Jonah 3

Focus: Jonah 3

Goal: Focus on Gods repentance, Jonah’s message, the overall backwardsness of Ch 3, and maybe the sign of Jonah in Matt 12:39-41 and Luke 11:29-32

Matthew 12:39–41 NIV

39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 11:29–32 NIV

29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.

A) 3:1-3

Parallel to 1:1-3…Jonah is being offered anew beginning. How many times do we see this in the rest of scripture, rebellion and Gods reaction to this rebellion is grace, compassion, and mercy, and then the rebellions being given a new beginning. This is the story of the entire Bible is it not.

What characteristics of God are revealed in these verses?

The Message of Jonah: Presence in the Storm A Taste of Freedom (3:1–3)

At this point we need to remember where Jonah has been since his first call. He has been to hell and back, reached out to God for help as the sailors had done, and experienced God’s deliverance. At the very least he would not want to go through all that again! Jonah cannot possibly be the same person. He has a new start and the fruits of his experience must be brought to bear in a real situation, no matter how fearfully difficult the situation may seem. God’s work of salvation has no credibility or cash value unless it impinges on the real world. It cannot be privatized, becoming the personal possession of individuals. It cannot be customized, being tailored to suit the particular predilections and fancies of those concerned with theological nicety or human fulfilment. The pursuit of theological precision, as of personal well-being, identity, sense of meaning, destiny, ambition or security, will always prove elusive and empty when sought for its own sake.

Though Jonah is shown compassion and mercy is delivered by God, God does not change his mission, the same is true for

The Message of Jonah: Presence in the Storm A Taste of Freedom (3:1–3)

At this point we need to remember where Jonah has been since his first call. He has been to hell and back, reached out to God for help as the sailors had done, and experienced God’s deliverance. At the very least he would not want to go through all that again! Jonah cannot possibly be the same person. He has a new start and the fruits of his experience must be brought to bear in a real situation, no matter how fearfully difficult the situation may seem. God’s work of salvation has no credibility or cash value unless it impinges on the real world. It cannot be privatized, becoming the personal possession of individuals. It cannot be customized, being tailored to suit the particular predilections and fancies of those concerned with theological nicety or human fulfilment. The pursuit of theological precision, as of personal well-being, identity, sense of meaning, destiny, ambition or security, will always prove elusive and empty when sought for its own sake.

What things has God done for us that we hide or want to keep to ou

Why the contrast or difference between “three days’ and “one day”?

Could be painting Jonah negatively or maybe the Ninevites positively, quickly accepting Jonahs message of repentance and devotion to God.