NBBC SS: Jonah 1-2

Jonah 1:1-3 “The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”

"The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying,”

Who is the individual that was the recipient of God’s Word?

Jonah

What do we know about Jonah?

According to 2 Kings 14:25, he was a prophet from Gath-hepher (in the No. Kingdom, just No. of Samaria)

According to both 2 Ki 14:25 and Jonah 1:1, he was the son of Amittai

Outside of this information and the book of Jonah itself we know nothing else (let that thought sink in through our conclusion of this study next week).

What is it that came to Jonah?

God’s Word.

There are at least 90 other verses where this phrase is used in conjunction with a prophet of God receiving God’s Word.

How do you think that God’s man, the prophet, responds in those other 90 places?

They deliver God’s Word!

Hence, we would expect Jonah to respond the same way.

You see, there is an expectation that when God’s Word is received by the prophet to proclaim God’s Word.

Why is it that God’s prophets obediently proclaim God’s Word in the other 90 times?

What is it about God’s Word that should prompt anyone and everyone to either obey or it obediently proclaim it?

The authority of God’s Word.

Implied in the fact that the Lord has spoken His Word is also His authority behind it.

Therefore, His Word cannot be set aside.

Instead, His Word must be obeyed.

What is the specific message that Jonah received?

To go and cry against Nineveh

What do we know about Nineveh?

It was the capitol of the Assyrian Empire.

What do we know about the Assyrians?

They would eventually carry off the Northern Kingdom captive (2 Ki 17).

They would unsuccessfully launch a campaign against the Southern Kingdom, Judah (2 Ki 19).

What hope does this message offer for the people of Nineveh?

None.

There’s no redemptive nature of this message in that offers hope of being spare if the people repent of their wickedness.

It may be implied given that the Lord has a plan to use His prophet to confront their wickedness.

But it certainly is not an overt indication.

Let’s piece this together.

The Lord has given Jonah a message to deliver to the Assyrians.

The Assyrians would eventually be used of the Lord to bring the Northern Kingdom to an end.

In other words, Jonah is to bring a message against his countrymen’s enemies.

Why?

The wickedness of Nineveh has come before the Lord, lit. His face!

What’s fascinating is that there is a somewhat similar of wording in Hosea 7:2.

While I do not want to take away from our study of Hosea, the context concerns the sins of Israel, specifically Ephraim and their capitol Samaria.

When you read it, the sense that you get is a regretful tone from the Lord for He concludes in Hosea 7:7, “None of them calls on Me.”

It reminds us that sin’s consequences not only pertain to us personally but that the Lord is personally offended by our sin, the God of the universe!

When the Lord indicates that their wickedness has come against Him, what does that imply about their sin and all sin?

It’s against the Lord.

This is significant on account of the fact that, while many prophecies are against the sin of the Lord’s people, the Lord does not overlook any sin!

Think about how this points to the seriousness of sin and how the Lord addresses it.

Every sin against God deserves resolution.

Because all sin is against the Lord, He will deal with sin appropriately.

His abundant kindness, however, has been displayed in dealing with sin through Jesus!

“But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”

Based on the responses of the prophets that I referenced earlier who received God’s Word and obediently proclaimed It, what do we expect to read after the declaration of the Lord’s message?

That Jonah would do likewise.

However, what do we read?

“But”

There’s an interruption in the expected behavior of God’s prophet.

What is it that Jonah did instead?

Instead of rising up to go to Nineveh, he went the opposite direction to Tarshish, a point as far west as what was known in Jonah’s day.

What was Jonah’s intention?

To get away from God’s presence.

Is this even possible?

No!

We read in Gn 3:8 that Adam and Eve attempted to hide form God’s presence, albeit unsuccessfully.

We also read in Gn 4:16 that Cain went from God’s presence to settle in a different land.

Based on what Cain’s actions, what do we think that Jonah is attempting to do?

With Cain, he left his family and their faith to live away from them.

Thus, Cain is likely attempting to abandon any semblance of the faith associated with his family, the first family.

Hence, Jonah is attempting to abandon his relationship with the Lord.

“So he went down to Joppa,”

Where is it that Jonah went after his decision to abandon his relationship with the Lord?

Joppa.

What is it about Joppa that makes it an attractive spot for Jonah to hitch a ride?

Joppa is on the Southern most tip of the Northern Kingdom on the coast.

Notice Jonah’s intentionality here.

Jonah is putting distance between himself and Nineveh.

This is not a haphazard decision on Jonah’s part.

