Introduction

• The whole counsel of God
  • We finished Obadiah – the 31^st book of the Old Testament – 8^th of 16 prophetic books in the OT…
  • We will start Jonah – the 5^th of what is known as the 12 Minor Prophets…
  • So open the Bible to the Book of Jonah – perhaps the best known of all the Minor Prophets!

• 1^st – Who was Jonah…
  • Jonah (dove) was one of several prophets to the rebellious Northern Kingdom…
  • The only one that we have mention of outside of the prophetic books they wrote – II Kings 24…
  • He was the son of Amittai (truth) – there were no last names in the Bible – son of…
  • He was from the – Gath Hepher (in Zebulon) – about 3 miles north of the city of Nazareth

• 2^nd – When was the book written…
  • 1^st – Jonah in the early years – 841 B.C. – the end of the reign of King Jehoram…
    • Israel had been divided for 150 years – and had yet to have a Godly King in the north…
      • The current king Jehoram was the grandson of the wicked king Ahab and Queen Jezebel!
      • In II Kings 9:1-13 – Elisha summoned one of the ‘prophets’ to go to Ramoth Gilead…
      • Jewish tradition says this was Jonah – in his early years as a prophet!
      • Jonah was to take ‘Jehu’ into a back room and anoint him as the new King of Israel…
      • Fulfilling the command of God given to Elijah the prophet – I Kings 19:16
      • Then the Jonah was then to open the door – and run for his life (it was a coup d’état)!
    • The question could be asked why did Elisha send Jonah – why not go himself…
      • Anointing a new King was a BIG deal – and Elisha was certainly the MOST qualified!
      • You might think it was because it was VERY dangerous – ‘run for your life’…
      • But Elisha was not one to be afraid – he had stood up to whole armies – II Kings 6
      • I think it was more about preparing a new generation of prophets to serve the Lord!
      • The best person for the job – is not always the most talented / experienced…
      • The most gifted teacher – the wisest leader – did not start out that way…
      • At some point they were shy to get up in front of others – unsure of what to say…
      • But someone gave them an opportunity – and they stepped out in faith and learned…
      • Great Godly men start as ordinary men – who were given a chance to step out in faith!
  • 2^nd – Jonah in the later years – 50 years later – 792 B.C.
    • In II Kings 14:24-25 – God fulfilled a prophecy of Jonah (mentioned by name)…
      • God had seen the wickedness of Israel – but God was not ready to blot them out…
      • So God used an ungodly king – Jeroboam II – to save his people and give them more time…
      • Fulfilling a prophecy of Jonah to Israel – God would spare them for a time (70 years)…
      • Meaning Jonah had seen the Mercy of God – holding off judgment to a wicked nation!
    • Ultimately Israel would be conquered in 722 B.C. by Assyria…
      • This makes Jonah the first of the ‘Minor Prophets’ to prophecy to the Northern Kingdom
      • The others – Amos and Hosea – prophesied during the final years before the Diaspora
      • The events of this book most likely take place around 100 years before the fall of Israel

Running from the Lord… (2 things)

