I. The First Commission (Jonah 1:1–2:10)
A. Divine Call (1:1–2)
“The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.'” – Jonah 1:1–2
The people of Nineveh were cruel. They treated neighboring nations—and even their own poor and vulnerable—terribly. They had oppressed Israel, yet God was calling Jonah to be a missionary to them.
Imagine being called to be a missionary to modern-day Iran—or to Hamas. That’s the kind of situation Jonah was facing.
If that were you, what would you do?
Here’s what Jonah did.
B. Disobedience of Jonah (1:3)
“But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.” – Jonah 1:3
Jonah didn’t just say no—he ran. Instead of going east to Nineveh, he went west to Tarshish. When he hit the water, he didn’t stop—he boarded a boat and kept going.
Do you think Jonah could outrun God?
What about us? Can we escape from our sin?
“But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” – Numbers 32:23
C. The Results of Disobedience (1:4–17)
“Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up…”
(Read Jonah 1:4–17)
Every act of disobedience brings a storm. That storm may not always be a direct result of personal sin—it might just be part of living in a fallen world—but when we violate God’s design, we go against the very purpose for which we were created.
“Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” – Job 5:7
“In this world, you will have trouble…” – John 16:33
God can use trouble to do incredible things:
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For Abraham, it was years of wandering, building faith.
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For Joseph, it was betrayal, false accusation, and prison—yet God used all of it to prepare him to save Israel.
Even our salvation came through suffering.
Jonah’s disobedience didn’t just affect him—it put the sailors in danger, led to lost cargo, and affected everyone connected to that ship.
Our sin never just impacts us.
Those closest to us—our children, spouses, friends, co-workers—often suffer the most from our disobedience.
“Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.” – Genesis 9:6
It doesn’t say only Israelites were made in God’s image—it says mankind.
The sailors had every right to expect Jonah, as a fellow passenger, to act in the interest of their shared community. But he didn’t.
When God’s people—and that includes the Church—fail to live out their calling, we put our communities at risk. And when we do, the world has every right to hold us accountable.
We’re the ones entrusted with the life jackets. We are God’s representatives. He cares deeply about how we treat those who are different from us—those He loves but who don’t yet know Him.
The sailors called Jonah out, just like the world sometimes calls out the Church.
And maybe we need to listen.
(Remember the “L” in B.L.E.S.S. is “Listen.”)
Do you remember Jesus’ question in Luke 10?
Who is your neighbor?
Was the Good Samaritan your neighbor?
The sailors were Jonah’s neighbors, and he put them at risk.
Who are we putting at risk when we fail to live the life God has called us to?
The first step toward humility is to think of someone—anyone—besides ourselves.
Jonah’s willingness to be thrown into the sea may reflect the beginning of a change in him. His offer to sacrifice himself to save the sailors is a faint echo of Christ’s sacrifice for us.
“Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm.” – Jonah 1:12
Why did Jonah say this?
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Maybe he believed he deserved death for fleeing God.
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Maybe he would rather die than help the Ninevites.
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Or maybe… it was something in between.
Even then, the sailors tried everything but throwing Jonah overboard. They rowed harder. They exhausted every effort.
Eventually, when all else failed, they prayed—not to their gods, but to Yahweh—and asked for mercy before throwing Jonah into the sea.
God responded immediately—the storm ceased.
The sailors feared the Lord, offered sacrifices, and made vows to Him. They saw God’s power firsthand.
But God didn’t just stop there.
“Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” – Jonah 1:17
God provided a way of salvation—not just for the sailors, but for Jonah too.
Jonah ended up in this situation because he didn’t trust that God’s will was best. He thought he knew better.
How many of us live like that?
We’re called to love one another, encourage one another, and serve one another. But if our only interaction is showing up once a week to sing and listen—are we really doing that?
Men, are you leading spiritually in your homes? Or are you leaving that to your wife while prioritizing your hobbies?
We haven’t even touched on personal purity.
Has God called you to serve the Church, and you’re still waiting?
Has He called you to give, but you haven’t started?
How are you doing at loving God?
Do you trust Him? Do you long to spend time with Him?
If you were to rate your relationship with Him—honestly—are you above or below a 5 out of 10?
Is your faith in God, or is it in yourself?
If your identity is rooted in your own work rather than the work of the Trinity, your faith will always feel insecure. You’ll never know if you’ve done enough.
Here’s the good news: You never could. And you don’t need to.
Jesus did it all.
☕ Coffee Conversation Questions
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Where in your life are you tempted to “run” from God’s call—whether it’s a relationship, a responsibility, or a step of faith?
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Jonah’s disobedience affected everyone around him. How have you seen the ripple effects of your own (or someone else’s) choices in community?
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The sailors cried out to God in desperation. Have you ever experienced a moment where crisis deepened your faith or brought you closer to God?
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Jonah was reluctant to show grace to the Ninevites. Is there a person or group you struggle to believe God could use you to reach—or even to love? Why?
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If someone asked you to rate your relationship with God on a scale of 1–10, what would you say—and what would help that number grow?