Jonah 1:1-3 - Tarshish is a Lie

Today we are starting a new series on the Book of Jonah called “Into the Depths.” We are in a church season called Lent, and this is when we slow down to think through the themes of forgiveness, surrender, and lamenting the world’s  brokenness. It’s a season of repentance and refreshment. These are themes central to Jonah and relevant for us, as we will see.

Some introductory comments are necessary before we dive too deep with Jonah.  When opening up the book of Jonah, we face a couple of obstacles. First, familiarity with the story. Even the spiritually distant  person will know about Jonah, and often we become overly familiar and we become indifferent, as if we found all the treasure in this sea. Secondly, misreading the story. If I say Jonah, you think, “Whale” or  “guy swallowed by a fish.” This is true but that’s not the point. Or, we have heard the story of Jonah as a tale about obedience: “Obey God, or else!” Though obedience is important, Jonah is about more than morality. We know this because in Jonah 1, Jonah is disobedient and clearly in the wrong. In Jonah 3-4, he is obedient and still clearly in the wrong. It runs deeper than actions and goes straight for the heart.

When Jonah flees, he not only flees from God but to Tarshish. The promises of Tarshish, however, are lies.