The Book Of Jonah Overview An Angry Prophet But A Merciful God

{A list of topics studied in 2019, 2020 and 2021, was posted on September 7, 2022. A list of topics studied in 2022, was posted January 24, 2023. These indices can be found by going to the archive tab and clicking on the appropriate day, month & year.}

Most of us are probably familiar with the prophet Jonah. His book is a short one and there are both negative and positive lessons for us to learn. 

Jesus certified that Jonah was a real, historical person (See Matthew 12:38-41).  He applied Jonah's story to Himself as a picture of His death, burial and resurrection (See Luke 11:29-32).

We know that Jonah's father, Amittai was also a prophet of Jehovah, from Galilee. Amittai's name means "my truth" and Jonah's name means "a dove."  

The idea is that God's spokesmen should be harmless as doves, by mourning the sins of the people as a dove mourns, while proclaiming the truth from God. 

There are 4 miracles recorded in Jonah: a storm, a large fish, a large gourd and a large worm. 

3 times the Bible tells us about Jonah's refusal to obey Jehovah's command to preach in Nineveh (Jonah 1:3; 10). 

Jonah was a noteworthy saint who worshipped God. He was also a notorious sinner who dishonored God (Jonah 1:1-17; 4:1-11). 

Yet, Jonah was also a notable servant who was used by God (Jonah 3:1-50.

Jonah prophesied during reign of Jeroboam II. 

2 Kings 14:23-24  In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years. 24)  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 

Jonah prophesied during the reign of King Jeroboam II. He was a prophet to the northern kingdom known as Israel, composed of ten tribes who broke away from the house of David. Israel's capital was Samaria. 

You may recall that out of all the kings who ruled the northern kingdom, there were no good ones. Jeroboam is no exception. The Bible says that "he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD." 

The northern kingdom was known for promoting false religion, idolatrous practices and moral depravity. 

Jeroboam II reigned for 41 years, the longest tenure of any king of the northern kingdom. He did accomplish some things militarily and politically, but his kingdom was polluted by immorality. 

One important Bible principle is that we cannot measure the character of a man by the length of his life, his status or his prosperity. 

Jehovah always looks at a man's heart, to see if it is good or wicked (1 Samuel 16:7). 

Who is the central character of this book?

Jonah 1:1-2  Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2)  Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 

The book of Jonah is only 4 chapters in length and it has only 41 total verses. 

The Divine Name Jehovah is used 26 times and the Divine Name Elohim 15 times.

What stands out is that in 41 verses of text, we find the Divine Names used 41 times! God is the central figure of this book, and His heart toward sinners is on display.

Jonah joined a select group of prophets of whom it is said "the word of the LORD came" unto them. 

Jonah was given a clear commission from Jehovah. "Rise up, go to the horribly wicked city of Nineveh and preach my Word!" 

This is a very rare instance where God sent His prophet to preach to a Gentile, pagan people. Men like Abraham, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah are in this group. 

Let us not lose sight of the fact that Jehovah is the central focus of this book. 

The Assyrians and Nineveh were central to what God was doing. 

Jonah 1:2  Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 

Nineveh is one of the oldest cities mentioned in the Bible. 

Nineveh was the most important city of Assyrian empire, and was made prosperous from spoils gained by conquering other people. 

The kingdom was very rich and very arrogant, and this haughty attitude resulted in the Assyrians waging many aggressive military campaigns.

Their soldiers were vicious and merciless, taking what they wanted by force in order to finance further expansion and for financing their monumental building programs.

Assyrian kings recorded meticulous pictures of battles, engraved on numerous statues and monuments.

They flayed the skins off of people and then impaled them on posts. They frequently dismembered their enemies. 

They employed scribes to tally up how many people they killed in battle by counting the hands and feet that were cut off the fallen soldiers.

Nineveh was a large metropolitan area. The city was huge and was enclosed by massive walls 40 ft. thick and up to 100 ft high. 

There were hundreds of guard towers and bulwarks built into the walls. On the top of the outer wall was ample room for chariots to drive across. 

The walls were about 54 miles long and population estimates suggest as many as 500,000 people lived there.

