get seasick, However, the captain soon went to Jonah and aroused him from his sleep. Despite Jonah’s seasickness, the captain rebuked him for not praying in such an hour of danger and distress. Furthermore, the captain ordered him to get up and to join the other sailors in seeking divine help. Note a significant fact: if Jonah prayed, his prayer was not answered. Likewise, if we are disobedient to the LORD—holding sin within our hearts—the LORD will not hear us (Ps. 66:18).

d. Jonah’s disobedience destroyed his testimony for the LORD.

“And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?  And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.”

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.”

Jonah 1:7–11

1) The sailors cast lots to see who had aroused the wrath of the gods.

Instead of being a strong witness to the salvation of God, Jonah was on the verge of destroying the lives of the sailors and other passengers on the ship. Apparently it was most unusual for a storm of this size and velocity to arise during the sailing season, for the sailors came to the conclusion that some so-called god was venting his wrath against someone on the ship.

2) The lot fell on Jonah.

They naturally wanted to expose the individual so they could deal with the critical situation. Thus, they began to cast lots to see who had aroused the wrath of the gods. When the lots were cast, the LORD supernaturally guided them to fall on His prophets.

3) The sailors’ eyes immediately focused on Jonah: They quickly asked a stream of questions.

Immediately the sailor’s eyes focused on Jonah, and they quickly asked a barrage of questions, hoping to find out the cause of the ferocious storm. They wanted to know what he had done to bring a tempest with such fury against them. They also wanted to know who he was, what line of work he was in, what country he was from, and his nationality. In their minds, and they were correct, Jonah had placed them in a dangerous situation that was threatening their lives, and they wanted to know why.

4) The prophet replied.

Knowing how critical the situation was—not only the situation of the terrifying storm but also of being confronted by a group of seasoned and frightened sailors—Jonah knew that he dare not attempt to deceive or lie his way out of the confrontation. In a very simple and straightforward manner, he replied that he was a Hebrew and that he worshipped the LORD who made both the sea and the land (v. 9).

5) The sailors became terrified.

When the sailors heard that Jonah’s God controlled the entire world, they were terrified (v. 10). “What have you done!” they exclaimed. This was a vigorous exclamation of horror, not a question. They already knew that he was running away from the LORD, because he had earlier told them so. It was Jonah’s God, whom he addressed as the LORD, who was controlling the sea. And it was getting far worse—rougher and rougher—all the time (v. 11a).

e. Jonah’s disobedience led to his being punished, suffering the most severe discipline imaginable.

“And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.”

Jonah 1:12–16

1) The sailors asked Jonah for a solution.

Given that Jonah was the guilty culprit, the sailors felt Jonah should know what to do in order to please his God and get Him to calm the storm. Hence the sailors turned to Jonah and asked him for a solution to their desperate situation.

2) Jonah finally accepted the gravity of his sin.

Finally, Jonah accepted the gravity, the seriousness of his sin (v. 12). He was also willing to accept responsibility for endangering the sailors’ lives. Now, in order to save their lives, he was willing to die himself. He suggested they pick him up and throw him overboard into the sea. He confessed he was the guilty party, the one whose sin had caused God to arouse this great storm.

But note also his great confidence in the LORD, a fact that should be highlighted. Despite his shameful disobedience, Jonah knew the LORD would calm the storm once he—the sinner—was removed from the ship. He was well aware that the terrifying storm was not a natural event but rather the hand of God judging and disciplining him. Therefore, he was fully persuaded that the LORD would save the sailors as soon as God’s hand had claimed his life.

Jonah knew he deserved death because he had refused to go and preach to the thousands in Nineveh. By fleeing from the LORD’s call, Jonah, in turn, had doomed the Ninevites to death and eternal separation from God. Such an offense against the LORD called for the taking of his own life and nothing less. Thus Jonah accepted what he presumed would be his fate: death.

3) The sailors did their best to save Jonah’s life: Tried hard to reach land but could not.

However, the sailors did their best to save Jonah’s life (v. 13). They rowed as hard as they could to reach land, but they were unsuccessful.

4) The sailors realized the situation was hopeless: Prayed for the LORD (the God of Jonah) to forgive them for taking Jonah’s life.

Realizing the situation was hopeless, they prayed for the LORD (the God of Jonah) to forgive them for taking the man’s life (v. 14). Note how they knew that throwing Jonah overboard would make them guilty of murder. They wanted forgiveness from this awesome God who had created and controlled everything in the world. Seeking the LORD’s forgiveness, the sailors acknowledged that the LORD had done as He willed (v. 14). In their acknowledgement, they were confessing that the LORD was the great Creator and Sovereign Majesty of the world. Having made this confession, they threw Jonah overboard (v. 15).

At once, the raging sea with it tumultuous waves grew calm. The sailors were greatly amazed at this and filled with even more fear of the LORD (v. 16). Imagine the astounding change of weather that took place right after they cast Jonah into the sea and right before their very eyes: from frightening turbulence and torrential rains to instant peace and tranquility! The weather dramatically switched from a ferocious sea into an immediate calm. The sailor’s fear of the LORD is the same fear that Jonah claimed to have for the LORD in verse nine. It was a trusting and worshipful fear, a fact that suggests these sailors became converts to the LORD.

When the storm changed so quickly and dramatically, the sailors were stricken with a deep reverence for the LORD. They were completely awestruck by the LORD’s amazing power and the demonstration of His mercy by saving their lives. With thankful hearts, they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made a number of very specific promises (vows) to Him. Probably vows to worship and serve the LORD as the God of heaven and earth, the LORD of Jonah who was worshipped by the Jews.

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