JONAH 1 - Jonah turns from God 

OVERVIEW

• Nineveh was in current day Mosul Iraq

• The generation witnessed to by Jonah repented but the following generations went back to worshiping Ishtar and in 627 the city was wiped out by the wrath of God

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** It appears that when sin reaches its fullness in different civilizations, God’s judgment soon follows; Nineveh, Assyria, was one such civilization  <N154>

Jonah 1:1-2 NIV

[1] The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: [2] “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

** God uses problematic people because there are only problematic people  <D40>

Jonah 1:1-3 NIV

[1] The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: [2] “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” [3] But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish . He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

** God is not limited by time or space and knows every aspect of our being; He is omniscient, aware of every sin of every person that is an affront to His holiness

Jonah lived in a time when the Israelites thought of God within their boundaries, but God is universal and challenged Jonah to cross the borders  <C31>

Jonah 1:1-2 NIV

[1] The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: [2] “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

** Are we offended and ready to defend God when people speak ill of a God they don’t know?; we need to share our life in Christ with unbelievers, much like Jonah was called to share

• Tell them about the consequences of not accepting Christ wholeheartedly

• Relay of the goodness of God and His ability to restore a sinful generation

• Perhaps you can talk about the peace you experience in life through the difficult times

• Ask a non-Christian how you can pray for them  <C31>

Jonah 1:2 NIV

[2] “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it ...”

Romans 10:14-17 NIV

[14] How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? [15] And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” [16] But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” [17] Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

** Running from God takes us on a downward path; Jonah was always to go 'down' — down to Joppa, down below deck of ship, down to sleep; like ice that builds up on airplane wings and prevents the plane from lifting, so our sin can build up to negatively affect our relationship with God and the direction of our life  <C31>

Jonah 1:3,5 KJV

[3] But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. [5] Then the mariners were afraid... But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

** Sometimes the difficulty we find ourselves in is a direct result of our actions — perhaps we’re lazy, disobedient, selfish, insensitive to others, etc; God may create a difficult situation for us but it is often in response to our choices

Jonah 1:3 NIV

[3] But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish . He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Jonah 1:4,7-12,15-16 NIV

[4] Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. [7] Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. [8] So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” [9] He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. ” [10] This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.) [11] The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” [12] “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” [15] Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. [16] At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.

** Disobedience indicates that we know better than God and it often takes us where we never thought we would go; not obeying Him is costly, for disobedience never provides what we think it promises

Jonah, the only prophet recorded in Scripture who did not follow God’s command, did not want the Ninevites to be forgiven and also believed he could find a better life where God would leave him alone among the Gentiles; Jonah made a premeditated decision because he probably sold his home to pay for the trip  <C31>

Jonah 1:3 NIV

[3] But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish . He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

** Our disobedience not only robs us of God's best for our life but often negatively affects other people; while Jonah slept, the sailors on deck above were getting rid of costly cargo and almost lost their lives

Jonah 1:4-5,7 NIV

[4] Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. [5] All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. [7] Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.

Amazingly, God can also use our disobedience to benefit others:

• God's love prompts Him to touch lives in unique ways, such as revealing Himself to the sailors while dealing with Jonah's sin

• The sailors lives were changed after the sacrifice of Jonah

• The sailors worshiped God and the power He had after the danger passed; they may have come to faith through the experience

• Life with Christ cannot be the same as before; it can put us on a course with the power of God behind us  <C31>

Jonah 1:16 NIV

[16] At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.

** The great storm encountered by Jonah was not punishment but more of an intervention, intended to turn him around; God's timing is crucial, for the Ninevites were ready to hear the gospel

God had plans for Jonah to complete His will and wanted him to LISTEN and OBEY when He spoke; if His first plan wasn't followed then He moved to subsequent plans:

• Plan A was to send Jonah to Nineveh, but He had to go to plan B

• Plan B was to send a storm to warn Jonah, but He had to go to plan C

• Plan C was God sending a non-believing captain who told Jonah to 'arise' and pray; we don't know that Jonah prayed until he was in the fish

• God had to go to plan D which was waking Jonah up in the belly of the fish

• God doesn't want anyone to perish (Nineveh and sailors); God desires to reach all nations

God’s overall aim is NOT to let His people do whatever they want just to "keep them happy"; that is not His aim, nor should it be our aim with our kids!  <C31>

Jonah 1:11-12 NIV

[11] The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” [12] “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

** God provides signs to direct us in different ways, as He was at work to reach Jonah; He is always at work directing His children and we can be so thankful He pursues us to save us from destruction!

