Lesson 5: A Message from Jonah

When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked ways, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it. 
- Jonah 3:10

Historical Setting

Jonah was a prophet of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) who prophesied during the first half of the eighth century B.C. He was from Gath-hepher in the area of Galilee (hence contradicting the Jews’ argument against the legitimacy of Christ – John 7:40-52), and is the son of Amittai (II Kings 14:23-25). He may well have attended a “school of prophets” or have been one of the “sons of the prophets” trained by Elijah. He was a contemporary of Amos and Hosea.

His message was strongly nationalistic. He foretold of the expansion of Israel’s borders to the return of the time of David, including great victories over Syria. 

Personal Reflection

Jonah is a unique book. Whereas with all the other “minor” prophets the emphasis is on their message, the emphasis of the book of Jonah is on his life. The book contains only one prophecy; it is only one sentence long and it doesn’t come true! Since the issue of the book revolves around his life, it is clear that the message we are to receive through our study is an increased view of the “bigness” of God, and how to respond when our will and God’s will collide. 

Story

The events of the book are presented as historical narrative. As Bible believers, it is essential we accept the story as literal, historical fact. These events occurred exactly in the manner portrayed. (Besides, Jesus obviously gave his endorsement to these events when he compared himself to Jonah – the only Old Testament prophet to whom he directly likens himself.)

Jonah receives an assignment from God to go and warn Ninevah, the capital of the Assyrian empire, to repent or face Divine destruction. His nationalistic spirit causes him to flee in the opposite direction (Ninevah is located some 500 miles east of Israel) toward Tarshish (likely in Spain - 2,000 miles west). It appears he is fleeing not from the presence of God (as a prophet he must have known the words of David in Psalms 139:7-12) but from the service of God - - to be that far removed would keep God from being able to use him to deliver this message. On route, a storm sent by God causes the ship on which he is sailing to be in peril of sinking. The “heathen” soldiers seek every way possible not to toss him overboard, but Jonah assures them there is no alternative. Once in the sea he is swallowed by a great “sea monster” in whose belly he remains for three days and nights. After being vomited onto land, this time Jonah does go to Ninevah and preaches coming destruction, but as he must have feared all along, these Assyrians (whom Jonah feared would one day destroy his people) do repent and God spares them. This angers Jonah, who sits outside the city and awaits its destruction. God causes a gourd vine to grow around Jonah to deliver him from the searing heat, and for the only time in the book, Jonah seems pleased. Then God causes a worm to destroy the vine, and this angers Jonah, who for the third time in the book desires to die. The book ends with a dialogue between God and Jonah in which God challenges Jonah’s right to question His Divine Will. 

Questions for Discussion
1. Is Jonah a role model?

2. In what way is our view of God like Jonah’s? How can we change it?

3. In what way is our view of others like Jonah’s view of the Assyrians?

4. In what ways should we be like Jonah?

5. What was there about Jonah that caused the wicked city of Nineveh to repent?

6. Why did Jonah not want the people of Nineveh to repent? Are there situations today where we sometimes wish that others would not repent?

7. What is the significance in how the book ends?

8. What parts of the book are difficult to believe?

- Nick Hamilton

(Nick has been preaching the Gospel for more than 30 years, much of this time being here at PV. He is held in high regard by all who knew him. He is now the Pulpit Minister of the Sixth & Izard church.)