The Book of JONAH

Chapter 1

Jonah 1: [1] 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.

We are Joining Jonah on his Journey.

1) Divine Declaration (1,2)

The word of the LORD came to Jonah (dove) the son Amittai (truth).

GOD was calling Jonah to go to Nineveh and rebuke them for their sin and preach repentance.

Jonah was the prophet of GOD who had been called to stand in his nation of Israel.

Jonah stood before wicked King Jeroboam and declared the Word of GOD.

2 Kings 14:23-26

[23] 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.
[25] He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher.
[26] For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.

Jonah was from Gath-hepher (winepress on a hill) which was bout 2 miles N E of Nazareth

Jonah told the king that GOD would bless Israel with land expansion because of their sufferings.

Jonah’s prophesy was in great power and was on target, as GOD’s grace was abundantly displayed.

Now GOD again calls Jonah to go preach.

This time Jonah is to arise and go to Nineveh (the capitol of the Assyrian Empire).

Jonah was to preach repentance to the Gentiles and GOD’s grace would be displayed.

Romans 5:20 “where sin abounded grace did much more abound”

Jonah 1:[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.

2) Daunting Disobedience (3)

When GOD called Jonah to go, Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

Tarshsih is on the Southern tip of Spain and means “yellow jasper”.

The city was known for precious metals, money and business.

2 Chr 9:21

[21] For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

Jer 10:9

[9] Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

This may have shown a love of money or possessions.

How many times these things have kept people from the will of God?

In fact I think Jonah chose Tarshish because it was the furtherst away from where GOD called him.

GOD said “go east” and Jonah “went west”.

GOD said “go up” and Jonah “went down”.

Jonah went down to the seaport of Joppa and paid the fare to go to Tarhsish.

Maybe Jonah thought “if its your will LORD let me have enough money to buy a ticket.”

GOD said “walk” and Jonah said “I will sail.”

Tarshish was outside the will of GOD for Jonah.

Where are you headed today?

We are commissioned to go and tell:

Matt 28:19,20

[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Adam and Eve hid from the presence of the LORD (Gen 3:8)

Cain went out from the presence of the LORD (Gen 3:16)

Now Jonah rose up to flee from the presence of the LORD (Jonah 1:3)

Jonah thought he could run away from his calling and the presence of the LORD.

BUT can anyone really get away from the presence of the LORD?

Psalms 139:7-10

[7] Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
[8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
[9] If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
[10] Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

Jonah is bull-headed, stubborn and rebellious as he runs from GOD.

He went do to Joppa (beautiful) and bought a ticket bound for Tarshish.

Remember Peter was at Joppa when GOD called him to go and preach repentance to a Gentile.

Unlike Jonah, Peter was obedient.

Acts10:5,6

[5] And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
[6] He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

3) Despised Dilemma (3)

Why would the man of GOD, who has been used of GOD, flee from GOD?

In Jonah’s day the Assyrians were a violent people.

They attacked surrounding areas regularly.

They were extremely cruel to their victims:

- Fillet victims noses

- Bury victims body in sand and stake the tongue

- Boiled people alive

- Raped women and mutilated their bodies

- Slaughtered children

Jonah thinks that if he goes to Nineveh they will kill him and their next target could be Israel.

He wants the judgment of God to fall on Nineveh.

If God will destroy Nineveh, then Israel will be safe.

Jonah was really afraid that Nineveh would repent and he did not want them to obtain Gods favor (4:2,3).

Thus Jonah is in rebellion against God.

Jonah 1:[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.

4) Driven Devisements (4,5)

Jonah is on board the ship sailing in the wrong direction.

But in God’s providence and prevention, God sent out a great wind into the sea.

Wind is a type of the Spirit, The Very Breath of God.

The Spirit can be a gentle breeze or a rushing mighty wind.

God is sovereignly in control of all things including the weather.

The ship was almost ready to be broken up in the violent storm.

The word “Storm” occurs in scripture 14 times.

There is a ministry of storms:

Isaiah 29:6

[6] Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

The Sailors became very afraid and called on their own gods to no avail.

Then the sailors cast their cargo out to lighten the ship.

Jonah 1: [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. [7] And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. [8] Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? [9] And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.

5) Deception Discovered (5-9)

As the sailors are casting out the cargo, they found Jonah down in the belly of the ship asleep.

How can he be asleep in such a storm?

I can imagine that the storm inside was greater than the storm outside.

I believe Jonah is asleep and filled with indifference.

A sleeping Christian is in a world of danger.

A sleeping Christian can talk in their sleep and walk in their sleep.

They asked Jonah to get up and call on his God to save them.

Jonah is a sleeping Christian who missed prayer meeting and had to be awakened.

Evidently, Jonah refused this request to pray.

The sailors cast lots to find out why the storm was on them.

Prov 16:[33] The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

The lot fell on Jonah, his sin was exposed.

I wonder, has God ever taken His finger to point you out.

They began to question Jonah, like a building storm.

Jonah said, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord.”

· If he really did fear the Lord, Jonah wouldn’t be here.

· Jonah is not telling the whole story yet.

· He said he was a Hebrew, likening himself to Abraham.

Genesis 14:13

[13] And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eschol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

Abraham was the Hebrew who was told to go and follow God and he was obedient.

Genesis 12:1

[1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.

Now here is Jonah pretending to be obedient, but was really in rebellion and disobedience.

Jonah 1:[10] Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. [11] Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. [12] And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. [13] Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. [14] Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. [15] So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. [16] Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.

6) Desperate Decisions (10–16)

As the sailors listened to Jonah, they discerned that his disposition and attitude is wrong.

They sailors grow afraid and question more about Jonah.

Thus he revealed the real happenings in his life.

They want to know what can be done to remedy the storm, for it was growing worse.

Jonah said, “Cast me forth into the sea.” He was willing to die.

Jonah knew that the storm was sent by God to chastise him.

The sailors would not cast Jonah into the sea.

They thought the consequences of casting Jonah into the sea would make things worse.

They rowed hard but were not able to get to safety or to the shore.

The sailors showed more compassion than Jonah did, Jonah would not try to save Nineveh.

Then the sailors cried unto the Lord, they did not want to be guilty of causing harm to God’s Man.

After this prayer, they did take Jonah up and cast him into the sea.

The sea immediately ceased her raging as the winds and waves were calmed.

Then the sailors feared the Lord, offered a sacrifice and made vows.

· I think right here, they were saved.

· Many are tossed on a sea of conviction and make desperate efforts to save self.

· Fleshly efforts of sinners will always fail.

Jonah 1: [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.

7) Direct Determinations (17)

The Lord “Prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah”.

The great fish was obedient as he swallowed Jonah up.

Jonah was in the belly of the great fish 3 days and 3 nights!

Jesus was in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

Matt 12:39,40

[39] But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
[40] For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

See how:

God prepared a great fish (1:17)

God prepared a gourd (4:6)

God prepared a worm (4:7)

God prepared a wind (4:8)

But God is using these things to prepare a preacher, a believer.

Time, effort, and compassion will be used by the Lord to touch the heart of his man.

Thus Jonah will not only be a study of the grace of God to sinners but to rebellious saints.