PodParley PodParley
PodParley PodParley
Log in

A Runaway Prophet

An episode of the King's Table Church Sermons podcast, hosted by Bryce Harrison, titled "A Runaway Prophet" was published on June 15, 2025 and runs 42 minutes.

June 15, 2025 ·42m · King's Table Church Sermons

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

When the Lord comes to the prophet Jonah with a message to take to Nineveh, a singular series of events ensues. From the outset, a pattern of actions and reactions begins between the Lord and this reluctant prophet. Having been previously sent to King Jeroboam with a positive message of Israel's borders expanding (2 Kings) - unlike the messages of rebuke and warning given by Hosea and Amos - Jonah occupied a favoured position in the king's court. He was the pro-Israel prophet - not the doom and gloom guy but the one who brings the words that people like to hear and makes them feel good about being Israel! All that changes though when the Lord tells him to go and call the Assyrians to repentance as well.When the Word of the Lord comes to Jonah, he responds by running the opposite direction. He goes down to Joppa, down to a ship, and down into the belly of the ship - a repetition signaling his moral descent. The back-and-forth exchange that continues through the rest of the book sees the Lord respond by sending a storm on the ship. And Jonah responds to that by despairing of his life and asking to be cast into the sea. As we learn later in the book, the prophet admits that he would rather die than see his mission through. If he can't escape the Lord in Tarshish, maybe he will in Sheol!Interestingly, the runaway prophet is contrasted with a crew of superstitious pagan sailors. Unlike Jonah, they are moved to fear the Lord. They cry out to him in their distress and offer sacrifices when he answers. This perplexing juxtaposition leaves us asking questions of our own response! Do we rightly fear the Lord? Do we attempt to dodge his notice? What about if he asks us to do the very last thing we would want to? If he upsets our status? Our comfort? The identity we pride ourselves on? Do we worship the Lord God of Israel and serve him only? Or do we treat him as a means to our own ends?

Episode Description

When the Lord comes to the prophet Jonah with a message to take to Nineveh, a singular series of events ensues. From the outset, a pattern of actions and reactions begins between the Lord and this reluctant prophet. Having been previously sent to King Jeroboam with a positive message of Israel's borders expanding (2 Kings) - unlike the messages of rebuke and warning given by Hosea and Amos - Jonah occupied a favoured position in the king's court. He was the pro-Israel prophet - not the doom and gloom guy but the one who brings the words that people like to hear and makes them feel good about being Israel! All that changes though when the Lord tells him to go and call the Assyrians to repentance as well.


When the Word of the Lord comes to Jonah, he responds by running the opposite direction. He goes down to Joppa, down to a ship, and down into the belly of the ship - a repetition signaling his moral descent. The back-and-forth exchange that continues through the rest of the book sees the Lord respond by sending a storm on the ship. And Jonah responds to that by despairing of his life and asking to be cast into the sea. As we learn later in the book, the prophet admits that he would rather die than see his mission through. If he can't escape the Lord in Tarshish, maybe he will in Sheol!


Interestingly, the runaway prophet is contrasted with a crew of superstitious pagan sailors. Unlike Jonah, they are moved to fear the Lord. They cry out to him in their distress and offer sacrifices when he answers. This perplexing juxtaposition leaves us asking questions of our own response! Do we rightly fear the Lord? Do we attempt to dodge his notice? What about if he asks us to do the very last thing we would want to? If he upsets our status? Our comfort? The identity we pride ourselves on? Do we worship the Lord God of Israel and serve him only? Or do we treat him as a means to our own ends?

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Grasses in the South

Apr 13, 2026 ·5m

Hawaii

Apr 13, 2026 ·1m

A Helpless Situation

Apr 13, 2026 ·14m

How I Escaped being Killed in a Duel

Apr 13, 2026 ·9m

Important to Whom it may Concern

Apr 13, 2026 ·4m

Jim's Investments, and King Sollermun

Apr 13, 2026 ·10m

Similar Podcasts

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Unknown Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a late 14th-century Middle English alliterative romance outlining an adventure of Sir Gawain, a knight of King Arthur's Round Table. In the tale, Sir Gawain accepts a challenge from a mysterious warrior who is completely green, from his clothes and hair to his beard and skin. The "Green Knight" offers to allow anyone to strike him with his axe if the challenger will take a return blow in a year and a day. Gawain accepts, and beheads him in one blow, only to have the Green Knight stand up, pick up his head, and remind Gawain to meet him at the appointed time. The story of Gawain's struggle to meet the appointment and his adventures along the way demonstrate the spirit of chivalry and loyalty. (Wikipedia) This 20th Century rendering is by WA Neilson. Epics and Romances of the Middle Ages by Wilhelm Wägner (1800 - 1886) LibriVox This volume contains the principal hero-lays of the six great epic cycles of the Teutonic Middle Ages: The Langobardian Legends, the Amelung and Kindred Legends; Dietrich of Bern's Adventures; the Nibelung Legends; the Hegeling Legends; and Beowulf. To them, the author has added the great mythical Carolingian cycle, which centred round the persons of Charlemagne and his heroes, and the Breton ones of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, as well as the legend of the Holy Grail. Therefore, this one book tells all of the great epic and romances of the Middle Ages in accessible language for the general public. (Summary by Leni) The Winter's Tale William Shakespeare Mad with jealousy, King Leontes of Sicilia orders his best friend Polixenes killed, his child abandoned, and his wife put on trial for adultery. Sixteen years later, Perdita, raised as a shepherd's daughter, falls in love with Polixenes's royal son and returns to her father's kingdom. (Summary by Arielle Lipshaw)Cast:Antigonus: John DoyleArchidamus: David NicolAutolycus: Algy PugCamillo: mbCleomenes: Vicente Costa FilhoClown: BaggzDion: Robert FletcherDorcas: Patti CunninghamEmilia: Laurie Anne WaldenFirst Gentlem Mark Twain's Journal Writings, Volume 1 by Mark Twain (1835 - 1910) LibriVox Volume 1 contains these 12 essays: 1.) "Americans on a Visit to the Emperor of Russia." 2.) "The Austrian Edison keeping school again" 3.) "The Canvasser's tale." 4.) "The Czar's Soliloquy." 5.) "English as She is Taught." 6.) "Grasses in the South." 7.) "Hawaii." 8.) "A Helpless Situation." 9.) "How I Escaped being Killed in a Duel." 10.) "Important to Whom it may Concern." 11.) "The Austrian Edison Keeping School Again" 12.) "Jim's Investments, and King Sollermun." (Summary by John Greenman)
URL copied to clipboard!