追逐的神
Have you ever run away from home?
I never ran away from home, but I ran away from school… (story of running away from primary school) If you ever ran away, whether it was going to a friend’s place for an hour or two, or something more significant when older, often end up looking back on those events feeling a bit sheepish, a bit silly. I wonder if Jonah did.
你曾经离家出走吗？
我从来没有逃离过家，但我却逃离过学校……（小学逃课的故事）如果你曾经逃跑过，无论是去朋友家呆一两个小时，还是年纪大了一些更过激的行为，最后往往会在回顾这些事件时感到有点害羞，有点傻。我想知道约拿是不是也一样。
But here’s key question I want us to think about today – how does God respond when we run from Him?
We’re going to see the answer to that as we jump back into story of Jonah in series, “I am Jonah.” Last week, we just looked at the opening 3 verses of Jonah 1, but today go through rest of chapter. Going to pick up the story in v.4, and want you to notice the first two words, “Then Yahweh.”
我今天希望我们思考的关键问题是——当我们逃离上帝时，他会如何回应？
我们将会在我是约拿的系列约拿的故事中看到这个问题的答案。上周，我们只看了约拿书第 1 章的开头 3 节经文，今天我们将继续阅读其余的章节。在第 4 节中的故事中，希望你注意前两个词，“然而耶和华。”
Then Yahweh sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. Jonah 1:4-5a
然 而 耶 和 华 使 海 中 起 大 风 ， 海 就 狂 风 大 作 ， 甚 至 船 几 乎 破 坏 。水 手 便 惧 怕 ， 各 人哀 求 自 己 的 神 。 他 们 将 船 上 的 货 物 抛 在 海 中 ， 为 要 使 船 轻 些 。约拿书 1:4-5a
Verse 3 began with words, “But Jonah.” And Jonah probably felt that was pretty much the end of the story. Yahweh, God of Israel, told him to go and preach to Ninevites, the Nazis of the ancient world. And he decided “stuff that,” and took off. And probably thought that was the end of that. But one of the points Jonah ch. 1 is making is that’s never the end of the story. If we’re God’s children, the story doesn’t end with our rebellion, our sin, our running. Every time there’s a “but Jonah” there’s always a ”then Yahweh.
第 3 节以“然而约拿”开头。约拿可能觉得这就是故事的结局。以色列的上帝耶和华让他去向古代世界的纳粹分子尼尼微人传道。他决定“去他的”，然后开始逃跑。并且可能认为这已经结束了。但约拿 没有意识到的一点是，这绝不是故事的结局。如果我们是上帝的孩子，故事不会以我们的叛逆、我们的罪、我们的逃跑而告终。每次有一个“但约拿”总是有一个“然后是耶和华”。
So Yahweh responded – by “hurling” a great storm. Image like God as baseball pitcher, sending fastball across home base. Sends a ferocious storm … so bad that experienced sailors are terrified. Ship threatening to break apart. One writer suggests that “Death is just one wave away.”
因此，耶和华作出回应——“投掷”一场大风暴。想象一下上帝像一个棒球投手，将快球送过本垒。发出猛烈的风暴……太糟糕了，经验丰富的水手都被吓坏了。船就要分裂开来了。一位作家写道“死亡只是一波之遥”。
And sailors do everything they can to save their lives and ship – even throwing cargo overboard. That was drastic – that was profit. But that’s how desperate they were. And all of this came about because Jonah had chosen to run. As mentioned last week, through series going to pause in each sermon and reflect on how Jonah’s story often be similar to ours. First reflection:
水手们尽其所能挽救生命和船只——甚至将货物扔到海里。那是非常极端的挽救措施——那扔掉的货物代表的是利润。但这就是他们多么绝望。而这一切都是因为约拿选择了逃跑。正如上周提到的，这个系列将在每次讲道时暂停，反思约拿的故事与我们的故事有何相似之处。第一次反思：
I am Jonah … when I forget my sin impacts others’ lives
我是约拿……当我忘记我的罪会影响他人的生活时
The sailors in chapter 1 were innocent bystanders in the story. They had nothing to do with Jonah’s sin. They weren’t cheering him on. They simply got caught up in the storm that Jonah’s sin had created. Often, we can be fooled into thinking that if we give into temptation, if we choose to sin, it will only impact our lives. Our rebellion will just be between us and God. But sin is never simply a private issue. Sin always bubbles over into other people’s lives and impact our relationships with others.
