Jonah 1:3
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jonah didn't just want to get away from God's command; he explicitly paid to "go down into" the ship, emphasizing his deliberate, even physical descent into disobedience. This detailed description of his actions—finding the ship, paying the fare, and boarding—reveals a determined pursuit of distance from God's service, not merely a passive escape.
God has just commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, to prophesy against its wickedness. Instead of obeying, Jonah immediately turns in the opposite direction, determined to escape from God's presence and his divine assignment. He heads to the port city of Joppa, finds a ship bound for the distant land of Tarshish (likely in modern Spain), pays his fare, and boards the vessel, fully intending to put as much distance as possible between himself and God's call.
Jonah 'rose to flee...from the presence of the LORD.' Did he really think he could escape God's notice?
Jonah’s flight wasn't about escaping God’s omnipresence, but about escaping his assigned role.
Renouncing the Office
The Gravity of Disobedience
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Jonah 'went down' repeatedly. What does this physical descent symbolize about his spiritual state?
The repeated action of 'going down' paints a vivid picture of Jonah's descent, both physically and spiritually.
Physical and Spiritual Descent
The Price of Rebellion
Jonah found a ship, paid the fare, and set sail. It seems like everything is working in his favor... or is it?
It's striking how, in his rebellion, Jonah still encounters elements that seem to aid his escape. This highlights a crucial point about God's interaction with disobedience.
Providence in Disobedience
The Illusion of Escape
Understand the original words
pānîm · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical context, to flee from God’s presence is to attempt to escape His sovereign rule, authority, and specific assignment. It represents a futile act of rebellion, as God is omnipresent.
Jonah's flight wasn't just a physical journey but a profound rejection of his calling and a rebellion against God's sovereign will, highlighting the immense difficulty some have in accepting God's mercy extended to those considered enemies.
c. 8th Century BC
Assyrian Empire's Growing Power
The Neo-Assyrian Empire was a dominant force in the ancient Near East, known for its military might and expansionist policies. Nineveh, its capital, was a massive and influential city.
c. 8th Century BC
Israel's Spiritual Decline
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was facing spiritual and moral decay, making them vulnerable to foreign powers and often incurring God's judgment.
c. 8th Century BC
Jonah's Prophetic Ministry
Jonah, son of Amittai, was an Israelite prophet during a time when the Kingdom of Israel was experiencing turmoil and facing external threats.
c. 8th Century BC
God's Command to Jonah
The Lord directly commands Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against its wickedness, a challenging and dangerous mission.
c. 8th Century BC— this verse
Jonah Flees to Joppa
Instead of obeying, Jonah travels to the port city of Joppa to find a ship heading in the opposite direction of Nineveh, seeking to escape God's presence and command.
c. 8th Century BC
Jonah Boards a Ship
Jonah pays his fare and boards a ship bound for Tarshish, a distant Phoenician trading city in Spain, fully intending to distance himself from his prophetic duty.
This passage beautifully contrasts Jonah's attempt to flee from God's presence with the Psalmist's understanding that God's presence is inescapable, no matter how far one travels.
Jeremiah 23:24Similar to Jonah's attempt, this verse highlights the futility of trying to hide from God, emphasizing that God's presence fills the entire creation, not just a specific land.
Luke 10:30The imagery of 'going down' from Jerusalem to Jericho, a descent into danger, parallels Jonah 'going down' to Joppa and then into the ship, symbolizing a descent away from God's calling and protection.
John 6:66This passage shows people turning away from Jesus' difficult teaching, much like Jonah turned away from God's command, illustrating how even followers can choose to depart when the path becomes challenging.
Genesis 3:8Just as Adam and Eve tried to hide from God in the garden after disobeying, Jonah attempts to flee from God's 'presence,' demonstrating a common human reaction of trying to escape consequences after rebellion.
barnesJonah 1:3: "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."
But (And) Jonah rose up to flee ... from the presence of the Lord - literally "from being before the Lord." Jonah knew well, that man could not escape from the presence of God, whom he knew as the Self-existing One, He who alone is, the M…
clarkeJonah 1:3: "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."
To flee unto Tarshish - Some say Tartessus, in Spain, near the straits of Gibraltar, others, Tarsus, in Cilicia; and others, Taprobana, or the island of Ceylon, formerly called Taprobah; and Tabrobavagh in Sanscrit, to the present day. And…
Jonah didn't just want to get away from God's command; he explicitly paid to "go down into" the ship, emphasizing his deliberate, even physical descent into disobedience. This detailed description of his actions—finding the ship, paying the fare, and boarding—reveals a determined pursuit of distance from God's service, not merely a passive escape.
God has just commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, to prophesy against its wickedness. Instead of obeying, Jonah immediately turns in the opposite direction, determined to escape from God's presence and his divine assignment. He heads to the port city of Joppa, finds a ship bound for the distant land of Tarshish (likely in modern Spain), pays his fare, and boards the vessel, fully intending to put as much distance as possible between himself and God's call.
God has just commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, to prophesy against its wickedness. Instead of obeying, Jonah immediately turns in the opposite direction, determined to escape from God's presence and his divine assignment. He heads to the port city of Joppa, finds a ship bound for the distant land of Tarshish (likely in modern Spain), pays his fare, and boards the vessel, fully intending to put as much distance as possible between himself and God's call.
"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." — Jonah didn't just want to get away from God's command; he explicitly paid to "go down into" the ship, emphasizing his deliberate, even physical descent into disobedience. This detailed description of…
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