Jonah

The Character of God, the Character of Man, a Study in Personal Worship

Jonah 1:1-17

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, [2] “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me

What was God’s role here?
Ideally, what was Jonah’s role here?
Was God asking for an act of worship on Jonah’s part?

[3] But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

So, whose will was Jonah fulfilling?
If it were God’s will for Jonah to go to Nineveh, why did Jonah head the other way?

[4] But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. [5] Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.

If the men asked their gods to handle their situation, why did they take matters in their own hands and throw the cargo overboard?
Was Jonah among them in their efforts? Why?
It says “the mariners were afraid.” Jonah isn’t mentioned. Was Jonah afraid?

[6] So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” [7] And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. [8] Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” [9] So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

Does God bless the casting of lots as it seems to indicate here?
Is it a good idea for us to use “lots” to find God’s will in personal matters?
Is a “fleece” the same as casting a lot? If so, why did God bless it with Gideon? If not, how is it different?
Did God use this situation to teach the heathens about Him?
Was there an act of worship on Jonah’s part here?
Can we learn anything about the character of God here?
Can we learn anything about the character of man here?

[10] Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. [11] Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”–for the sea was growing more tempestuous. [12] And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.”

Is there an act of worship here?
Has Jonah’s faith in God waned?
Has God’s will in Jonah’s life waned?

[13] Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. [14] Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, “We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.” [15] So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. [16] Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.

Do we see a change in the lives and worldviews of the mariners here?
What can we see here about the nature and character of man?
What can we learn about the character of God?
Is there an act of worship here? More than one? Name them?

[17] Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Is God’s love always a “warm fuzzy” love or is He tough on us at times?
Is God’s love a patient one?
What NT prophecy is mentioned about the Messiah relating to Jonah’s story?
Does God often use our rebellion?
How is God’s attitude toward our rebellion different from His attitude toward our obedience?
Do we “get credit” for the good done by God in our rebellious state?

Jonah 2

What is your idea of the perfect “get away from all your troubles” location?
What good or bad thoughts do you associate with fish?
When have you been rescued from a difficult situation?

[1]Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. [2] And he said:

“I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,

And He answered me.

“Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,

And You heard my voice.

[3] For You cast me into the deep,

Into the heart of the seas,

And the floods surrounded me;

All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.

[4] Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight;

Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’

[5] The waters surrounded me, even to my soul;

The deep closed around me;

Weeds were wrapped around my head.

[6] I went down to the moorings of the mountains;

The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;

Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,

O Lord, my God.

[7] “When my soul fainted within me,

I remembered the Lord;

And my prayer went up to You,

Into Your holy temple.

[8] “Those who regard worthless idols

Forsake their own Mercy.

[9] But I will sacrifice to You

With the voice of thanksgiving;

I will pay what I have vowed.

Salvation is of the Lord.”

[10] So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Once inside the fish, how did Jonah respond to God’s rescue?
What was Jonah’s attitude toward God?
How did God finally deliver Jonah?
How can we tell if God is convicting us or if Satan is condemning us?
When have you not wanted to obey God?
When has God called you to serve Him in ways that were unattractive or unpleasant to you?
What rebellious attitudes have you ever had toward the Lord?
What opportunities do you have to tell others about faith in Christ?
Do we often treat non-believers as Jonah did, to discount them as valuable?
How has God pursued you when you have tried to avoid Him?
When have bad circumstances turned out for your good?
How do you feel when you know that you are being obedient to the Lord’s call?
How do you thank the Lord for all the remarkable ways He has delivered you?

Jonah 3:1-10

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying,

In what manner do you suppose “The Word of the Lord came to Jonah?”
If not an audible voice, how do you suppose Jonah recognized it? (Saying he had heard it before simply moves the question earlier in time)
Do you ever feel disqualified for God’s work because of past mistakes or sin?
Doesn’t God’s willingness to use us in His work indicate He sees us as useful?

[2] “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” [3] So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. [4] And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

Tough message! Do you suppose Jonah was frightened to make this pronouncement before such a “great city?”
Don’t we often feel the same when God tells us to do uncomfortable things?
Is courage acting without fear or acting through fear?
Three-day journey across Nineveh. How long do you suppose it would take to walk across Los Angeles?
3:3 an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey. “a great city to God,” the text emphasizes not only its size (cf. 1:2) but its importance (cf. 4:11). A metropolitan city the size of Nineveh, with a circumference of about 60 mi., would require 3 days just to get around it. These dimensions are confirmed by historians. Stopping to preach would only add to the time requirement. (MacArthur Study Bible notes)

[5] So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. [6] Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. [7] And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying,

Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. [8] But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. [9] Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?

[10] Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

Did God change His mind?
Did God contradict a direct prophecy?
Explain how God can say Nineveh will be overthrown and then not do it.
How does this fit with what we believe about God’s character?

Jeremiah 18:7-8

The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, [8] if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.

Jonah Fulfills His Mission

<Jonah 3:10-4:11>

When things don’t go your way, how do you tend to respond?
What most easily moves you to compassion?

[3:10] Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

[4:1] But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.

Do you ever get angry when you see God doing something?
Does God ever tell you to do things and you become angry with what He says?
In what ways can God make us angry?

[2] So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. [3] Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” [4] Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

Is there anything wrong with Jonah’s prayer?
Do you sometimes think God is too merciful in the way He deals with others?
Do you ever think He is too merciful in His dealings with you?
Is there ever a time we can be angry with God’s blessing?
Do you picture God as “slow to anger” in His dealings with our nation?
Do you see Him as “slow to anger” in His dealings in your life?
Do you see Him as “slow to anger” in His dealings in the lives of others?

[5] So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. [6] And the Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. [7] But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. [8] And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

What was Jonah’s attitude at the end of this incident?
Should Jonah’s attitude been different, and if so, how so?

[9] Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!” [10] But the Lord said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. [11] And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left–and much livestock?”

So, what was God teaching Jonah and us with the plant?
What did God want Jonah to understand? (4:9-11)
Have you ever experienced a surprising, undeserved measure of God’s mercy in your life?
In your view, which culture, nation, or special interest group is undeserving of God’s mercy?
In your view, which culture, nation, or special interest group is undeserving of God’s mercy?
What is the hardest lesson you have had to learn from God?
What is one way you can extend God’s love and mercy toward others, particularly those who don’t deserve it?