第 1 章中的水手是故事中无辜的旁观者。他们与约拿的罪无关。他们没有鼓励他逃跑。他们只是卷入了约拿的罪所造成的风暴中。通常，我们会被愚弄，以为如果我们屈服于诱惑，如果我们选择犯罪，它只会影响我们的生活。我们的反叛只会发生在我们和上帝之间。但罪绝不仅仅是一个私人问题。罪总是会渗透到他人的生活中，影响我们与他人的关系。
Our anger issues always impact others. Our bitterness always impacts others. Our materialism … our pride … our racism … walking out on our marriage – it always affects and impacts other people. And just like the sailors in Jonah 1, others get caught in the storms of our lives. So the sailors are fearful and praying like crazy and working hard. And where’s Jonah? Look v5a.
我们的愤怒问题总是影响他人。我们的苦毒总是影响他人。我们的唯物主义……我们的骄傲……我们的种族主义……當我们放弃我们的婚姻——这些总是会影响和牵连其他人。就像约拿书 1 中的水手一样，其他人也被卷入了我们生活的风暴中。于是，水手们胆战心惊，疯狂地祈祷，努力工作。约拿在哪里？看看第五节的后半句。
But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. The captain went to him and said, ‘How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.’ Jonah 1:5b-6
约 拿 已 下 到 底 舱 ， 躺 卧 沉 睡 。船 主 到 他 那 里 对 他 说 ： 你 这 沉 睡 的 人 哪 ， 为 何 这样 呢 ？ 起 来 ， 求 告 你 的 神 ， 或 者 神 顾 念 我 们 ， 使 我 们 不 致 灭 亡 。 约拿书 1:5b-6
There are some brilliant ironies in this chapter, esp. in comparing the Jewish prophet and pagan sailors. So sailors who been on water most of their lives are terrified, while Jonah the landlubber seems relaxed as. And pagans fervently praying to false gods, while prophet who knows true God is quiet – no prayer.
本章有一些绝妙的讽刺，尤其是，比较了犹太先知和异教水手。大部分时间都在水上的水手们都很害怕，而旱鸭子约拿似乎很放松。异教徒热切地向假神祈祷，而认识真神的先知则安静——没有祈祷。
But notice what Jonah was doing – he’s sleeping. Settled into a deep, refreshing sleep, while the storm rages and ship all over the place. And if know other parts of the Bible well, might remind you of a scene in the gospels in NT, when Jesus is fast asleep in a boat in the middle of a storm. Completely different though… Jesus is obedient to Father; Jonah is running from God. And yet fast asleep in the middle of a storm. Doesn’t seem to be struggling with a guilty conscience, is he? That leads us to 2nd reflection:
但请注意约拿在做什么——他在睡觉。在风暴肆虐和到处都是船的时候，进入深度、清爽的睡眠。如果熟悉圣经的其他部分，可能会让你想起新约福音书中的场景，当时耶稣在暴风雨中沉睡在船上。然而完全不同……耶稣顺从天父；约拿在逃避上帝。约拿却在暴风雨中沉沉睡去。他似乎没有在与内疚作斗争，是吗？这导致我们进行第二次反思：
I am Jonah … when I dull my conscience to the conviction of the Spirit
我是约拿……当我的良心变得迟钝，感应不到圣灵的指正