• 1^st – Refusing to obey God… vs. 1-16
  • 1^st – Go to Nineveh… vs. 1-3
    • The Word of the Lord came to Jonah to go to Nineveh (Mosul – Iraq)…
      • Nineveh was the capitol of the up and coming superpower – the Assyrian Empire…
      • It was a very old city – perhaps the oldest – built by Nimrod in Genesis 10:11
      • It was a ‘great’ city – it took 3 days to walk across it (estimated at over 50 miles) – Jonah 3:3
      • That was not just the walled city – it had to also include all of the ‘suburbs’…
      • The walled city was said to be 100 feet high – and wide enough for chariot races…
      • The city had an estimated population of over 2.5 million!
    • The Assyrians who lived there were polytheistic – with over 2400 gods in their pantheon…
      • They were also a particularly cruel people – that used fear to keep others subjugated…
      • So it makes sense that their wickedness had come up before God…
      • But at a time when Israel was spiraling into depravity – and ultimately destruction…
      • It does raise the question – why would God send Jonah to Assyria and not Israel!
      • Jonah is unique among all the prophets because he is the only one never to mention Israel!
      • But that may be the point – Israel refused to listen to a litany of passionate prophets…
      • Yet Nineveh would repent at the half-hearted warning of a reluctant one!
      • In Acts 8:26 – God told Philip to leave Samaria and go into a deserted place…
      • The natural questions might be ‘why’ – but Philip just got up and went!
      • Because God knows where the ‘fishing’ is good – and will always try and direct us there…
      • And if we are willing to listen and obey we will see people come to the Lord!
      • Yet we often make the mistake of questioning the opportunities God gives to us…
      • We see the new job / or change of location – as a burden and curse…
      • Or that person who God puts on our doorstep – that we really wish would go away!
      • But God has us there so we can use it as an opportunity to share the Love of Christ!
    • Jonah got up – and ran to Tarshish…
      • He went to Joppa – on the coast of the Mediterranean – and bought a ticket to Tarshish…
      • Nineveh is to the east of Israel – Tarshish was WAY to the west in modern day Spain…
      • Jonah was running from the presence of the Lord – apparently he never read Psalm 139:7
      • He was not afraid of Assyria – or for them – he was afraid God would forgive them…
      • Jonah wanted God to judge Assyria – to him they were the enemy!
      • Jonah 4:2 – “I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know You are a gracious and merciful God.”
      • God does not just call us to love those we like – He calls us to those we despise…
      • It is easy to love someone – if they love us back – are a blessing to us…
      • How about if they really irritate us / what if we cringe every time we hear their name…
      • The mark of the Love of Jesus is even being able to love the unlovable!
      • Luke 6:27-35 – “But love your enemies… and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”
  • 2^nd – No where to run… vs. 4-10
    • The Lord caused a great wind on the sea – perhaps a euroclydon – Acts 27:14
      • Violent storms that blow in from northeast and hit the Mediterranean with ferocity!
      • The ship was in danger of breaking apart – and the sailors were terrified…
      • They began to throw their cargo overboard – and pray to their various gods…
      • But Jonah was in the belly of the ship – sound asleep!
      • The captain came down and had to reprimand him – pray to your God to save us!
      • But Jonah was sleeping to hide from the fact he was responsible for the storm!
      • In Mark 4:38 – the Disciples were in a storm – but Jesus was sleeping on a pillow…
      • The Disciples woke Jesus up – do you not care we are perishing!
      • Jesus rebuked the storm – ‘peace – be still’ – and asked the Disciples why they were afraid!
      • He told them they would cross over – and the storm was not greater than his Word!
      • There is no question there will be storms in life – but God is the one who allows them…
      • They might be there because – like Jonah – we are trying to hide from the Lord…
      • Or they might be there because – like the Disciples – we are not putting faith in the Word!
      • Either way the solution in simple – turn back to the Lord – only He can calm the storm!
    • The sailors decided to cast lots (draw straws) to see who caused the storm…
      • The lot fell upon Jonah – and they began to ask all about him…
      • What did he do / where was he from / what was his nationality / his religion…
      • Caught – Jonah came clean and confessed he was running from Yahweh – the God of Heaven
      • The God who made the sea and the dry land – the men were exceedingly terrified!
      • Because they had gotten caught up in the consequences of the sin of Jonah!
      • When we are disobedient to the Lord – we end up hurting those around us
      • We often make the mistake of thinking that our choices only affect us…
      • If we choose to sin – only we face the consequences – we are not hurting others…
      • The truth is that our lives effect many people – our kids / family / friends…
      • Either indirectly by our example – or directly as a result of our actions!
  • 3^rd – Tossed overboard… vs. 11-16
    • The men asked Jonah how to stop the storm (it was getting worse)…
      • Interesting the confession of Jonah did not stop the storm – in fact it got worse!
      • Jonah confessed – but only because he was caught – he was not asking to go to Assyria!
      • II Corinthians 7:10 – “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
      • If we do not turn from our sinful ways TO JESUS – we will not change…
      • True repentance is seen through a transformed life – no longer doing the same things!
      • But if we do not repent – God is more than able to make the storm get worse!
    • Jonah told them to throw him overboard – only then would the storm stop…
      • I do not think that God was demanding the life of Jonah – this was his idea…
      • Jonah was still rebelling against the Lord – he would rather die than go to Assyria!
      • But the men refused and tried hard to row the ship back to the safety of land…
      • Yet in spite of their best efforts – they storm continued to rage against them!
      • It is hard to see someone destroy their lives with poor sinful choices…
      • We often feel compelled to step in and try to save them from their consequences…
      • But in truth we are getting in the way – they need to be broken / humbled!
    • So they cried out to Yahweh – do not let us perish for the life (sins) of this man…
