When we think of the book of Jonah, we think of the big fish, and we can easily overlook this book. I have been learning that there is much more than what we expect in the book of Jonah. Today I look at one small aspect of it. I decided to highlight every instance in chapter 1 where Jonah acted very differently from what you would expect from a prophet of God. When I identified these points, I realised it shows us what an upside-down prophet Jonah was, and even though we are not prophets, it shows us how not to be a follower of God.

Jonah 1:1-3

1 Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ² Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah; and he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah.

God calls Jonah and gives him a job, but how does this prophet of God respond? He attempts to run from the presence of God. A Prophet is one who is called to communicate a message from God to his people. Jonah is called a prophet in this book, but his actions contradict this title. How can a prophet of God think that he can run from a God who is everywhere? Psalm 139:7-9 tells us that we cannot flee from the presence of Yahweh, yet this prophet is still running. The interesting thing about this point is that we can see ourselves in it. Even though we know this, we, too, think that we can hide from the presence of God when convenient.

Jonah 1:4-10

4 But Jehovah [a]sent out a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his God; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. 6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. 7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. 8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; what is thine occupation? And whence comest thou? What is thy country? And of what people art thou? 9 And he said unto them, I am a Hebrew; and I fear Jehovah, the God of heaven, who hath made the sea and the dry land. 10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, What is this that thou hast done? For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of Jehovah, because he had told them.

In the midst of a great disaster, the prophet Jonah sleeps. The prophet should be the one who calls upon God in a time of need, but instead, the sailors, who do not follow Yahweh, must tell Jonah to pray.

Then we see they cast lots to know who is responsible for this trouble, and the lots reveal that it is Jonah. But Jonah, the prophet, was not even honest enough to admit that he was the reason for the tempestuous sea.

Then Jonah tells the sailors that he fears Yahweh, the God who created the sea and the dry land. How can he believe he can run from Yahweh and know that Yahweh made the land and the sea? Does he fear Yahweh?

Jonah 1:11-17

11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. 13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not: for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 14 Wherefore they cried unto Jehovah, and said, We beseech thee, O Jehovah, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood; for thou, O Jehovah, hast done as it pleased thee. 15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared Jehovah exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice unto Jehovah, and made vows.

17 And Jehovah prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah then tells the sailors to cast him into the sea, for he knows this is because of him. When you read this at first, you think Jonah is being selfless here and trying to save the sailors. However, as you read on, you realise that Jonah desires to disobey God’s command, and he admits he wants to die later in the book (Jonah 4:3). So, Jonah is thinking of himself and how he can escape Yahweh.

When you look at these points, this prophet is not acting as a prophet. He is the upside-down prophet. Seeing Jonah’s upside-down nature helps us look closer at what he is doing wrong, and we can see what he should be doing. This also helps us to see that we do illogical things because we don’t want to do it God’s way.

Jonah shows us that you cannot run from God and that his purposes will still happen regardless of our poor choices.