“found a ship which was going to Tarshish,

While Jonah was in Joppa, what did he find?

What he wanted, a ship to get him out of there.

There’s such an emphasis on activity here.

“paid the fare”

“and went down into it”

“to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”

With such detail, we’re invited to experience this with Jonah.

How does this verse conclude?

A reminder about Jonah’s intent: to abandon his relationship with the Lord.

I believe that this intentionality of inviting us into the narrative has a specific purpose: to invite us to consider, “Am I attempting to abandon my relationship with the Lord?”

What’s interesting is, at this point, we’re not told anything about Jonah’s perspective on the Assyrians; we’ll get this in Jonah 4.

Therefore, the passage is leading us to believe that there’s something wrong with Jonah’s relationship to the Lord that he would have such a dramatic reaction against obeying the Lord.

When we don’t obey God’s Word, where does the problem lie?

With us.

When we choose to disobey the Lord, we are choosing an authority other than His to yield to.

While none of us may be actively attempting to abandon our relationship to the Lord, the passage does remind us where it starts.

It starts in the heart.

It then manifests itself in disobedience.

Hence, we have a warning here about how far disobedience can take us.

We can’t take sin lightly; it prompts us to take dramatic steps.

Jonah 1:4-9 “The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep. So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.” Each man said to his mate, “Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us.” So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, “Tell us, now! On whose account has this calamity struck us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.””

What was the Lord’s response to Jonah’s attempt to abandon their relationship?

Pursuit!

The Lord’s action is more dramatic than Jonah’s!

Did Jonah deserve to be pursued by the Lord?

No.

What do we call it when the Lord does something for our benefit that don’t deserve?

Grace.

While this is a storm, it is still the Lord’s gracious response to pursue Jonah for his benefit when he does not deserve it.

What is the response of the sailors?

They’re terrified!

They cried to their gods for deliverance!

Why is it significant that it indicates that they cried to their gods?

They recognize something about the storm that is unusual, possibly the work of the divine.

This is a terrible storm.

Keep their response in soliciting the help of their gods in mind.

They also attempted to throw over their cargo.

Thus, we see their emotional state, hear their voices, and see their actions all in the midst of a storm.

What’s going on with Jonah?

He’s fast asleep.

What does this imply about Jonah?

He hasn’t got a clue what’s going on.

He may not even care what’s going on.

How does the Captain respond to Jonah?

Shock that Jonah can sleep during the storm!

What does the captain tell Jonah to do?

Call on Jonah’s God.

What indication do we have that Jonah did this?

None.

Let’s think about it.

The pagan sailors have called out to their gods.

Jonah, likely, does not call out to his God.

These sailors are more devoted to their false gods than Jonah is to the true God!

What a rebuke to Jonah!

He knows the true God.

Yet he’s chosen to abandon that relationship.

As soon as Jonah is on deck, what do the sailors do?

Cast lots.

Casting lots is a lot like draw straws if you will.

For what purpose?

To determine who on board is responsible for the storm.

This is so fascinating that they were able to determine that the problem has to be someone on board.

We learn from Proverbs 16:33 that the Lord is the One in control of the decision of every casting lots.

What a tremendous display of God’s sovereignty we have here.

He is the One who controls the weather.

He is the One in charge of the decision of the cast lots.

It’s no wonder that we’re not surprised to see the lot fall on Jonah.

How did the sailors respond to the decision of the lot?

Interrogation!

Can you imagine the scene?

The boat is violently rocking.

The sailors are likely screaming at Jonah their questions!

How does Jonah respond?

He gives his ethnicity, acknowledges his “fear” (some translations may have worship) of the Lord, and gives God’s credentials: “heaven”: authority over all things, Creator of the sea and dry land: power over all things.

If Jonah really fears the Lord, would he be attempting to abandon his relationship with the Lord?

No.

Why does Jonah respond this way?

There are 2 uses of this phrase in the OT associated with the Lord.

Here and in 1 Ki 18:2.

In 1 Ki 18:2, Obadiah, the servant of Ahab King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, proclaims his fear of the Lord and backs it up with actions to preserve the Lord’s prophets.

Does Jonah have any actions that back up his claim to “fear the Lord”?

He’s running away from serving the Lord.

What we have is a contrast.

Jonah’s actions do not match his statement.

What do we call it where someone says something but their actions do not back up what they said?

Hypocrisy.

Not only is Jonah attempting to abandon his relationship with the Lord but he’s being a hypocrite about it!

There’s a danger here that Jonah’s experience demonstrates.

One can seemingly say the right things but their actions tell a different story.

