Jonah – a prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel Time: During the reign of Jeroboam II (793-753 B.C.) Material prosperity in Israel: regained lost territory, as Jonah prophesied. But spiritual and moral decay as the nation moved away from God to idolatry. Hosea & Amos - contemporary prophets called Israel to repent. God’s judgment will come in a generation: the Assyrians will destroy Israel 30 years after Jeroboam II’s reign.
Jonah 1:1-6 Jonah Flees the Presence of the Lord v. 1. “The word of the Lord came to Jonah…” typical for a book of prophecy. v. 2. “Arise, go to Nineveh” – NOT typical – God sent prophets to Israel and Judah. Unlikely Mission: Assyrians were brutal: torture, dismembering, decapitations. Israel had paid heavy tribute to the Assyrians under King Jehu. Why would God warn the Assyrians and give them an opportunity to repent?
v. 3 Unlikely Emissary: Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord. The Lord called Jonah east over land to Nineveh Jonah headed west by sea to Tarshish, (in modern Spain). Jonah had prophesied about Israel’s prosperity in 2 Ki He wanted no part in prophesying to Israel’s enemy.
Why Jonah fled. 1. He doubted the goodness of God. How could God send Jonah to an enemy of God’s people? If we hold to the idea that everything that we go through must make sense to us, we may flee from God too.
A bad report from the doctor. A relationship ends. A financial black hole. When life doesn’t make sense, God calls us to trust him. He demonstrated his love once & for all when he sent his son to die in your place. You can trust God; he intends good for you. He is for you.
In Chs. 3&4 Jonah acts like the older brother in the parable. He is angry at his father’s mercy toward a repentant sinner. Both doubted the goodness of their father.
“The problem facing Jonah [is] the mystery of God’s mercy. It is a theological problem, but it is at the same time a heart problem. Unless Jonah can see his own sin and see himself as living wholly by the mercy of God, he will never understand how God can be merciful to evil people and still be just and faithful.” – Timothy Keller, The Prodigal Prophet
We can be like the older brother, believing we have earned God’s favor. That is pride and the deceitfulness of sin. Instead of “Jesus paid it all” it says, “I have done it all.”
How to know you’re missing the mercy of God for yourself – not forgiving others. Heart is cold toward those who are not like you.
v. 4. “The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea…” Jonah does not get very far with his rebellion. “God never allows his children to sin successfully”. – Charles Spurgeon
Sin brings trouble. That’s not to say that all trouble is the result of sin. But every sin will bring trouble – perhaps not right away, but over time. “All sin has a storm attached to it.” – Timothy Keller
God created us to live for him more than anything else, for his glory. When we build our lives on something else, we go against the grain of our design.
Christians have the promise that God uses storms for our good. What Jonah could not know, was that within the terror of the storm was the God who would not let him go. God was drawing him back from his rebellion.
We know what Jonah could not God’s salvation came through weakness, suffering, and apparent defeat. There is mercy deep inside our storms.