      • And the picked Jonah up – and they threw him into the sea – and the storm stopped!
      • And the men feared Yahweh – and they all offered a sacrifice and took vows to the Lord!
      • It was through the storm – that these men became believers in Yahweh!
      • When God used Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt – He used 10 plagues…
      • God easily could have just wiped out the Egyptians – and let his people go free…
      • But God was not just saving Israel – He was making Himself known to the Egyptians!
      • Exodus 7:5 – “When I show the Egyptians my power and force them to let the Israelites go, they will realize that I am the LORD.”
      • Certainly God could keep us from difficulties – He could make our lives very easy…
      • But it is in the hardships that God gets to be magnified – He shines through our lives…
      • It is easy to worship Jesus when everything is going well – no one notices…
      • But when we get sick / bad things happen – just like they do to everyone else…
      • And rather than complaining about life – we rejoice in the goodness of God…
      • Then people stand up and take notice – through our trials they see Jesus in us!
• 2^nd – In the belly of the beast… 1:17 / 1-10
  • 1^st – After 3 days… vs. 17
    • The Lord prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah…
      • Here in lies one of the great stories of the OT – famous in kids curriculum world over…
      • It is commonly attacked by so called intellectuals today as a foolish fable – Pinocchio…
      • Going so far as to suggest it is just the Jewish version of a story from the Iliad…
      • Hercules sprang into the jaws of a sea monster and was three days in its  – Iliad
      • Liberal Christianity quickly derides is as simply a parable and not history!
    • Therefore 2 obvious questions rise from the narrative – is it meant literally / is it possible…
      • The answer to the first question is absolutely – this is a literal event…
      • Jesus references it in Matthew 12:40 – when the people were demanding a sign…
      • THE ONLY sign Jesus was going to give to those who did not want to believe…
      • Was Jonah – Jesus would also be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth…
      • Speaking of the cross – and 3 days after – His glorious resurrection!
      • Why the ‘Sign of Jonah’ – it was the only one that brings salvation!
      • We might think that if only we (or someone we know) could see a miracle – see Jesus…
      • That would be all that was needed in order to really believe in Jesus…
      • But the men who saw Jesus – saw the deaf and blind healed – still wanted a sign…
      • People do not need to see miracles – they need to hear the Sign of Jonah / Gospel!
      • Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
    • The answer to the second question is a bit more involved…
      • The Hebrew for ‘great fish’ simply describes a great marine animal…
      • The sperm whale for instance is quite capable of swallowing a man whole!
      • Could a man survive 3 days under such conditions – there are three possible answers…
      • NATURAL: There is always some ‘air’ in the stomach of a whale…
      • As long as the animal it has swallowed is still alive – digestive activity will not begin!
      • MIRACLE: It is much more likely that the event involved a divine miracle…
      • RESURRECTION: A third possibility is that Jonah actually suffocated and died…
      • His prayer implies this when he said – ‘out of the belly of sheol (grave) I cried’!
      • So it is possible God resurrected Jonah after 3 days (fits the narrative of Matthew 12:40)!
  • 2^nd – The prayer of Jonah… vs. 1-9
    • After 3 days in the belly – Jonah prayed… vs. 1
      • I have to think that this is one of the most amazing verses in the Bible…
      • Jonah was in pitch-blackness – overwhelmed by the stench of rotting fish (fish market)!
      • There he sat wallowing in the acids – for 3 days – and THEN he prayed!
      • It shows you how hard the heart of Jonah was – it took 3 days in a fish to break him!
    • In of his affliction Jonah cried out… vs. 2-7
      • In his prayer of true repentance – Jonah describes what it took to humble him:
      • From of the belly of sheol – Hebrew for grave – Jonah thought the fish would be his tomb…
      • He had been thrown into the sea – the water surrounded him – the waves crashed on him…
      • It was at the moment – when he realized he would never see the Temple again…
      • Waters closed over him – about to die – seaweed wrapped around his head (literally)…
      • Jonah sank down to the roots of the mountains – to the depth of the sea!
      • Funny how it takes dire circumstances to turn us to Jesus…
      • Often in hardships we ask ‘why God’ – but notice that we are talking to God now…
      • If things were going well – we would likely not be having that conversation!
    • When Jonah had lost all hope – THEN he remembered the Lord again… vs. 8-9
      • He finally went to prayer – and those prayers came went up to God – into His holy Temple!
      • BECAUSE Jonah was finally broken – ready to obey the command of the Lord!
      • He understood that who regard lying vanity (idols) – forsake the mercy of the Lord… 
      • Jonah had lied to himself – thinking he could run away from command of God…
      • He had been vain – thinking that Israel was better than Assyria…
      • And in his lying vanity – he had forsaken the Mercy of God – and met the whale!
      • But Jonah would offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving – he would go to Nineveh!
      • He would do what he promised – because his only hope of salvation was from God!
      • It is never to late to cry out to God – His Grace always stands ready to save – Romans 5:20
      • God is not looking remorse – He is looking for humility and obedience to His Word!
      • Psalm 51:17 – “A broken and a contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise.”
  • 3^rd – Vomited out… vs. 10
    • The Lord spoke to the fish – and it vomited Jonah out onto land…
    • It is likely that the fish began to head back to shore the moment Jonah was swallowed…
    • But as they were quite far out to sea – it took three days to return…
    • And Jonah was ejected right back where he began – though a bit worse for the wear!
    • Life is rather simple – we can either choose to disobey or obey God…
    • If we choose to go our own way – then we choose the hard way…
    • God will still get us where He wants us to be – via a whale – a little worse for the wear…
    • But how much better to simply obey from the start – and skip out on being swallowed!
    • The example of Jonah is a powerful one – better to obey the Lord now than later!