Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet-1

I hope you realize when I say narrative, I am not trying to imply that this is somehow a made up story. But I am speaking about the genre. It would be similar to what we find classified in the Old Testament as Historical books, like I and II Samuel, I and II Chronicles, and I and II Kings.

(The prophetic utterance that is given by Jonah is only 8 English words Jonah 3:4 [5 in the Hebrew language])!

“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.”

Very rarely are we introduced to a “reluctant” prophet, but there are other examples in the Bible.

One could say Elijah was reluctant to press on after his success against the prophets of Baal. (I Kings 19:1-18) Peter, though not a Prophet, was certainly a man greatly used by God, but was reluctant to obey the Lord’s instructions concerning the Gentiles. (Acts 10:9-20) Moses was reluctant to go back to Egypt to deliver his people and preach to Pharaoh. (Exodus 3,4)

Jonah recounts his struggle with obedience to the Lord and also his understanding of God’s ways.

Down to the last sentence of the book, Jonah grapples with God’s decision to spare the city of Nineveh.

As we go through this small book we are reminded of God’s mercy and judgement.

We also can see:

(1) God’s work in the life of Jonah;

(2) His work in the lives of a small group of mariners (Jonah 1:1-16), and

(3) His work upon a nation. (Jonah 3)

When we consider this, it is amazing to see God’s plan accomplished in both the macro and micro.

God is working in the lives of individuals and nations as a whole. He is working on the national scale and also worldwide.

Tenderly God deals with His servant Jonah. To the reader this shocking account of being swallowed by a fish is horrific. As we read the rest of the story we understand it is nothing less than God’s loving hand of correction and instruction for His servant.

This book would be shocking to the Jewish community of Jonah’s day because of their prejudice towards other nations. This is illustrated in Jonah’s resistance to the instructions that God gave Him.

Knowing how the book ends, we realize that Jonah left this very transparent account to help us understand that it is necessary for us to trust God.

The time period of this small book can be dated anywhere from 800 to 750 BC.

The Assyrians were the enemies of the nation of Israel and eventually would take captive the northern tribes of Israel around 722 BC.

God would rain down destruction upon this Assyrian nation in just a few hundred years, as described in the book of Nahum (613 BC). The words given to us in Nahum 1:3 resound loudly after God’s forbearance with the Assyrian nation.

“The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.” (Nahum 1:3)

What did Jonah know? And what did Jonah not know?

What Jonah Did Not Know:

What Jonah Did Know:

---- In other words, when we begin to think about the book of Jonah, it would be helpful for us to think about Jonah’s perspective.

What Jonah Did Not Know:

Jonah could not see God’s plan for this nation.

Jonah did not know that there would be a national revival (maybe he suspected as much, Jonah 4:2).

He also did not know that this nation would be used to chastise the northern tribes of Israel.

What Jonah Did Know:

Jonah did know that God was merciful, gracious, and slow to anger. (Jonah 4:2)

Jonah did know that God acted according to His own will.

Historical Introduction

To understand the book of Jonah we must have a grasp on the historical background behind this short prophetical book.

The book of Jonah is found in the midst of what we classify as the “minor” prophets.

This is simply due to the length of the prophetic book and in no way speaks to this short book being any less significant.

The events of the book itself can be dated anywhere from 800 to 750 BC based on what we know concerning Jonah’s prophecy found in II Kings 14:23-25. We also know the time frame for the destruction of Nineveh (613 BC) by the Medes and Babylonian siege called the Battle of Nineveh.

It was in this time that the nation of Israel was rapidly declining spiritually, though flourishing under the reigns of Jeroboam II and his predecessor Jehoash.

The Assyrian nation was still a major world power though not as prominent as it was it times past (Though this would change with the great Assyrian King Tiglath-pileser III).

Assyria suffered great difficulty under weak leadership and during this time would be in a prime condition for the reception of Jonah’s message.

