Chapter 9: Jonah (Great Leaders of the Book)

IN THIS CHAPTER, you will discover: 

God's unique tool of discipline for his servant. 

God's great grace at work in an obstinate believer. 

AS A RESULT, you will be able to: 

Discern between God's discipline and the enemy's attacks.

Avoid the sin of rebellion.

Reading: Talk Thru Bible Personalities, pp. 129-40.

Scripture References

Jonah 1:1-3 Disobedience to God?s command.
1:4-16 Storm sent as judgment.
1:17 Provision of fish.
2:1-9 Prayer of repentance.
2:10 Deliverance from fish.
3:1-4 Obedience to call to Nineveh.
3:5-9 Nineveh?s complete repentance.
3:10 Salvation of Nineveh by God.
4:1-3 Jonah?s angry prayer.
4:4-11 Rebuke by God.

Biographical Observations

Disobedient Prophet
Jonah ministered in the eighth century B.C. after the prophet Elisha and before Amos and Hosea during the fractured reign of Jeroboam II in Israel. He was a native of Galilee who was commissioned by God to go and declare judgment against the Ninevites. Nineveh, built on the Tigris River, was the capital of the vast Assyrian Empire. There its people lived in luxury, reveling in a decadent and depraved lifestyle. Their reputation for mistreating captives was infamous, and physical torture was a favored method.
Jonah hated these cruel people and rebelled when God's call came to him. He could not believe that God was sending him to a Gentile people five hundred miles away. Instead of traveling northeast to Nineveh, he boarded a ship in Joppa that was bound for Tarshish -- two thousand miles to the west. Suddenly a violent storm arose. The sailors, believing that someone was responsible for the calamity, cast lots to find the culprit. And the lot fell on Jonah.
When Jonah saw these foreigners as real people, he knew that he must offer them salvation by acknowledging his guilt. He realized that everyone would be lost if he did not sacrifice himself, so he asked to be thrown overboard. The mariners were hesitant to throw a stranger to certain drowning, but could see no other way. As soon as Jonah left the ship, the sea became calm. The sailors offered a sacrifice and made vows to the God who controlled the sea.
Praying Prophet
Jonah 1:17 says that "the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah." A person swallowed by most large fish would simply drown. But one type of whale is capable of swallowing a human, and as an air-breathing mammal, of providing a replenishable supply of oxygen through its throat. Whether it was a fish or a whale, God miraculously provided for Jonah's needs for as long as was necessary.
God provided the great fish for several reasons. The most obvious was to save Jonah from drowning. The second was to discipline the rebellious prophet. And because there are no isolated or insignificant incidents recorded in the Bible, Jesus would later use Jonah's experience to predict his own death and resurrection within a three-day period.

