Jonah 1:1-4:11

Jonah

Background:

Written about 780 B.C. Among the first of the minor prophets to be written.

Matthew 12:39-40 – Jesus refers to the story of Jonah as a historical event. It is not allegorical.

The story of Jonah shows that God is Lord over the whole earth. He is anxious to save all if they will repent.

Overview of the book:

God gave a command. Jonah ran away from God.

Jonah 1:2

Jonah 1:7 – Lots were cast by men, but the decision was from God.

Jonah ran to God and was vomited out by the fish.

Jonah ran with God in warning the Ninevites (Jonah 3:1-10).

Assyria was at a low point in its history at this point. They also had somehow heard about Jonah being in the fish.

Matthew 12:41 – Ninevah repented!

Jonah ran ahead of God (Jonah 4:1-11).

Four miracles in the book of Jonah:

Jonah surviving the fish.

The sea immediately calming after Jonah was thrown in.

Overnight growth of the plant (Jonah 4:6).

Overnight death of the plant (Jonah 4:7).

Lessons for us:

God’s love and mercy are for all people.

The evil of prejudice.

National sin requires national repentance.

We can know of the resurrection of Jesus because Jonah was a type of Jesus’ resurrection.

God created all and all is at His disposal.

God does not want us to be like Jonah.

Man cannot run away from God.

The necessity of faith that obeys.

Paraphrase of JW McGarvey: “The ability to accept a miracle depends on whether or not one spells his god with a capital G.”