It’s possible, isn’t it? To just ignore the conviction of the Spirit; to push aside that quiet prompting? It’s possible to harden your heart to any sense of guilt or remorse. I remember sitting across a table in our church office from a friend whose wife had just discovered clear evidence of an affair. And he denied it, and squirmed, and hummed and harred. He just refused to acknowledge what he had done. He had so pushed done and deflected any pangs of conscience he couldn’t acknowledge the reality of what done. It's a dangerous thing to continue to ignore the promptings of our conscience and the Spirit. Storm continues, and so we read in v.7:
这是可能的，不是吗？忽略圣灵的指正；抛开那种安静的提示？任何内疚感或悔恨感都可能使你的心变得刚硬。我记得坐在我们教会办公室的一张桌子的对面的一位朋友，他的妻子刚刚发现了他的明确的婚外情证据。他否认了这一点，扭动着身体，哼着歌声，苦恼着。他只是拒绝承认他做了什么。他如此努力转移任何良心的痛苦，他无法承认所做的事情的真实性。继续忽视我们良心和圣灵的提示是一件危险的事情。风暴仍在继续，因此我们在第 7 节中读到：
Then the sailors said to each other, ‘Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.’ Jonah 1:7a
船 上 的 人 彼 此 说 ： 来 吧 ， 我 们 掣 签 ， 看 看 这 灾 临 到 我 们 是 因 谁 的 缘 故 。 於 是他 们 掣 签 ，约拿书 1:7a
Casting lots was used in many cultures in the ancient world as a way of discerning the will of God or the gods. The lots were pieces of stone, wood, or pottery on which the names of each person may have been written, and then the lot that was cast would show the name of the person responsible for their calamity. Done in number of places in the OT, and in the NT the disciples do it to chose a replacement for Judas in Acts 1. We don’t have to do that now, as we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us. But look at what happens – 2nd half of v.7
在古代世界的许多文化中，掣签被用作辨别上帝或众神的意志的一种方式。抽的签是石头、木头或陶器，上面可能写有每个人的名字，然后抽签会显示造成他们灾难的人的名字。在旧约中的许多地方都这样做了，而在新约中，门徒这样做是为了在使徒行传 1 中选择一个替代犹大的人。我们现在不必这样做，因为我们有内住的圣灵来引导我们。
但是看看会发生什么——第七节的第二部分
They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Jonah 1:7b
於 是 他 们 掣 签，掣 出 约 拿 来 。约拿书 1:7b
Love the simplicity of that verses. They cast lots, and – what do you know – the lot fell to Jonah!
Of course it did! Who’s in control of the lots?
In the ancient book of Proverbs it says:
喜欢那些经文的简单。他们抽签，而且——你知道吗——抽签指向了约拿！
当然做到了！ 谁在控制那些签？
古老的箴言书上说：
The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from Yahweh. Proverbs 16:33
签 放 在 怀 里 ，
定 事 由 耶 和 华 。箴言 16:33
I love the way God is portrayed in this story. He is this all-powerful, majestic God who can hurl a massive storm across a huge body of water. It shows his power and strength. But then he’s also the God who controls the tiny pieces of stone or wood being used to cast the lot. And he delicately controls how they roll in the cup so that it’s the piece with Jonah’s name that falls. The God of the huge storm is also the God of the tiny lots.