Jonah had a prayer retreat in the belly of the whale. Forced to spend time alone with God, he realized that "salvation comes from the Lord" (Jonah 2:9). Following his repentance, Jonah vowed to go to the Ninevites. God's sovereignty even over the natural world is shown through His direction of the fish toward land. Jonah is vomited on shore, surely an inglorious beginning for an evangelistic campaign -- especially to "unclean" Gentiles.
Faithful Prophet
Even after his ordeal, Jonah did not like the idea of preaching to the Ninevites. Thoughts tumbled through his mind: "Perhaps I can make it quick. But suppose they get saved -- how will that make Judah appear in comparison? What if God changes His mind and does not destroy them? What will that do to my reputation as a prophet?" Burdened with these thoughts, Jonah went to Nineveh where he preached the shortest sermon on record: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned" (3:4).
After Jonah's warning, everyone from the king down to the animals fasted and wore sackcloth to demonstrate their repentance. What an experience! Jonah had waged the most responsive evangelistic cam- paign in any prophet's history, and the whole city was saved from God's judgment.
Angry Prophet
With such evangelistic success, Jonah should have been ecstatic. But he was indignant; his worst fears had come to pass. God had forgiven Nineveh of her wickedness and the city was spared. Judah's worst enemy was not destroyed, and God's own people were still steeped in sin. Additionally, Jonah probably felt himself the laughingstock of his nation. Who would ever believe him again?
Instead of rejoicing over Ninevah's repentance, Jonah grieved over the loss of his own reputation. Perhaps Jesus was thinking of Jonah when he told the story of the prodigal son and his jealous older brother (Luke 15:25-32). In the end, God attempted to move Jonah beyond his own self-interest to see things from a divine perspective. God's great love for humanity is seen in the book's final statement: "Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths: Jonah did not try to blame anyone else when the sailors cast lots. In fact, he insisted on giving up his life that others might live. Jonah did not hesitate to call on God in times of trouble. Confident that his salvation had come from the Lord, Jonah kept the vow he had made. Trusting in God's grace, Jonah felt free to question the Lord. He believed that God would not kill him if he revealed how he really felt.
Weaknesses: Jonah was extremely prejudiced and had little compassion for his wicked enemies. For the most part he was selfish and easily offended. Proud Jonah became angry with the Lord and wanted to die. When he did not get his way, he brooded and pouted.
Key Scripture: "When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened" (Jonah 3:10).
The Lord's arms are always opened wide to receive those who truly repent and turn toward Him. Many years after Jonah, Jesus said: "?there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent' (Luke 15:7).
Key Thought: The book of Jonah demonstrates God's concern for universal salvation -- extending beyond the Jews to all nations. Furthermore, God can use even an unwilling servant to accomplish His tasks.
Philosophy of Life
In modern vernacular, Jonah's motto might have been, "Bless us and no more." As an isolationist, his extreme prejudice precluded his love for those outside Israel. His prejudice kept good company with his narrow-mindedness, pride, and spirit of offense. Jonah's reputation as a prophet was more important to him than the lives of thousands of people.
Comparison
Jonah and Nahum were two minor prophets who preached to the Ninevites, Israel's archenemy. Jonah's task was to call them to repentance, but to his dismay the whole city responded. Sadly, Jonah never comprehended that God is a gracious Savior, seeking the salvation of all people. Moreover, his disobedience kept Jonah from understanding his peculiar privilege as a missionary to the Gentiles. One hundred and fifty years later, after the Ninevites had reverted to their old ways, God sent Nahum to announce judgment on them. Nahum, unlike Jonah, was totally obedient. His anger toward the Ninevites was righteous indignation while Jonah's was self-righteous. Ninevah was indeed destroyed this time, conquered by the Babylonians in 612 B.C
Jonah in the New Testament
Jesus used Jonah as an example of a miraculous sign (Matt 16.4). Just as Jonah was in the fish for three days and three nights, Jesus would be in the earth for three days and three nights (Matt 12.40) "For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation" (Luke 11.30).
The Grand Design
The Master Weaver often comes upon a thread that is difficult to use. But instead of discarding it and using another, he painstakingly weaves the obstinate thread. He sees in his mind's eye the beauty of the finished product. Therefore Jonah's thread demonstrates the creativity of the Weaver, not the beauty of the thread itself.

Key Concepts:
1. Jonah was a prophet during the reign of _____________________. [130]
2. True or False. Jonah's rebellion is revealed by a terrible storm. [130]
3. As Jonah cried for mercy inside the fish, he quoted from (Psalms, Proverbs). [131]
4. Jonah's sermon is the (longest, shortest) sermon on record. [131]
5. God sent a _________________ to destroy the vine as an object lesson for Jonah. [131]
6. Jonah turned away from God's command in direct disobedience and _____________________. [132]
7. Jonah repented when (outside, inside) the fish. [134]
8. God's discipline is a sign of his great (anger, love) toward his child. [134]
9. True or False. Jonah is a book for people who feel they have failed too often for God to use them. [137]
10. Jonah's first reaction to the salvation of the Ninevites was (anger, relief, joy). [137]
Further Study: Read "Jonah," p. 539 and "Jonah, Book or' pp. 539- 41 in the NIDB.
Life Application: Jonah was an angry man who had to be reminded of God's great patience and grace. His anger never allowed him to see Ninevah's desperate need for salvation. Jonah allowed even minor irritations such as the worm eating the vine to upset him. Do minor irritations cause you to explode? Perhaps you have deep-seated rage, which emerges in crises and erupts into volcanic proportions. Have you used the excuse, "God made me with a short fuse!"? Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit so allow the Holy Spirit to remove your anger and give you peace.