We must beware of hypocrisy in our own lives.

Jonah 1:10-14 “Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. So they said to him, “What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. 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 on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” 13 However, the men rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them. Then they called on the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased.””

How did the sailors respond to Jonah’s statement?

Even greater fear than before!

What was it that they knew about Jonah?

Jonah was attempting to abandon his relationship with the Lord.

The One that Jonah even confessed was responsible for and in charge of the same storm that they all were experiencing.

What does the question of the sailors in Jonah 1:11 imply about their understanding of Jonah’s God and what Jonah has related to them?

They saw Jonah as the authority on how to resolve the present circumstances.

In other words, there was an implicit acknowledgment of God’s sovereign authority here, that will become more explicit momentarily.

Notice, how does Jonah respond?

Throw me into the sea.

Interestingly, the word “throw” is the same word used that is translated “hurled” concerning God’s sending the wind that caused the storm.

What will happen to Jonah if he is thrown into the sea?

He will likely die.

What could he have told the sailors instead?

I will cry out to my God in repentance.

But he does not do that.

What does this imply about Jonah’s attitude towards his own life?

He likely wants to die.

What we’re seeing here is Jonah’s stubbornness in his rebellion.

He would rather die than obey the Lord.

This is so terrible to consider that one could become so stubborn in their rebellion that they would rather die than repent.

We should take warning that, if it could happen to Jonah, we are capable of the same.

How do the sailors respond to this news?

They try to row back to shore instead of throwing Jonah overboard.

Why?

In an attempt to save Jonah’s life.

What were the sailors attempting to show Jonah in this moment of distress?

Mercy.

What had Jonah done to deserve such mercy?

Nothing.

In fact, Jonah callously doomed the ship by entering it!

Take note of the displays of mercy towards Jonah throughout this short book as we approach the end.

Were the sailors successful in their rowing?

No.

What did they do when they realized they would not be successful?

They called out to God!

Jonah was the Lord’s prophet and yet refuses to call out to the Lord as these men did!

What did they acknowledge about the Lord’s actions?

He has done as He pleased.

What’s another way to phrase this?

The Lord is sovereign.

They are acknowledging the Lord’s control.

Jonah 1:15-17 “So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.”

After their prayer, what did they do?

They threw Jonah overboard.

What immediately happened to the storm?

It ceased.

Fascinatingly, we have the word of a rebellious prophet confirmed here before the eyes of these pagan sailors.

Thus, by implication, God’s authority is confirmed in the stilling of the storm.

Is there another event in Scripture recorded for us where Someone entered a boat, slept, a storm raged on the sea, the sailors feared for their lives, and the storm was eventually stilled?

Yes, Jesus.

There’s a very important difference to recall.

Jonah was rebelling.

Jesus obediently left heaven’s throne to go to earth where He would sacrifice Himself for our sins.

Notice that both this event and that associated with Jesus in Luke 8 conclude with something similar happening to the sailors: faith in the Lord.

The sailors fear the Lord truly whereas Jonah does not.

The sailors offer their total allegiance to the Lord by making sacrifices to the Lord and vows, signifying their devotion to the Lord now instead of their pagan gods.

What happened to Jonah?

A fish appointed by the Lord swallowed Jonah.

Take note of the word appointed.

It references God’s control of Jonah’s circumstances and life.

It will factor significantly in Jonah 4.

Jonah tried to abandon his relationship with the Lord by attempting to go to Tarshish and the Lord sent a storm.

Jonah has continued his rebellious attempt by suggesting being thrown into the sea but the Lord continues to pursue him, this time with a fish.

What is it that we’re continuing to see the Lord do in Jonah’s life?

He continues to graciously pursue him.

Does Jonah deserve the gracious pursuit of the Lord?

No.

This is the Lord’s choice, just like in all displays of His grace.

Jonah 2:1-9 “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, and he said, “I called out of my distress to the Lord, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice. “For You had cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Your breakers and billows passed over me. “So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ “Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Weeds were wrapped around my head. “I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever, But You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. “While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple. “Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness, 9 But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the LORD.”

What is it that Jonah does from inside the belly of the fish?

He prays.

How does Jonah 2:1 describe Jonah’s relationship to the Lord now?

his God.

Thus, there’s an implied change in the relationship.

Because Jonah is the one who prayed and the Lord is the One Who pursued, Jonah is continued to be presented as the culprit responsible for how his relationship with the Lord has gone.

In other words, the Lord remains the same whereas Jonah evidences some level of repentance (take note of how I phrased this).

