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  BUT JONAH ROSE UP TO FLEE UNTO TARSHISH
  by C.H. Spurgeon
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Summary: Disobeying God's will leads to a loss of His presence, peace of
mind, and time, and ultimately results in a life of hardship and
struggle.

Topics: "Consequences of Disobedience", "Obedience"
Scripture References: Jonah 1:1

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DESCRIPTION
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C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the consequences of Jonah's attempt to flee
from God's command to preach in Nineveh, illustrating how disobedience
leads to a loss of God's presence and peace. Jonah's choice to avoid his
duty resulted in a painful separation from the comfort of God's love,
leaving him in turmoil and regret. Spurgeon warns believers against
following Jonah's example, highlighting that resisting God's will
ultimately leads to greater struggles and a lack of divine support. He
encourages Christians to embrace their responsibilities, as true joy and
peace are found in obedience to God. The sermon serves as a reminder
that yielding to God's call is far more rewarding than attempting to
escape it.

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CONTENT
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Instead of going to Nineveh to preach the Word, as God bade him, Jonah
disliked the work, and went down to Joppa to escape from it. There are
occasions when God's servants shrink from duty. But what is the
consequence? What did Jonah lose by his conduct? He lost the presence
and comfortable enjoyment of God's love. When we serve our Lord Jesus as
believers should do, our God is with us; and though we have the whole
world against us, if we have God with us, what does it matter?

But the moment we start back, and seek our own inventions, we are at sea
without a pilot. Then may we bitterly lament and groan out, "O my God,
where hast Thou gone? How could I have been so foolish as to shun Thy
service, and in this way to lose all the bright shinings of Thy face?
This is a price too high. Let me return to my allegiance, that I may
rejoice in Thy presence." In the next place, Jonah lost all peace of
mind. Sin soon destroys a believer's comfort. It is the poisonous upas
tree, from whose leaves distil deadly drops which destroy the life of
joy and peace.

Jonah lost everything upon which he might have drawn for comfort in any
other case. He could not plead the promise of divine protection, for he
was not in God's ways; he could not say, "Lord, I meet with these
difficulties in the discharge of my duty, therefore help me through
them." He was reaping his own deeds; he was filled with his own ways.
Christian, do not play the Jonah, unless you wish to have all the waves
and the billows rolling over your head. You will find in the long run
that it is far harder to shun the work and will of God than to at once
yield yourself to it. Jonah lost his time, for he had to go to Tarshish
after all. It is hard to contend with God; let us yield ourselves at
once.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ch-spurgeon/but-jonah-rose-up-to-flee-unto-tarshish/
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