When God gave Jonah the assignment to go to Nineveh and tell the people there to turn back, he did the opposite. He went in the other direction and fled. There are many examples throughout history of leaders fleeing from their assignment, and in every case weaknesses of character can be identified.
A leader regularly asks their own people whether they can take on a position, an assignment, a team, and so on, and then expects commitment to it. It is usually the same with God. He, too, asks the leader beforehand. Through this, the leader learns how deeply the coworker has made the matter their own, and whether they will remain patient, curious, and committed.
With Jonah it becomes clear what the consequences are when leaders flee from the commitment that comes with an assignment.
- They lose the privilege of a partnership with God (v1-3)
- Their decision affects far more people than they think (v4)
- They develop hard hearts and ignore the consequences they cause (v5-8)
- They lose their integrity and the trust of others (v9-10)
Jonah 1:1-10
Jonah Flees from the Lord
1 Now the word of the LORD 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 the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he 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 the LORD.
4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in 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 cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides 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 an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.