" 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." Jonah 1:3

After hearing the call to go to Nineveh, Jonah goes down to Joppa, heading for Tarshish, which is Westward, the opposite direction from Ninevah. The scholars debate it, but some believe Tarshish could be as far away as modern day Spain...nearly 2000 miles West from Joppa! So God says – “Go East!” and Jonah responds by going "West" – not just West, but as West as he can go! Notice the text also says that Jonah went "down" to Joppa. Throughout the first chapter of Jonah, the prophet always seems to be going "down". He goes "down" into the hold of the Ship (Jonah 1:4), He went "down" into the sea (1:15), He went "down" into the belly of a great fish (1:17). You've got to hand it to him for consistency. But this "down" in relation to God is not the prophet's humility; it's a clear expression of his disobedience, and lack of respect for the Lord. Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh, he didn't care about the city, and he didn't think God should care about it either. He didn't want the Ninevites to repent, or God to forgive them. And he definitely didn't want God to love a people like that! Jonah had a problem with Nineveh, for sure – but he actually had a much bigger problem---his problem with God! Did you ever consider that your problem with people may be concealing a deeper issue? An issue between you and the Lord? All that righteous anger and self-justifying criticism toward those "evil sinners" might just find you in a big controversy with their Creator, the one who loves them a lot more than you ever could. So Brothers & Sisters, be careful if you find yourself going "down" in judgment and criticism, when you ought to be looking up for grace and Divine love ... up toward the most gracious Being anywhere, the same One who forgave all your sins. DOWN...... OR UP?