As we look back and begin to trace the history of Israel through the book of Kings we see a downward spiral that began after the reign of Solomon when the nation was split. (Beginning with the reign of Rehoboam). Already spiritually the nation had been moving away from God toward the end of Solomon’s reign. The northern kingdom would begin their spiritual descent with the reign of Jeroboam I (which instituted an idolatrous form of worship in Bethel and Dan).

The southern kingdom would struggle between that which was good and that which was evil, ultimately resulting in the Babylonian exile. The northern kingdom however would go into captivity first; being taken captive by the Assyrians.

It is before this captivity takes place (722 BC) that Jonah is sent to preach to the major thriving Assyrian city of Nineveh. The Assyrians were known for their cruelty and were a fierce brutal nation. They would crush their enemies using tactics such as flaying, burning, and impaling. These tactics would result in horrific scenes that would line the hills of conquered cities intending on striking fear in the hearts of those that would resist.

It was to this nation that Jonah was sent by God to preach a message of destruction.

So what is the message of Jonah?

The Message

As we will see the message of Jonah is clearly about:

Jonah’s struggle with himself concerning God’s will.

It also declares:

God’s heart toward the Gentile nations.

As Dr. Clarence Sexton has stated, “It shows us the extent God will go to save people.”

Many in Jonah’s day did not understand that God would provide Salvation to all people through the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Genesis 12:3, John 3:16).

As Jonah is referenced by our Lord and Savior concerning his death, burial and resurrection (Matthew 12:39, Matthew 16:4, Luke 11:29); we come to understand that this display of God’s graciousness toward a Gentile nation (Assyria) prefigures God’s concern for more than just the Jewish people.

Acts 10:35

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Concerning this type that our Lord declares, Jonah thus preaches to the Gentiles after coming up from depths of his watery grave.

Think about this: Jonah left behind a people that had refused God and his message was received by a heathen people. How wonderful and marvelous are God’s ways!

General Outline

I. Jonah’s Running: God’s Preparation - Chapter 1

A. The Word Of The LORD Came v1,2

1. Jonah of Gath-Hepher v1

2. The LORD’s instructions and explanation v2

B. The Prophet Rose Up to Flee v3-7

1. The Mighty Tempest v4

2. The Mariner’s Fear v5

3. The Messenger’s Sleep v5

4. The Master’s Question v6

5. The Manner Of “gods” v6

7. The Mystery Know v7

C. The Cause Of This Evil v8-12

1. The Accusations v8

2. The Answers v9

3. The Alarm v10,11

4. The Advice v12

D. The Casting Forth v13-17

1. Nevertheless v13

2. Wherefore v14

3. So v15

4. Then v16

5. Now v17

II. Jonah’s Repenting: God’s Protection - Chapter 2

A. The Prayer Of Jonah v1-10

1. The Person of the Prayer v1

2. The Reason of the Prayer v1,2

3. The Manner of the Prayer v2

4. The Place of the Prayer v2,3,5,6

5. The Faith of the Prayer v4,6,7

6. The Conclusion of the Prayer v8,9

7. The Praise of the Prayer v6,9

8. The Result of the Prayer v10

III. Jonah’s Preaching: God’s Proclamation - Chapter 3

A. Jonah’s Obedience v1-4

1. The Repetition of the Command. v1,2

2. The Obedience to the Command. v3,4

B. The People’s Repentance v5-9

1. The summary of the situation. v5

2. The seriousness of the situation. v6-8

3. The statement of the situation. v9

C. God’s Grace and Mercy v10

1. God saw their works. v10

2. God dealt with them in mercy. v10

IV. Jonah’s Pouting: God’s Presentation - Chapter 4

A. Anger and Displeasure v1-4

1. Praying and Honesty v1-3

2. Compassion and Help v4

B. Jonah’s Condition v1-9

1. His Words v2,3,5,9

2. His Actions v1-4, 5-6

C. Jonah’s Instruction v4-11

1. The Questions v4, 9

2. The Object Lessons v5,6-10

3. The Conclusion v10,11

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