As the prophet thought of the difficulties and seeming impossibilities of this commission, he was tempted to question the wisdom of the call. From a human viewpoint it seemed as if nothing could be gained by proclaiming such a message in that proud city. He forgot for the moment that the God whom he served was all-wise and all-powerful. While he hesitated, still doubting, Satan overwhelmed him with discouragement. The prophet was seized with a great dread, and he "rose up to flee unto Tarshish." Going to Joppa, and finding there a ship ready to sail, "he paid the fare thereof and went down into it, to go with them." Verse 3.

Mens profeten tænkte på den vanskelige og tilsyneladende umulige opgave, blev han fristet til at spørge, om det nu også var klogt at tage af sted. Menneskelig set kunne der ikke opnås noget ved at forkynde et sådant budskab i den stolte by. Lige i øjeblikket glemte han, at den Gud, som han tjente, er vis og almægtig, og mens han tøvede og tvivlede, gjorde Satan ham modløs. Profeten blev grebet af rædsel og "stod op for at fly fra Herrens åsyn til Tarsis". Han drog til Joppe, og da han fandt et skib, som netop skulle sejle, "betalte han, hvad rejsen kostede, og gik om bord for at sejle med". 3. vers.