Jonah 1:3
WILL YOU BUY YOUR TICKET?
Every translation points out the fact that Jonah bought a ticket to get on the ferry.
Why?
We can make the assumption that he needed a ticket, or receipt, to show he has the right to board that ship.
But God is very clear about wanting this piece of Jonah’s thought process and the willful act behind it.
Why?Here’s Jonah 1:3 (ESV):
But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.Here’s Jonah 1:3 (NIV):
But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.Here’s Jonah 1:3 (NKJV):
But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.New Living Translation (NLT):
But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.New American Standard Bible (NASB, 2020):
But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship that was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and boarded it to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of the Lord.Let’s summarize the first three chapters for contextChapter 1 Jonah Runs from God
God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach against its wickedness.Jonah refuses and tries to flee by ship to Tarshish, far from God’s presence.A violent storm threatens the ship, and the sailors discover Jonah is the cause.Jonah admits he is running from God and tells them to throw him into the sea.Reluctantly, they do—and the storm stops.God appoints a great fish to swallow Jonah, where he remains three days and nights.Chapter 2 – Jonah’s Prayer
Inside the fish, Jonah prays to God.His prayer is both a cry for help and a psalm of thanksgiving.He acknowledges God’s deliverance, expresses repentance, and commits to obey.God commands the fish to vomit Jonah out onto dry land.Chapter 3 – Jonah in Nineveh
God again tells Jonah to go to Nineveh. This time, Jonah obeys.He walks through the city proclaiming that in 40 days Nineveh will be overturned.The people of Nineveh, from the greatest to the least, believe God’s warning.They fast, wear sackcloth, and repent. Even the king humbles himself and calls for mercy.God sees their repentance and spares the city from destruction.I believe it is because God wants us to understand the enormity of Jonah’s willful action to buy his ticket. When presented with the final choice to turn back and go to Nineveh rather than Tarshish, JONAH WILLFULLY CHOSE TO RUN FROM GOD WHEN GOD GAVE HIM A CLEAR OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
Jonah could have avoided the storm, avoided the whale’s belly and avoided all the heartache he experienced living his storm.
God still saved people in the storm (the boat crew) and He eventually saved Nineveh and all the things God wanted to happen, did. God still used Jonah’s disobedience to save others.
All Jonah did was delay his own arrival on Nineveh. I shouldn’t say that is ALL he did, he also spent three days wrestling with God and that’s what it took for him to learn to never again buy his ticket.
When you’re presented with the opportunity to buy your ticket, to run from God, your last way out presented to you from God before the storm,
DON’T BUY TOUR TICKET!
Gal 1:24
(In Progress…)
I Peter 5:5 / Proverbs 3:34
(Get Humble & Stay Humble to Find God’s Favor)
About Theology ThoughtsChris Crutcher’s life has been a journey of faith, endurance, and discovery. From his early years in El Paso, Texas, he was drawn to questions of meaning, purpose, and God’s presence in everyday life. This passion led him to earn a degree in Religion from Liberty University, where he deepened his understanding of scripture and theology.For years, Chris experienced unexplained symptoms—fatigue, reactions, and physical challenges—that left doctors puzzled. Misdiagnoses and repeated medical procedures became part of his reality, testing his patience, faith, and resilience.Finally, Chris received a definitive diagnosis of mastocytosis, a moment that brought both clarity and a new perspective on life. Through this health journey, he came to understand the profound reality of being a receiver of grace, learning to navigate both the joys and hardships of life with faith as his anchor.Theology Thoughts: Reflections from the Journey is the space where Chris brings together his lived experiences, scripture-based insights, and reflections on grace, perseverance, and spiritual growth. It is a place for exploring how faith intersects with real life, offering guidance, encouragement, and honest reflection for anyone seeking to walk faithfully through their own challenges and triumphs.
