Theme of Jonah: God’s Response to Wickedness in the Word
Theme of Ch.1: Sin and Grace: Our Sin of Running from God and God’s Pursuit of Us
INTRO
Rewrite perceptions of what Jonah is about – there is deeper theological significance.
Book focuses on one incident of Jonah’s life – other prophets focus on their teachings.
Jonah, fish, sailors and Ninevites are supporting actors in this story about GOD
VS 1-3
Jonah from Gath-Hepher (small village outside of Nazareth) – 2 Kings 14:25 – Contrast with Nineveh
Like many other of our biblical heroes – Jonah is a reluctant prophet (Abram, Sarai, Moses)
Not the task Jonah was expecting or wanted – other prophets spoke to Israel (not Nahum or Jonah)
Nineveh to the East – Assyrian “capital” – great in size and scope – Awful against enemies and proud of it
Imperialistic and wicked – past 100 years – lasted until 612 Babylon – “Samaritans” 750-722
Vs 2 told Jonah to ARISE and GO – JONAH ROSE UP and FLED
Geography lesson – Tarshish to the West – didn’t get any further west
VS 4-6
Wild scene – imagine the strength of hurricanes – how bad was this if it was from God?
Ships were made for this – yet this one was about to break up
Experienced and professional sailors were scared – Panic button – got religion
1) Pray to gods 2) Start tossing stuff
Where was Jonah – this tells us where he was mentally – gave up and accepted his fate-death
He was going to die by the storm or by these sailors
Captain to Jonah: Are you crazy!? Start praying to your God – maybe he’ll help us
VS 7-12
Found out Jonah and tried to find out what he did and who he did it to – that would help them fix problem
Found out it was the LORD and they were exceedingly afraid
Jonah accepted his fate and his punishment – he knew he was dead
VS 13-16
Didn’t listen to Jonah at first because they were scared of God – not because of Jonah
Tried to row out of it
Jonah’s sin endangered those around him – but God was glorified through it
VS 17
Jonah was saved by the fish
Why did Jonah run? 4:2 – Because of faulty theology – believed in Justice but not Mercy
Chapter 1 is about God’s pursuit of Jonah – Grace and Mercy – not so he could punish him but so that he
could use him
The sooner we realize our purpose the better off we’ll be. We are props for God’s glory – just like Jonah.
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