In response, though, the sailors go nuts. Look at v.8
我喜欢这个故事中描绘上帝的方式。他是一位全能、威严的神，可以在巨大的水域上掀起一场巨大的风暴。它显示了他的能力和力量。但他也是控制用于抽签的小块石头或木头的上帝。他巧妙地控制着它们在杯子里的滚动方式，这样有约拿名字的那块就掉下来了。大风暴之神也是掣 小签之神。
然而，作为回应，水手们崩溃了。看第八节。
So they asked him, ‘Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?’ He answered, ‘I am a Hebrew and I worship Yahweh, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.’ Jonah 1:8-9
众 人 对 他 说 ： 请 你 告 诉 我 们 ， 这 灾 临 到 我 们 是 因 谁 的 缘 故 ？ 你 以 何 事 为 业 ？ 你从 哪 里 来 ？ 你 是 哪 一 国 ？ 属 哪 一 族 的 人 ？他 说 ： 我 是 希 伯 来 人 。 我 敬 畏 耶 和 华 ─ 那 创 造 沧 海 旱 地 之 天 上 的 神 。约拿书 1:8-9
Notice first of all their questions. It’s a barrage of queries; almost as though the sailors have surrounded Jonah and the questions are firing at him from all sides. So much so that he can’t keep up, and can’t even remember all of them. So in v.9 he simply says, “I’m a Hebrew, and I worship Yahweh.”
首先注意他们的所有问题。这是一连串的询问；就好像水手们已经包围了约拿，问题从四面八方向他射去。以至于他跟不上，甚至都记不住。所以在第 9 节中，他只是说：“我是希伯来人，我敬拜耶和华。”
The NIV translates here that Jonah claims to “worship” Yahweh, but literally he claims to “fear Yahweh.” This was a common expression in OT to indicate awe and reverence – he’s saying he honours and follows Yahweh; He is the God that Jonah obeys. But the irony is that that’s complete rubbish. He’s on the run from God. He doesn’t fear Yahweh – he’s running from Yahweh!! He describes Yahweh well, as the all-powerful Creator, the One who made – notice the emphasis – the sea and the dry land. But he isn’t following Him or fearing Him. And we’ll the complete irony of that at the end of the chapter.
新的国际版圣经 在这里翻译约拿声称“敬拜”耶和华，但字面意思是他声称“敬畏耶和华”。这是旧约中常用的表达敬畏的表达方式——他说他荣耀和跟随耶和华；他是约拿所服从的神。但具有讽刺意味的是，这完全是空话。他在逃避上帝。他不惧怕耶和华——他在逃避耶和华！！他很好地描述了耶和华，作为全能的创造者，创造——注意重点——海洋和旱地的那一位。但他并没有跟随他或害怕他。我们将在本章末尾看到讽刺的这一点。
Whoever fears Yahweh walks uprightly,
but those who despise him are devious in their ways. Proverbs 14:2
行 动 正 直 的 ， 敬 畏 耶 和 华 ；
行 事 乖 僻 的 ， 却 藐 视 他 。箴言 14:2
See it’s that 2nd line that describes Jonah much more than the first.
Here’s the third reflection from our chapter today:
看，第二行比第一行更能描述约拿。
这是我们今天章节的第三个反思：
I am Jonah … when my life doesn’t measure up to what I say I believe
我是约拿……当我的生活达不到我所说的我相信的时候
Reminds me of a time in airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Been on ministry trip (story from airport
Too easy to say the right things but fail to live up to them in our lives.
Jonah’s response terrifies sailors, because he admits that he is on run from Yahweh, all-powerful God.
让我想起了我在泰国曼谷机场的时侯。在我的事工旅行中（来自机场的故事）
说正确的话太容易了，但在我们的生活中却无法做到。
约拿的反应吓坏了水手，因为他承认他正在逃离耶和华，一位全能的神。
The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, ‘What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?’ ‘Pick me up and throw me into the sea,’ he replied, ‘and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.’ Jonah 1:11-12
他 们 问 他 说 ： 我 们 当 向 你 怎 样 行 ， 使 海 浪 平 静 呢 ？ 这 话 是 因 海 浪 越 发 翻 腾 。他 对他 们 说 ： 你 们 将 我 抬 起 来 ， 抛 在 海 中 ， 海 就 平 静 了 ； 我 知 道 你 们 遭 这 大 风 是 因我 的 缘 故 。约拿书 1:11-12
Jonah’s response here is remarkable. Sailors want to know what to do to stop the storm, and Jonah says to throw him overboard!! Think for a moment about the impression that gives the sailors – Yahweh must be this blood-thirsty deity who won’t be satisfied until his runaway prophet is dead.
