Introduction
Regardless of one’s upbringing, almost all individuals are somewhat familiar with the book of Jonah. Whether it’s a story they’ve been told from their children’s Bible, or they’ve seen pop culture references, Jonah is one of the most recognized books of the Bible, and is definitely the best known of the minor prophets. While the book itself is only forty-eight verses, it has demanded a lot of attention. While most remember the story of the great fish, the work of our great God often gets overlooked.
The story of Jonah is a historical record of something that happened. He is the only prophet God sent to a foreign people. But there is far more to the book. Jonah is a satirical comedy. It tells the story of a prophet who fails in every single task given to him. God tells him to go east, and he heads west. God says go preach, and Jonah falls asleep. God saves lost people, and the prophet pouts in response.
Author
In 2 Kings 14:25, “Jonah son of Amittai” appears as someone prophesying during the reign of Jeroboam II (782-753 B.C.). Jonah’s ministry as a prophet had already served Israel well, as his message allowed the nation to prosper.
Date
While the book contains no time stamp within the text, many scholars believe the events that take place in the book of Jonah occurred in the eighth century B.C. Many estimate the book of Jonah was written anywhere between the eighth century and the end of the third century. The book was most likely written between the sixth and fourth centuries based upon the language and descriptions used in the book.
Nineveh
Jonah’s call was to head north and east, yet he attempted to head south and west. Jonah was called to go to Nineveh, in the heart of Assyria (modern day Iraq). Instead, he fled to Tarshish, a location potentially in Spain or in the Mediterranean near Italy—the opposite direction! At the peak of Nineveh’s prosperity, it was surrounded by a wall nearly eight miles in length. The people of Nineveh were everything opposite of what God’s people held dear. The Ninevites were known for their cruelty, killing men, raping women, ripping babies from wombs, and crushing children’s heads against rocks. They often skinned their victims and impaled their bodies, leaving them to die. They often forced parents to watch their children get burned alive before murdering the parents. They also buried victims up to their necks in sand and left them to die of hunger, thirst, or wild animal attack. Entire cities would commit suicide rather than fall into the hands of the Ninevites.
Outline of Jonah
I. First Commissioning – Jonah at Sea (Chapters 1-2)
Jonah’s Initial Call (1:1-3)
Jonah’s Rebellion and Subsquent Consequences (1:4-16)
Jonah’s Deliverance (1:17-2:10)
II. Second Commissioning – Jonah at Nineveh (Chapters 3-4)
Jonah’s Second Call (3:1-3)
The People of Nineveh’s Response (3:4-10)
The Angry Prophet’s Response (4:1-10)
Grace & Mercy
God’s grace and mercy is on full display in the book of Jonah. Within this book, God shows grace and mercy upon the pagan Ninevites, the pagan sailors, and the rebellious prophet Jonah.
Love of “Others”
What’s remarkable about the book of Jonah is the great care for others that is on display. It’s clear from reading Jonah that God had an interest in expressing this love to others (Jonah 4:2), yet God’s chosen instrument did not share in that sentiment. It appears he couldn’t care less about the sailors in the boat or the citizens of Nineveh; he was far more concerned with his own comfort and preferences. Yet the sailors (1:14), their captain (1:6), and the king of Nineveh (3:9) expressed a deep concern, care, and love for others. This serves as a subtle rebuke toward those who know God; challenging them to think outside of themselves.
Mission
When grace, mercy, and love for the outsider meet, we find mission. While Jonah’s heart appears small, unmerciful, and uninterested towards unbelievers, we find that God is the opposite! God breaks down walls and leads people out into the world with good news and forgiveness. The book of Jonah highlights the mission of God to reconcile people back to Him.
The Sovereignty of God
Throughout the book of Jonah, God’s supreme authority and control are on display. In Jonah, we see God control the storms (1:4), the lot (1:7), the great fish (1:17), the plant (4:6), the worm (4:7), and the winds (4:8).
Jonah Chapter 1
Into The Storm
Jonah is often spoken of as if he was a “hero” in the Bible. But as we will read and study in the coming weeks, Jonah doesn’t actually have many qualities that we would want to emulate. In Chapter 1, we see God call Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn them of coming wrath of God. Instead fulfilling his calling, Jonah runs in rebellion, causing grave consequences not only for himself, but also for others in his presence.
Main Idea: It is impossible to run from God.
Conversation Starter
Q. Can you think of a time when God has prompted you to do something difficult or inconvenient? How did you respond?
Q. What do God’s initial call and Jonah’s response tell us about Jonah? What do they tell us about God? Follow Up: Is there someone in your life that incites the same feeling that Jonah had? If they were to show up at church this Sunday, would their presence make you want to flee? Follow Up: What do we reveal about ourselves when we fail to love the “unlovable” in the way God has loved us?
Q. In the midst of the storm, the men on the boat cried out to their “gods.” Instead of calling out to the true and living God, Jonah was fast asleep. When storms hit in your life, do you cry out to God, or attempt to rely on something else? Follow Up: Jonah is surrounded by pagans seeking deliverance while he is asleep at the bottom of the boat. Do you see any correlation between Jonah’s actions and yours as you interact with unbelievers on a day-to-day basis?
Q. In verse 9, Jonah describes God as the one who “made the sea and the dry land.” In light of that, his attempt to flee seems quite foolish. Can you think of a time when you acted in a way that now seems foolish, considering what you know about God?
Q. Verse 13 is a key verse in this passage. Amid the storm, the sailors reached a point where they realized they could not save themselves, and turned to the Lord in verse 14. What storms are you facing? What is God breaking apart to wake you up spiritually? Where do you need to cease from trying to save yourself?
Personal Reflection and Application
Q. Do you picture God as a God of the nations, or just your own little world? Is God’s grace limited to only good people?
Q. How does the reality of who God is, challenge some of your assumptions about how He works?