Jonah By Dr. R. T. Kendall June 15/2023

 So, there is common grace on the one hand - the world, nations, government, business, the fact that you have natural abilities, reason, the fact that you can think - God gave you that.  But on the other hand there is saving grace - the church, the sacraments, conversion - these are provided in this special realm where we are told our Lord Jesus is the Head, even the Head of the Church.  But do not forget that God has deposited with His Son this kingdom that is comprised of both church and state; the people of God, the people of the world; the elect, the world, but all under God's sovereign rule.  Christ is the Head of the Church.  He is also the Ruler of nations.

I have said all of that to say this: Jonah's retreat brought him more noticeably into this realm of common grace.  Jonah thought that he was leaving the presence of the Lord, but merely went from one realm of God's kingdom into another.  We are told that he rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.  He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish and paid the fare, but the Lord snet out a great wind into the sea.  Here is God's work in nature.  God is at work everywhere.  And so the wind came into the sea; a mighty tempest so that the ship was nearly broken.  Jonah eventually found out what the Psalmist meant when he said; 'Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?  Whither shall I flee from thy presence?  If I ascend up into heaven thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.  If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me and thy  and thy right hand shall hold me' (Psa.  139: 7 - 10).  So it was, Jonah could not really run from the presence of the Lord.  Instead of rubbing shoulders with priests and prophets, he was mixing with mariners, sailors, and was soon to be approached by the ship-master.  Jonah, instead of preaching and teaching and ministering, was found paying a fare on a ship going to Tarshish.  Yea, Jonah, instead of preaching faith and repentance and obedience, became a tourist on a Mediterranean cruise, and settled down for a nice nap!

You cannot run from God.  You might think you can flee from the church to the world, as if God will not see you.  There is an old spiritual that goes like this: 

He sees all you do.  He hears all you say,

My Lord's a-writin' all the time.





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