Note: For clarity the Kings of Israel are coded in Orange and Kings of Judah are coded in Blue.
The small book of Jonah is just four chapters. They reflect what happens when we run from God, run to God, run with God, and run ahead of God. We can learn a lot from this book, because it demonstrates to us that these are the seasons of our own lives.
Jonah 1 – Jonah Runs from God
Jonah was a prophet to Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II. 2 Kings 14:25 tell us that Jeroboam II did evil in the eyes of the Lord. But the Lord showed great mercy to the evil king and the disobedient Israel so He allowed the boundaries of Israel to be restored. Jonah had prophesied that Israel would expand her boundaries and it happened just as he said it would. So Jonah was respected and had God on his side.
God came to Jonah asking him to go to Nineveh and preach against its wickedness. Nineveh was an Assyrian city located in the modern-day city of Mosul in northern Iraq. Jonah didn’t want to go so he immediately ran away. Scripture doesn’t tell us the reasons he ran. Perhaps he didn’t want to go because Nineveh was a large violent evil city and their sins repulsed him, it was a Gentile city, or he was simple afraid of what they might do to him. This is an understandable response when God asks us to do something difficult.
Jonah got on a ship sailing for Tarshish. Then God sent a violent storm with a great wind that even the expert sailors aboard the ship where terrified and they threw their cargo overboard so the ship wouldn’t sink. They cried out to their gods for deliverance. What was Jonah doing while all this was going on? He was down in the bottom of the ship asleep. It seemed he doesn’t care and wanted to die.
Jonah was singled out as the one whose God was responsible. Jonah finally confessed and admitted his guilt choosing to protect the others rather than himself. His solution was for them to throw him into the sea; then the sea would become calm. The logical solution should have been for Jonah to say, “Turn around and take me to Nineveh. That’s were God wants me to go.” Jonah was willing to sacrifice his own life to save the others. Why a change of heart? Maybe he saw their fear and he took compassion on them; maybe he had the desire to serve God; maybe he felt anything was better than resisting and running from God; maybe he had now truly repented.
They didn’t want to throw him into the sea, because they believed his God was real and they feared the consequences. Finally they did what Jonah had asked, but before they did, they did something surprising. They prayed to the Lord because they knew He was in control. The sailors feared the Lord and offered a sacrifice to him and took vows. They threw Jonah overboard. Then the storm became calm and the ship and sailors were saved.
God saw Nineveh’s wickedness. Nothing is hidden from God. God knew what Jonah’s reaction would be. He knew all Jonah’s rebellious plans. He had prepared a great fish to swallow up this fleeing prophet so His plans and purposes would be carried out. God had a job for Jonah and He wasn’t going to let him get off that easy. So by God’s grace He sent a miracle to keep him alive and give him a second chance. Jonah was swallowed by the great fish and stayed inside the fish three days and three nights.
God sent the fish to punish Jonah and also to save him. Three days and nights in the dark of the belly of a fish is too disgusting and disturbing not to be a punishment. But without God sending the fish, Jonah would probably have drowned in the sea. God saved him despite him running away and despite his disobedience. God still wanted to use him.
If God wanted to, He could have saved Jonah from the sea without the fish. His life preserved in the belly of the fish is like the burial of Jesus in the tomb. Jonah was in the fish for three days and Jesus was in the tomb for three days. The fish represented the grave of Christ and the spitting of Jonah represented the revival of Christ.
Principle: God patiently seeks us even when we rebel and run away.
Jonah 2 – Jonah’s Prayer
Jonah was rebellious and resistant, but still a believer and God wasn’t finished with him yet. So From inside the fish Jonah repented and prayed to God. During the three days and three night Jonah boldly prayed to the Lord. He praised God for His deliverance for by faith he knew God would deliver him. He knew that the Lord heard his prayer and he knew that he was never out of God’s hands. In his prayer he declared his commitment to God. He had a new heart of gratitude and gave glory to God. God spoke to the fish and the fish expelled Jonah onto dry land.
The three days and nights point to the Messiah to come, Jesus Christ. We see that Jonah’s deliverance came after laying down one’s life. Jonah gave his life for others just as Jesus did. But death did not hold him; after three days and night of imprisonment, he was alive and free.
Principle: God always hears our prayers.
Jonah 3 – Jonah Goes To Nineveh
God wanted obedience from Jonah and reminded him that there was an undone task. So for the second time God told Jonah, “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” – Jonah 3:1. He was to tell them that God was coming to judge them for their evil ways. Having learned that resisting God doesn’t work, this time Jonah obeyed. He went to the city and proclaimed that in forty days Nineveh would be overturned in judgment if they didn’t repent. Overturned means destroyed and annihilated like that of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The people of Nineveh believed God. The king called for national repentance. A leader makes a nation what they are. You may be the leader in your home, in your work, in your church, or in your community. It is a leader’s responsibility to lead in vision and direction and also in repentance and holiness.
The people fasted and prayed. They had genuine repentance. True repentance is to change one’s way of living. God saw their repentance. They were more than just sorry; they turned from their wicked ways so God changed His mind and didn’t destroy Nineveh at this time. Even though they turned from their sins, it was not long before they returned to their wicked ways. About 100 years later, the prophet Nahum pronounce judgement upon Nineveh. This time they didn’t repent and God destroyed Nineveh. Ultimately Jonah’s prophesy did come true.
Jonah 4 – Jonah’s Anger
Jonah didn’t understand the depth of God’s grace and compassion. He still didn’t understand how wrong he was. He resented God’s mercy toward the people of Nineveh. He was full of pride and thought he knew better than God. He was angry and upset that God granted repentance to the Ninevites. He wanted God to bring judgment upon these people he hated. Jonah had been saved from a storm, drowning, and death in the fish’s belly. But prejudice blinded him to God’s mercy on him and Nineveh.
He prayed to God in anger. He became depressed and prayed for God to take his life. He criticized God’s wisdom of grace and mercy. He was defeated by his own selfishness, hate, and pride. So much that he wanted to die. The devil had gotten a foothold into Jonah’s life by using discouragement, which led to depression, defeat and then to a death wish.
God responded to him by asking him simple question, “Have you any right to be angry?” – Jonah 4:4. Of course the answer is no! He had no right to question God’s ways and purposes for mankind. The Creator has the right to do whatever he wants. Jonah was so upset that he never answered. Jonah left Nineveh. He made a shelter and sat in its shade and waited to see if God would bring judgment on the city.
Are you selfish thinking of only yourself?
Principle: God lovingly extends mercy to all people.
Lessons from Jonah –
Next time we will continue our study of Kingdom Divided by going back to the book of Amos. Until then I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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