But He Ran - October 5, 2025

WHALEBut He RanJon FredricksToday's Scripture: Jonah 1:1-16 NIV__________ Jonah 1:1-16 NIV1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”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.4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. Isaiah 53:6 NIVWe all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Romans 3:23 NIVfor all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Jonah 1:12 NIV Hebrews 12:15 NIV15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Isaiah 59:1-2 NETInjustice Brings Alienation from GodLook, the Lord’s hand is not too weak to deliver you; his ear is not too deaf to hear you. 2 But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers. Jonah 1:5 NIV Revelation 3:20 NIV20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 1) CONSIDER THE REALITY OF GOD AGAINGenesis 3:8-10 NIV8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 2) PUT YOUR BODY WHERE YOUR SOUL SHOULD BERevelation 3:20 NIV20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 3) CHOOSE SOFTLuke 5:31-32 NIV31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Romans 10:13 NIV 2 Peter 3:9 NIV Romans 2:4 NIV