Jonah–I Don’t Want to Obey
Summary and Discussion Questions
Based on a sermon by Pastor Trent Thomas
Sunday, June 21, 2026 | Christ Hills Church in Monroe, NC
Jonah 1:1-3
What are your irrational fears?
Maybe it’s spiders, heights, or public speaking. Some people say the best way to overcome our fears is to move toward them. So if you’re afraid of spiders, take note that you’re much bigger than they are. And know that their presence is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Eventually, maybe, let one crawl on your hand. (I’ll let you decide how far you want to take that experiment!)
But what if our problem isn’t fear? What if it’s hate?
Not all hate is irrational. In fact, there are some things we should hate. God calls us to hate evil, injustice, and sin. Yet sometimes our hearts move from hating evil and toward hating people. We start avoiding them, dismissing them, or wishing God would deal harshly with them instead of showing mercy.
That’s where we meet Jonah.
Around 790 BC, God’s people were experiencing a season of health, prosperity, peace, and growth. From the outside, things looked great. But spiritually, Israel was weak. Danger was looming on the horizon.
They had enemies. Powerful enemies. The Assyrians—and especially the people of Nineveh—were feared and hated. They were violent, cruel, and a constant threat to God’s people.
Into this setting, we will see three realities: God’s people. Their problem. And God’s perfect solution.
Back to Jonah. He was a bonafide prophet—not a rookie. He knew God’s voice. And when the Word of the Lord came to him, there was no confusion about who was speaking.
God’s message was simple: “Go tell them I see them.”
God saw the wickedness of Nineveh, their violence, and their rebellion. But He also saw people who needed an opportunity to repent.
What about Jonah? Did he obey? In a word: No. “The word of the Lord came to Jonah…” and Jonah immediately rose—not to obey—but to flee. He tried to run from God, from his calling, and from the people God wanted to reach. He boarded a ship full of pagan sailors and headed to Tarshish, which was in the opposite direction.
This account is not a fable. There is far too much detail and honesty for that. The Bible presents Jonah as a real prophet in a real situation. And as the story unfolds, something supernatural is coming.
But before the storm arrives, we learn something important about God. He wanted to give Nineveh a chance. The LORD God wants to give people time to repent. That truth is woven throughout Scripture. God is patient and compassionate. He moves toward people who don’t deserve His mercy. In fact, that is exactly what makes Jonah’s response so tragic.
The Word of God came to Jonah from the LORD God—the covenant God, the personal God, the near God who draws close to His people. Ironically, Jonah was missing those very qualities. God moved toward Nineveh, but Jonah moved away.
If we’re honest, we often do the same thing. God challenges us to forgive. We resist. God calls us to serve. We hesitate. God asks us to reach out to someone difficult. We look for an escape route.
Thankfully, Jonah’s story points us to someone greater. Jesus was called to leave heaven and come to us. Unlike Jonah, He obeyed. Jesus moved toward sinners, not away from them. He crossed every boundary. He entered our broken world. He took on flesh and was obedient, even to the point of death of a cross.
Jonah fled from God’s presence. Jesus willingly entered death itself. Jonah went down into a ship trying to escape God’s mission. Jesus went down into the grave to accomplish God’s mission. And because Jesus rose again, He can bring us back to God.
The compassion Jonah lacked is the compassion Jesus perfectly displayed. Now, in Christ, we can share that same compassion with others.
We have a choice every day. We can be a blessing or a curse to the people around us. We can move away from those who need grace, or we can move toward them with the love we’ve received from Christ.
So, what word of the LORD are you running from? Who do you need to move toward? Who have you written off? Who has God placed in your life that feels uncomfortable, inconvenient, or undeserving? Perhaps God is calling you out of your comfort zone today—not simply to be disciplined, but to trust Him, not just to tolerate someone, but to serve them, bless them, and point them to His mercy.
The God who moved toward Nineveh has moved toward us in Christ. Now He invites us to do the same.
Questions for Reflection & Discussion:
Is there a person or group of people that you tend to avoid, resent, or keep at a distance? Why? How can you change your attitude toward them?
How does Jesus’ obedience in coming to earth and dying for sinners challenge you to respond to others with more grace, understanding, and compassion?
Where might God be calling you to move out of your comfort zone? Is there something he has called you to do that you are avoiding? Is there someone to serve, bless, or share His compassion with this week?