March 1, 2026
Running From God
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
The book of Jonah reveals to us God’s desire to show mercy to everyone, and our profound ability to miss it.
Jonah 1:1 NIV
The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai.
“The prophet Jonah appears only one other time in the Old Testament, during the reign of one of Israel’s worst kings, Jeroboam II. Jonah prophesied in his favor, promising that he would win a battle and regain territory on Israel’s northern border (2 Kgs. 14:23-25). Now, it’s important to know that the prophet Amos confronted Jeroboam II and that, through him, God specifically reversed Jonah’s prophecy (Amos 6:13-14). Amos promised that Jeroboam II would lose those same territories because of his sin.” – Tim Mackie, The Bible Project
Jonah 1:2NIV
“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
Deuteronomy 21:23 NIV
You must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Jonah 1:3 NIV
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.
Why is Jonah running from the Lord’s call in His life?
Have you ever run away from something God clearly called you to?
Jonah 4:2a NIV
He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish.”
Jonah wants God to be harsh toward His enemies, rather than show them mercy.
Jonah 4:2b NIV
“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
Matthew 5:43-44 NIV
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matthew 5:45 NIV
“that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:46-47 NIV
“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”
Matthew 5:48 NIV
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
God desires for us to mirror His mercy and compassion to a world desperately in search of it.
Jonah 4:3 NIV
“Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
The sad reality is Jonah would rather see his own life destroyed than extend mercy to His enemies.
Who is in your life that desperately needs mercy?
The sadder reality is that we can become dangerously like Jonah.
God has always been in the business of showing mercy to those who don’t deserve it.
Galatians 3:13 NIV
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
Galatians 3:14 NIV
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.