But how did it actually happen, that Jonah, became a prophet? The Word of God came to Jonah, and had a certain wording. (v.1.)

It was not his own thoughts and meanings, about the heathens life and conduct, Jonah should bring to them, but the Word of God. These deeds of yours, are displeasing God, and they are under His judgement. Where these things, are not held down, by law and order; it ends with Gods intervening, and His judgement!

Now, that Jonah got this great opportunity, to run errands for the Lord; the Lord of Heavens, He who made the sea and the land (v.9), he could not run fast enough, to Nineveh? "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh" - these were the words of God, unto Jonah. But Jonah got up, and ran away from the Lord, to Tarshish. Away, from the presence of the Lord. In other words, the very opposite way.

At that time he believed, that the presence of the Lord, was limited to a certain area on earth, but soon had to realize something else, as the hymnist also testifies, in Psalm 139: " If I take the wings of the dawn and stay at the most distant part of the sea, even there Your hand would lead me, and Your right hand hold me."

But, it had never been the meaning, that Jonah should go of to Nineveh alone, while the Lord should remain, in Israel. Oh no! When Jonah complained, because of the dead plant, there he sat, east of the city (chapt.4, 6-8), he experienced, that the Lord was there too, and spoke to him. And Jesus also says, to His witnesses: "And remember, I am with you always, till the end of the world." Mt. 28,20.

A prophet is just a "mouthpiece," that the Lord is talking trough, and nothing himself. That is also why, there are so many, who takes offence, and don't really listen to, what they hear from a pulpit, even if it is words of wisdom, full of spirit and truth. Because, when the preacher steps down, they only find an ordinary person, sometimes even one, who's "not quite the man." But, it is the Word of God, that it is all about, and not the preachers or prophets! Eliezer should go, and find a bride to his Master, Isaac, and not for himself.

We notice this with Jonah too; "nothing in himself." And similar frailty, is also revealed, when it comes to the "fire prophet" himself, Elijah (1 Kings 19). Some certain verses, in Isaiah and Jeremiah, indicates that they, also wavered.

So it was not because of their own splendidness they were called to be prophets; but they where chosen after Gods will and plan, from before they were born. (See Jeremiah and Paul).

Jonah was afraid to go! He should chastise the sins of the heathens, and proclaim the Judgement of God. And he understood what that would cost. Are we to willing to go, today? Why don't we try to flee, more often, when God is calling? Is there something, we haven't understood? Namely, what it will cost us?

So much of the preaching today, encourages people to go and work for the Lord. But, it is not everyone, who shall go! But, those who are going, must go, moved by the Holy Spirit, moved by the Word of God.

Especially in Christian early work today, the texts of the songs, are particularly about this theme; "to go for the Lord." And this is sung out, with the greatest frankness, wriggling to swinging gospel rhythms.
But Jonah got up, and ran away to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

Perhaps, many are thinking, that it is another message today? Only a message of joy! Yes, it is really true, that it is a message of joy; but it has also, its great consequence, to reject, this message of joy. That too, is a part, of the message! "And if you don't repent, you will all perish as they did." Luke. 13, 3 and 5. This is Jesus speaking! There is no third alternative. This is the rescue! Or you, yourself, shall have to account to the Lord, for every small detail, and particularly this; that you, by rejecting the gospel, has made God into a liar. 1. John. 1,10. You must not think, that everybody will be happy, to hear the message!

But the Lord, He who is forbearing, and rich in mercy, saw a possibility, for the people of Nineveh. Therefore, He would send them a prophet. But the prophet flew away, from the presence of the Lord. He went out on the sea. But there, out on the sea, something happened, that after all, is a great comfort for us all. We are seeing, namely this; that the Lord doesn't give up His frailty vessel, that soon, but sends a storm out for him, to lead him back.

How many are there, who has tried to flee, from the presence of the Lord? Away from His calling, and then, the "storm" has broke loose, in their lives? Different things can occur, this, for one, and that, for the other, but, "storm" is the right designation of it.

The ship was about to be crushed. They were overwhelmed, by mortal dread, and called for their gods. Oh, what a distress, when the heathen dies; calls out and prays in vain, to his empty idols.

It has always been strong forces, out to stop, Christian mission amongst the heathens, and it still is today. This is driven forward, by Satan! May God, in His mercy, let us see, what it's really all about.

To lighten the ship (read: to save their lives), they threw the cargo, into the sea. A reminder for us, in our materialistic age. Although we own a lot, it is not really, in these things, we have our lives, after all. And it is predicted, that on the last day, the day of judgement, when this whole "ship," namely, the world, shall be crushed, the people shall, throw their "gods" of silver and gold away, to the moles and the bats, the animals that are living, in the darkness! (Read Isaiah. 2,20). Then, they will realize, how little, these things, can help them. It decays before their eyes; "silver and gold, a honored name without God, marks of respect, and all that people has praised themselves for." On that day, when God, penetrates and judges, that which is hidden in people. Rom. 2,16.

There was no effect of the seamens calling, so the captain went to Jonah:

"Get up, call on your God! He was their God too, but they didn't know Him. So they drew lots, to find the guilty one; and the lot fell on Jonah. Here, God revealed, by this, His omnipotence, to these heathen seamen, because Jonah, had already told them, that he was running away, from the presence of God (v.10.)

On their question for help, Jonah gives this answer: "Take me and throw me into the sea!" "Oh, how deep are God's riches, wisdom, and knowledge" (Rom.11,33). The prophet should, first of all, be a prototype of Jesus. "So if I'm the one you want, let these others go!" Joh. 18,8.

Oh, how unsignificant our thoughts are! Was it really Gods will, that the prophet should run away? Well, if he had not, there would not have been any "Jonah sign," that Jesus, in His time, could point to! Mt. 12,39 - 42. We wish to contain God, in our thoughts. After all, it has to be "reasonable!" But the righteous man shall live by his faith." (Hab.2,4). !

We are seeing, that they were not a bunch of bandits, these seamen. A heathen, can be much more compassionate, and much more upright, than any Christian. That's, clear enough, not where the dividing line goes. And we also notice, that they didn't, immediately accept Jonah's "offer," and fell upon him; but, they rowed hard, to try to get the ship to the shore, but they could not do it (v.13). Oh no, no heathen budges, not the least bit, on Gods will. "Sitting on His throne in heaven, the Lord laughs and mocks at them" (Psalm 2,4).

Then they cried out, for the Lord, and they did, what He wanted to. And the storm calmed, just like it also did on the Lake of Galilee, on Jesus' command, 750 years later. This Jesus of Nazareth, this carpenter, this human, who presented Himself to Israel, was (is) accordingly, the same Lord, that sent the storm after Jonah. God the almighty, he says, unto Abraham. The man Jesus Christ.

V. 16. They now, had knowledge, about God, but only, "the God of the law." He whom, in anger and omnipotence, calls you to account. Who doesn't let, the sinner get away from the account, but moves heaven and earth, to catch up with him.

They truly had seen, that the sea had swallowed Jonah, and than calmed. For that reason, they were overwhelmed by fear, in Gods presence. Therefore, they sacrificed, and gave promises. Yes, they were truly, still heathens. Also you and I, my friend, are like this, as long as it's only this God we know. Then we will worship, our Lord, the same way, as the heathens, worships their gods. This actually shows, that the word of God, is not yet revealed unto you. The word that became flesh, and lived among us. He who gave Himself "in the sea of condemnation," because of our sin.

"In the perfect love there is no fear, because the perfect love, is chasing the fear out. For, the fear has to do with punishment, and a bad conscience, and he who fears, has not become perfect in love." 1. Joh.4,18.