约拿在这里的反应是非凡的。水手们想知道该怎么做才能阻止风暴，约拿说把他扔到海里！！想一想给水手们的印象——耶和华一定是一个嗜血的神，直到让他生气的先知死后才会满意。
And I personally think Jonah is completely wrong. Not about the storm calming, because that is what happened. But that was not the only option available. Jonah could have confessed; he could have repented. And I’m absolutely convinced that Yahweh would have heard, forgiven, and calmed the storm.
Instead, it seems like Jonah had a death-wish.
But these sailors are amazing – look at what they do next:
我个人认为约拿是完全错误的。不是这个选择不会让风暴平静，因为这就是发生的事情。但这不是唯一可用的选择。约拿本可以认罪；他本可以悔改的。我绝对相信，耶和华会听到、宽恕并平息风暴。
相反，约拿似乎有一个死亡的愿望。
但是这些水手很棒——看看他们接下来会做什么：
Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. Jonah 1:13
然 而 那 些 人 竭 力 划桨 ， 要 把 船 拢 岸 ， 却 是 不 能 ， 因 为 海 浪 越 发 向 他 们 翻 腾 。约拿书 1:13
These guys are awesome! Isn’t it funny how people who don’t follow God, who don’t share your faith, are often the nicest, kindest, gentlest people around? These guys don’t want to kill Jonah; they don’t want to toss him overboard and leave him to drown. So they’re frantically rowing, and rowing and rowing … but this wild storm is getting even more harrowing than it was. Ultimately they come to the point where they’re out of options. They can’t do anything else. They’re going to have to toss Jonah overboard with the rest of the cargo. But look what they do first:
这些家伙太棒了！不跟随上帝的人，不分享你的信仰的人，往往是周围最善良、最和蔼、最温柔的人，这不是很有趣吗？这些家伙不想杀死约拿；他们不想把他扔到海里，让他淹死。所以他们疯狂地划船，划船又划船……但是这场狂风暴雨变得比之前更加令人可怕。最终，他们到了别无选择的地步。他们不能做任何其他事情。他们将不得不把约拿和剩下的货物一起扔到海里。但看看他们首先做什么：
Then they cried out to Yahweh, ‘Please, Yahweh, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Yahweh, have done as you pleased.’ Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. Jonah 1:14-15
他 们 便 求 告 耶 和 华 说 ： 耶 和 华 啊 ， 我 们 恳 求 你 ， 不 要 因 这 人 的 性 命 使 我 们 死亡 ， 不 要 使 流 无 辜 血 的 罪 归 与 我 们 ； 因 为 你 ─ 耶 和 华 是 随 自 己 的 意 旨 行 事 。他 们遂 将 约 拿 抬 起 ， 抛 在 海 中 ， 海 的 狂 浪 就 平 息 了 。约拿书 1:14-15
Again don’t miss the irony that is dripping off basically every line of this story. Jonah, the prophet of Yahweh, still hasn’t prayed!! And now these pagan sailors who a few minutes back were crying out to their false gods, are now praying to the God of Israel. They’re confessing their wrongdoing, but the only reason they are having to do that is because Jonah won’t confess to his wrongdoing!!!
再一次不要错过这个故事的每一行基本上都具有的讽刺意味。耶和华的先知约拿还没祷告！！而现在这些几分钟前还在向他们的假神呼喊的异教徒水手现在正在向以色列的上帝祈祷。他们正在承认自己的错误行为，但他们必须这样做的唯一原因是因为约拿不会承认他的错误行为！！！
So they pray, and then they grab Jonah, and “hurl” – same word as God “hurling” the storm earlier – they hurl Jonah into the ocean. And it seems as though virtually immediately, the storm stills and the sea is calm. See the God who hurled the ferocious storm, but then controlled the tiny lots, now calms storm.
