The bible – Book of Jonah

1. The Bible – Book of Jonah – 6th
February 2017
"Inmy distress I calledto the LORD, and He answered me. From the depths ofthe grave I calledfor
help,and you listenedto my cry." (Jonah2:2).
We can learnthat Jonah1:1 specificallyidentifiesthe ProphetJonahasthe authorof the Book. The Book
of Jonahwaslikelywrittenbetween793 and 758 B.C. Jonahis identifiedasa prophetand servantof
God duringthe reignof KingJeroboamIIof Israel (2 Kings14:24-25)—between792 and 753 B.C.Jonah’s
name means“dove”;and hiscommission,asrecorded inthe bookof Jonah,wasto conveya message
fromGod to the Assyriancapital of Nineveh.
The book of Jonahgivesnoindicationof hispropheticactivityinthe landof Israel.Itmerelybeginswith
an instructionfromGodto go to Ninevehandprophesytoitsinhabitants. “Thewordof the LORD came
to Jonahson of Amittai: “Gotothe great city of Ninevehand preach againstit,because its wickedness
has come upbefore me.” (Jonah1:1-2). Nineveh wasfoundedbyNimrodshortlyafterthe Floodaswe
readfrom, Genesis10:11-12, “Fromthat landhe went to Assyria,where he builtNineveh,RehobothIr,
Calah12
andResen, which isbetween Ninevehand Calah—whichisthegreat city.” As the capital of the
Assyrianempire,itrose topowerabout900 B.C. Yearslater,Assyriabeganthe processof conquering
Israel,andJonahclearlysawthisnationas an enemyandfearedwhatitwouldeventuallydo.By721
B.C. the Assyrianarmyhad destroyedthe northernkingdomof Israel.The Assyrianswere extremely
brutal and cruel,evenskinningtheircaptivesalive.The prophetNahumdescribesthemaslions,tearing
and feedingonthe nationsasstatedin Nahum2:11-13.
Disobedience andrevivalare the keythemesinthisbook.Jonah’sexperience inthe bellyof the whale
provideshimwithaunique opportunitytoseekaunique deliverance,ashe repentsduringthisequally
unique retreat.Hisinitial disobedience leadsnotonlytohispersonal revival,buttothat of the Ninevites
as well.Manyclassifythe revival whichJonahbringstoNinevehasone of the greatestevangelistic
effortsof all time.
Jonah'sfearand pride cause himto run fromGod. He doesnotwishto go to Ninevehtopreach
repentance tothe people,asGodhas commanded,because he feelstheyare hisenemies,andhe is
convincedthatGod will notcarry outhis threatto destroythe city.Insteadhe boardsa shipfor Tarshish,
whichisin the opposite direction.Soonaragingstormcausesthe crew to cast lotsand determine that
Jonahis the problem.Theythrowhimoverboard,andhe isswallowedbyagreat fish.Initsbellyfor3
daysand 3 nights,Jonahrepentsof hissintoGod, and the fishvomitshimupon dryland (we wonder
whattook himso longto repent).Jonahthenmakesthe 500-mile triptoNinevehandleadsthe cityina
great revival.Butthe prophetisdispleased(actuallypouts) insteadof beingthankful whenNineveh
repents.Jonahlearnshislesson,however,whenGodusesawind,a gourdand a worm to teachhimthat
He ismerciful.
We can learnwhere JesusdeclaresthatHe will be inthe grave the same amountof time Jonahwas in
the whale’sbelly aswe canreadfrom Matthew 12:40-41, For as Jonahwas three days andthree nights
in the bellyof a huge fish,so the Son ofMan will be three daysand three nightsinthe heart of the
earth. 41
The men of Ninevehwill stand up at the judgmentwith thisgeneration and condemn it; for
they repented at the preachingof Jonah,andnow somethinggreater thanJonahis here.”He goeson
to say that while the Ninevitesrepentedinthe face of Jonah’spreaching,the Phariseesandteachersof
the Law who rejectedJesuswere rejectingOne whoisfargreaterthanJonah.Justas Jonahbroughtthe

2. truth of God regardingrepentance andsalvationtothe Ninevites,sodoesJesusbringthe same message
of salvation.We canreadthis from Romans11:36, “For fromhim andthroughhim andfor him are all
things.To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
The practical application thatwe canreceive fromthe bookof Jonahis that we cannot hide fromGod.
What He wishestoaccomplish throughuswill come topass,despite all ourobjectionsandfoot-
dragging. We can learn thatHe has plansforus and will see toitthat we conformto those plans. We can
learnfromEphesians2:10, “ For we are God’shandiwork,created inChrist Jesusto do goodworks,
whichGod prepared inadvance for usto do.” Therefore itisprudentforusto understandasto how
much easieritwouldbe if we,unlikeJonah,wouldsubmittoHimwithout delay!
God’slove manifestsitself inHisaccessibilitytoall,regardlessof ourreputation,nationalityorrace.The
free offerof the Gospel isforall people inall times.Ourtaskas Christiansistobe the meansbywhich
God tellsthe worldof the offerandto rejoice inthe salvationof others.Thisisanexperience Godwants
us to share withHim,not beingjealousorresentful of those whocome toChristin“last-minute
conversions”orwhocome throughcircumstancesdissimilartoourown.
Key Verses:
Jonah1:3, "But Jonahran away fromthe LORD andheaded for Tarshish..."
Jonah1:17, "Butthe LORD provideda great fishto swallowJonah,andJonah wasinsidethe fishthree
daysand three nights."
Jonah3:10, "WhenGodsawwhat they did andhow they turned from their evil ways,He had
compassionanddidnot bringuponthem the destructionhe had threatened."