In the Jonah account, God was at work getting Jonah’s attention and reaching the sailors:

• God found a way to get Jonah’s attention to do His will

• God patiently pursued Jonah

• He set Jonah straight when Jonah chose a divergent path

• His intervention will probably be difficult and come at a cost but it is worth it!

• God used the situation to connect with the sailors

• The storm was not normal but came after them!

• The sailors sought divine help but just not the right help

• The sailors were seeking to meet the spiritual need within them; as people all around the world seek spiritual answers, so the sailors were seeking for answers  <C31>

Jonah 1:7,10-11 NIV

[7] Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. [10] This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.) [11] The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to make the sea calm down for us?”

Ephesians 2:1 NIV

[1] As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

John 6:44 NIV

[44] “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

Ephesians 2:4-9 NIV

[4] But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, [5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions---it is by grace you have been saved. [6] And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, [7] in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. [8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--- [9] not by works, so that no one can boast.

** Followers of Christ need to be close to Him in order to know what pleases Him and know His will and direction; knowing God's will starts with loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength  <C31>

Mark 12:30 NIV

[30] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

HEART = deepest part of who we are

• Seek fulfillment for your life and your being in God alone

• Do you trust God to lead you in what is right and best for you?

Psalm 37:4 NIV

[4] Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

SOUL = emotional and feeling side of us

• Distinguish between my will and God's will so we are not fooled by our emotion

• God's sheep know His voice and follow Him

Jeremiah 17:9 NIV

[9] The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

MIND = mental capabilities God gives us to make good decisions

• Ask God to help change your thinking so you will follow Him and know what He wants you to do

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; [6] in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

STRENGTH = ability to put into practice what is right

• We know what is right by following Scripture

• We can know enough about our next step — not too far into future — via our relationship with God and His word

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

[16] All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, [17] so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

** Our decisions have consequences, just as Jonah found out when he forced the sailors to act and be thrown overboard

Jonah 1:12,15,17 NIV

[12] “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” [15] Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. [17] Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

** We often find ourselves at crossroads when making a decision; for instance, Jonah could have:

a) Done nothing — but then all would have died

b) Been thrown overboard to save sailors and ship

c) Repented — turned the ship around to the closest port so he could go on his way to Nineveh  

Remember that crossroads are opportunities to make things right:

• Crossroads show our spiritual condition; Jonah chose death over repentance

• Do we love sin more than we love God?

• God's patience IS limited; don't cross that line and potentially lose the opportunity!  <C31>

Jonah 1:12 NIV

[12] “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

It is always best to repent from sin and get back on track; know that God will always help us toward this end

Galatians 2:20 NIV

[20] I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

James 1:5 NIV

[5] If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

** God demonstrated great POWER, not only generating a storm but dramatically arranging for a fish to swallow Jonah to accomplish His will; Gods circumvented natural laws to enable this to happen  <C31>

Many references to "great" were included in this text and in every instance this greatness points our attention to God

• The storm (1:4)

• Fear (1:10, 16)

• City (1:2, 3:3)

• God’s solution of a fish (1:17)

Jonah 1:17 NIV

[17] Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 1:4 NIV

[4] Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.

Jonah 1:10,16 NIV

[10] This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.) [16] At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.

Jonah 1:2 KJV

[2] Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

Jonah 3:3 KJV

[3] So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.

Jonah 1:17 KJV

[17] Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

** Jonah deserved justice from disobedience yet received God's MERCY; even throwing Jonah overboard was a death sentence (so Jonah and sailors thought) but God extended mercy

• Mercy = don't receive what we deserve

• Grace = receive what we don't deserve

Jonah 1:14-16 NIV

[14] Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” [15] Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. [16] At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.

Jonah 1:17 NIV

[17] Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

** The pagans in Nineveh worshiped a fish god named Deon represented as a man wearing a fish and sometimes as a merman; what a better divinely sent Messenger than Jonah being thrown up out of the mouth of a great fish in the presence of witnesses  <G70>

Jonah 1:17 NIV

[17] Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.