They story ends in v.16. We have an additional verse 17 in Bibles, but chapter division is in wrong place.
Verse 17 is actually start of ch.2. Here’s how story ends:
所以他们祈祷，然后他们抓住约拿，然后“投掷”——就像上帝早些时候“投掷”风暴一样——他们把约拿扔进大海。似乎几乎立即，风暴停止，海面平静。看，那位投掷凶猛风暴，并且随后控制了掣 签的上帝，现在平息了风暴。
他们的故事在第 16 节结束。我们在圣经中有一个额外的第 17 节，但是章节划分是错误的。第 17 节实际上是第 2 章的开始。以下是故事的结局：
At this the men greatly feared Yahweh, and they offered a sacrifice to Yahweh and made vows to him. Jonah 1:16
那 些 人 便 大 大 敬 畏 耶 和 华 ， 向 耶 和 华 献 祭 ， 并 且 许 愿 。约拿书 1:16
Concept of fear plays key part in this chapter. At start, when storm hits, the experienced sailors fear the storm. But then Jonah claims to fear Yahweh, which is obviously a load of rubbish, and the sailors in v.10 get more fearful. Lit. said there, “they feared a great fear.” That line now repeated in v.16 – “they feared a great fear” – but this time I think we’re meant to understand their terror of God is changing into awe.
恐惧的概念在本章中起着关键作用。一开始，当风暴来袭时，经验丰富的水手们害怕风暴。但随后约拿声称害怕耶和华，这显然是一堆空话，第 10 节中的水手们变得更加害怕。注意，在那里我们读到：“他们就大大惧怕。”这句话现在在第 16 节中重复了——“他们便大大敬畏”——但这一次，我认为我们应该理解他们对上帝的恐惧正在变成敬畏。
Why do I say that? Because of what they do. As Jonah sinks between the waves, they offer sacrifice to Yahweh, and they make vows, presumably to follow Him and obey Him. And that’s incredibly biblical response to God. Listen to Ps 116.
我为什么这么说？因为他们的所作所为。当约拿沉入海浪之间时，他们向耶和华献祭，并许下誓言，大概是要跟随他并服从他。这是对上帝难以置信的力量回应。请听诗篇 116 章。
I will sacrifice a thank-offering to you
and call on the name of Yahweh.
I will fulfil my vows to Yahweh
in the presence of all his people. Psalm 116:17-18
我 要 以 感 谢 为 祭 献 给 你 ，
又 要 求 告 耶 和 华 的 名 。
我 要 在 他 众 民 面 前 ， 在 耶 和 华 殿 的 院 内 ， 在 耶 路 撒 冷 当 中 ， 向 耶 和 华 还 我 的
愿 。 你 们 要 赞 美 耶 和 华 ！诗篇 116:17-18
See sacrifices and vows were a key part of worshipping Yahweh, esp. when He has rescued His people from calamity or difficulty. So these pagan sailors are now operating as though part of Israel. See, they have come to faith in Yahweh.
看，献祭和誓言是敬拜耶和华的关键部分，尤其是，当他将他的子民从灾难或困难中拯救出来时。所以这些异教徒的水手现在就像以色列人一样。看，他们信了耶和华。
And that’s the final irony of this whole chapter – Jonah went on the run because he didn’t want to talk to pagans about Yahweh. But he did anyway – and now this group of them have come to faith in His God. And they fear Yahweh even more than Jonah does! Here’s the final reflection from this chapter:
这就是整章最后的讽刺——约拿逃亡是因为他不想和异教徒谈论耶和华。但他还是这么做了——现在这群人已经开始相信他的上帝了。他们比约拿更惧怕耶和华！这是本章的最后反思：
I am Jonah … when God saves others in spite of me rather than because of me
我是约拿……当上帝拯救他人不是因为我而是不透過我的时侯
It’s a tragic idea, really, isn’t it. God wants to use us renew people and places in our city; He wants to work with us to minister to the people around us. God wants to partner with you and me.
