(a) Relate the experience of Jonah as he fled from the presence of God to Tarshish. [11 marks] (b) Give two moral lessons that could be learnt from his flig...

Answer Details

(a) Jonah's flight from the presence of God to Tarshish (Jonah 1:1-17)

The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and boarded it to go with them, running away from his assigned mission.

But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest, so that the ship threatened to break up. The frightened mariners each cried to his own god and threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. Meanwhile Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and lay fast asleep. The captain came and rebuked him, "What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call on your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish."

The sailors cast lots to know on whose account the trouble had come, and the lot fell on Jonah. They questioned him, and he confessed, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." He admitted he was fleeing from the LORD's presence, and the men were greatly afraid. He told them, "Take me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you." The men first tried hard to row back to land but could not, for the sea grew more violent. Then they prayed to the LORD not to hold them guilty of innocent blood, and threw Jonah into the sea, and the sea ceased its raging. The men feared the LORD greatly, offered a sacrifice, and made vows. And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he was in its belly three days and three nights.

(b) Two moral lessons from his flight

• No one can escape or hide from the presence and purpose of God; disobedience only brings trouble.
• Disobedience to God can endanger not only oneself but also innocent others, as the sailors were placed in danger by Jonah's flight.