God sent Jonah to this wicked nation to remind them that there is a God in heaven, who will judge them for their sins. 

Jonah tried to run from Jehovah, but God judged him. 

Jonah 1:3-6  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. 4)  But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. 5)  Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. 6)  So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.  

Jonah fled from "the presence of the LORD." The Holy Spirit wants to make sure we get this fact. We find this phrase used 3 times in Jonah 1.

Jehovah gave Jonah a clear directive and the prophet chose to ignore His command and literally run the other way. 

There is second clear Bible principle from this book. If God calls us to serve Him in some particular way, then we should readily serve Him! 

Our Lord will never call us to serve Him without equipping us so that we can serve Him. 

We must not follow Jonah and run away from what God has called us to do. We must not shirk our spiritual duties before God and man. 

What a picture this text presents. Because Jonah ran away from God and failed to fulfill his commission from the Lord, his selfish actions put other people's lives in peril.

Think about this. If you and I do not fulfill the Great Commission by sharing the gospel of Christ with others, we put people's lives in peril.

How so? Because we fail to preach and teach the life changing gospel that God uses to save sinners! 

Oh, let us not be like Jonah. Let us be men and women who faithfully share the gospel, so that people may hear and be born again. 

We know how the stormy seas calmed as soon as the mariners cast Jonah overboard. Chapter 2 tells us about Jonah being swallowed by a large creature, and how he repented and cried out to Jehovah. 

At this point, the fish vomited Jonah out on dry land. 

Nineveh and its people repented and were spared God's wrath. 

Jonah 3:1-5  And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 2)  Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 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. 4)  And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 5)  So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 

What happened next? Jehovah spoke to Jonah again, and gave his prophet the same instruction as before. This time, Jonah obeyed and traveled to Nineveh to preach coming judgment and their need to repent of their sins. 

The result was that the pagan Assyrians heard and heeded what Jonah said. They humbled themselves, from the lowest person up to the king. They believed God. 

The historical record tells us that the Assyrians stopped going to war for a period of time, which is remarkable, since they went to war for 41 consecutive years! 

Jonah 3:10  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. 

In addition, the people of Nineveh reverted to monotheism for a period of time. Jesus confirmed that they repented of their sins and turned to God.

Jonah 4:1-4  But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. 2)  And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. 3)  Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. 4)  Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? 

How ironic this is, that the Ninevites repented and turned to Jehovah, while Jonah was angry at God!

The very fact that Jehovah would extend His mercy to such a pagan and violent people, made Jonah very angry. 

Jonah should have been thrilled that upwards of 500,000 people were changed by hearing the Word of God declared to them. They repented and turned to God for a period of time. 

The prophet declared what he knew to be true of God. Jehovah is gracious, merciful and slow to anger. He is full of lovingkindness and will save those who turn to Him with repentant faith. 

Yet, the very lovingkindness of Jehovah for all people, not just the Israelites, made Jonah angry. 

Jonah wished that Nineveh did not repent so that God would destroy them, for in his mind, this is what they deserved. 

The story ends by showing us that Jonah's heart was not right with Jehovah. His hatred of the Assyrians clouded his mind, such that he would not let go of his hate. He did not seek forgiveness from Jehovah. 

Jonah's prejudice and rebellion were overruled by God. 

Jonah 4:9-11  And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. 10)  Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: 11)  And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? 

Thoughts to Ponder...

First, when God calls us to serve Him, let us be obedient children of God. Don't run away like Jonah did. Loving and serving God is the greatest privilege we have in this life. 

Second, let us ask God for help, for He will equip us when He calls us to serve Him (Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Timothy 3;16-17).

Third, if we fail to be faithful in serving God, other people's lives will be potentially put in harm's way (See Ezekiel 33). 

Fourth, as we go forth, sowing the good seed of God's Word, we must trust God for any results (See Matthew 13). 

God's heart is on display. He is not willing that any person should perish. He wants all people in every place, to hear the gospel and to repent of their sins, and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation (2 Peter 3:9). 

We have a part to play in the Great Commission. We must be Christ's faithful witnesses, sowing the seed, and living according to the gospel.

May the Lord of glory have His way in our hearts today!

Bob