这是一个可悲的想法，真的，不是吗。上帝要使用我们更新我们城市中的人和地方；他想和我们一起服事我们周围的人。上帝想与你和我合作。
But if we’re not willing, or we’re disobedient, or we’re resisting His call, He may just use us anyway. But how sad might it be He saves people in spite of us, instead of because of us and through us?
但如果我们不愿意，或者我们不顺从，或者我们抗拒他的呼召，他可能会只是使用我们。但是，他拯救人们不是因为我们或者通过我们，而是不管我们，这会是多么可悲呢？
As we step back from this story, key characters are obviously Jonah and sailors. And there’s huge contrasts between them; terrific ironies between Yahweh’s prophet who’s meant to be all about following Yahweh and proclaiming His will and word, and these pagan sailors who don’t even know Yahweh. And often the pagan sailors seem more holy and loving than Jonah!
当我们回顾这个故事时，关键人物显然是约拿和水手。它们之间存在巨大的对比；极大的讽刺存在于本应跟随耶和华并宣扬他的旨意和话语的耶和华的先知与这些甚至不认识耶和华的异教徒水手之间。异教徒的水手们往往比约拿更圣洁、更有爱心！
But want suggest that real focus of chapter 1 is on other key character – Yahweh. The main character is not Jonah, but the God who pursues Jonah. And He’s powerful and He’s gracious and He’s relentless!
但我想建议第 1 章的真正重点是另一个关键人物——耶和华。主角不是约拿，而是追击约拿的神。他是强大的，他是仁慈的，他是堅定的！
He’s the God who hurls massive storm, and then turns it up notch after notch.
He’s the God who controls itty-bitty lots so that they reveal His will.
He’s the God who instantly calms storm with whisper.
And He’s the God who never gives up on His prophet. And that’s the key idea of this chapter:
他是引发巨大风暴的上帝，然后将它一波一波地升级。
他是控制掣 签的上帝，以便它们揭示他的旨意。
他是用耳语瞬间平息风暴的神。
他是永不放弃他的先知的神。这就是本章的核心思想：
Our sovereign and powerful God graciously and relentlessly pursues those who are truly His
我们至高无上、大能的上帝仁慈并不計代價地追求那些真正属于他的人
This is what it means when the Bible talks about God’s unfailing love. This is what grace looks like. IN moments of weakness we fail, and mess up, and choose wrong options, and sometimes make huge mistakes. And God comes after us. He pursues us. Not out of anger or judgment, but unrelenting love.
这就是圣经谈到上帝永恒的爱时的意思。这就是恩典的样子。在软弱的时刻，我们会失败、搞砸、进行错误的选择，有时还会犯下巨大的错误。上帝从我们之后赶来。他追着我们。不是出于愤怒或评判，而是出于无止歇的爱
He just doesn’t let us go.
When stop and think about it, that’s exactly how Jesus describes Him in famous stories in Luke 15:
Jesus said God is like a shepherd who searches for lost sheep
Jesus said God is like a woman who hunts for lost coin in a dark house
Jesus said God is like a father who scans horizon day after day for lost son
And what does he do when sees son in story? As said last week, God comes running…
他就是不让我们走。
停下来想一想，耶稣在路加福音 15 章的著名故事中就是这样描述他的：
耶稣说上帝就像寻找迷途的羊的牧羊人
耶稣说上帝就像一个女人在黑暗的房子里寻找丢失的硬币
耶稣说上帝就像一位父亲，日复一日地在地平线上寻找迷途的儿子
当在故事中看到儿子时，他会怎么做？正如上周所说，上帝正在追逐而来……
Our sovereign and powerful God graciously and relentlessly pursues those who are truly His
我们至高无上、大能的上帝仁慈不計代價地追逐那些真正属于他的人