What is it that Jonah prays?

“I called”

Finally, Jonah has called on the Lord!

What’s another phrase that we could use instead? “Seek”

“out of my distress to the Lord,”

How does Jonah describe his circumstances? “Distress”

What other clarifying phrase does Jonah use here to describe his circumstances?

“I cried for help from the depth of Sheol;”

Sheol refers to the realm of the dead.

Jonah is referring here to his nearness to death.

Thus, the distress of the circumstances is so serious that Jonah recognizes that it will lead to death.

What was the Lord’s response to Jonah calling out to the Lord?

“And He answered me.”

What other phrase is used as the basis for the Lord’s response?

“You heard my voice.”

Is there any other time that we have read so far where someone called on the Lord and there’s evidence that the Lord heard them?

Yes, Jonah 1:14-15

What we have so far is that the Lord has heard a group and he hears an individual.

Both circumstances are distressing and are believed to lead to death.

If the Lord has the power to hear and answer a group or an individual in distressing circumstances, then what can He not hear and answer?

In Jonah 2:3, Who does Jonah indicate is responsible for his circumstances?

The Lord

What does that mean about how Jonah views his life, his choice, and the Lord’s response?

They all fall under the Lord’s control.

The Lord cast Jonah into the sea.

The Lord caused breakers and billows to pass over Jonah.

These events are the Lord’s discipline of Jonah (NAC).

According to Jonah 2:4, what was the result?

Jonah was expelled from God’s sight.

This phrase “expelled” is used in Gn 3:24 to describe the first couple’s expulsion from the garden on account of sin.

Hence, this word can be used to describe disciplinary measures that the Lord has taken against sin.

However, what is Jonah’s confident statement that conclude verse 4?

“I will look again toward Your Holy temple.”

It’s interesting that Jonah does not say, “I will look again on Your Holy temple.”

"[T]oward Your Holy temple” appears in 3 other verses.

Ps 5:7; 138:2; Jonah 2:7.

The idea is physically turning oneself towards the Holy temple, the place where God dwells among His people.

The idea is that Jonah is turning to the Lord in light of the discipline that the Lord has pursued him with concerning his sin.

In other words, this is further indication of Jonah’s repentance.

Look at how Jonah describes his circumstances on the verge of death (Jonah 2:5-6).

With such a vivid picture, one is almost experiencing the same with Jonah.

Given that these were the result of disciplining Jonah for his sin, it prompts us to want to avoid the same actions that would incur similar consequences.

Notice, we’re invited to avoid the same sins not just based on the severity of the consequences but also the graciousness of the Lord.

According to Jonah 2:6, Who was responsible for delivering Jonah?

The Lord, Jonah’s God.

This is incredible because this is the same Lord Who is disciplining Jonah for his sin.

The Lord punishes but is ready to show grace to those Who call out to Him!

According to Jonah 2:7, when was it that Jonah remembered the Lord and prayed to Him?

When he “was fainting away”, or dying.

Even in what seemed like his last moments of life, the Lord is both able to hear his prayer and answer.

Notice the contrast that Jonah draws in Jonah 2:8-9.

Jonah is contrasting what the vain idols cannot do with what the Lord can do: only the Lord can provide salvation (K&D).

When the sailors cried to their gods, the storm raged on and there was silence from their gods, for they are no gods.

When the sailors cried to the true God, the storm ceased.

Jonah is pointing out the vanity of turning to anything other than the Lord as we face life’s circumstances.

There’s nothing that compares to the Lord’s power.

Can we do this?

We sure can, unfortunately.

We can try to mask circumstances with other things.

However, these won’t satisfy.

Only the power of the Lord can save.

Notice the similarity of Jonah’s statement in Jonah 2:9 and the response of the sailors.

Essentially, Jonah is claiming his total allegiance to the Lord again.

We also find here the key verse to all of Jonah.

The sailors experienced the Lord’s salvation in Jonah 1.

Jonah experiences salvation time and again from the Lord.

We’re going to see that the Lord wants to extend salvation to Nineveh if they would repent.

Jonah’s statement emphasizes how salvation is entirely the Lord’s gracious choice.

Jonah 2:10 “Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.”

We have here yet another demonstration of the Lord’s mercy towards Jonah.

The Lord’s salvation towards Jonah has been abundant in this book so far.

Jonah wants to abandon his relationship with the Lord but the Lord pursues with a storm.

Jonah wants to die in the sea but the Lord pursues with a great fish.

Jonah repents and the Lord prompts the great fish to restore him to the land.