Lessons from Jonah

Over the weekend, Steve and I watched the Veggie Tales rendition of the story of Jonah with our boys.

I have been studying through some of the Minor Prophets in the past weeks, and all dancing, singing vegetables aside, I felt prompted to make the book of Jonah my study for this week.

I'm reading through the short book each day, and then digging in deeper with my trusty Bible Knowledge Commentary, Concordance and the Holy Spirit.

It's Tuesday, and I'm already knee deep in wonderful truth that God is using to strengthen my faith and obedience. I love His word!!!

A few of my observations of the book as a whole:

Facts of Interest:

~Jonah was the only OT prophet to attempt running away from God.

~Jonah was 1 of 4 OT prophets that Jesus referred to during His earthly ministry. Matt. 12:41

Date:

~ Jonah took place somewhere in Jereboam's reign. 793-753 B.C. 2 Kings 14:25

Setting:

King Jereboam was successfully expanding his territory, while the Assyrian kingdom was in decline. However, prophets, Amos and Hosea had already been called to preach that the Assyrians would rise and Israel would be taken captive as a result of their disobedience to God's law.

Part of Jonah's hesitancy to obey might be explained by a patriotic fear and hesitancy to aid a nation that would become a future captor of his homeland.

(Application: Fear leads to disobedience.)

4 Truths that I see demonstrated in the book of Jonah:

1)God's concern for gentile people. Through Israel (Is.49:3) God's message of compassion was to be preached to all people.

2) The Sovereignty of God to accomplish His purposes. Though Israel was failing terribly in her missionary task, God faithfully called them to repentance - even through a running, disobedient, angry, self-centered prophet.

3)The response of the gentile Ninevah served as a rebuke to a wayward and unrepentant Israel. Even the ship's mariners demonstrate a spiritual insight (calling the sleeping man of God to prayer) and concern for Jonah (rowing hard to avoid having to throw Jonah overboard) in stark contrast to Jonah (and Israel's) lack of concern for God's law and the gentile nations around them.

4)Jonah, himself, was a symbol to Israel of her disobedience and indifference. God's punishment of Jonah mirrors His wrath over Israel's disobedience, while at the same time, His gracious and merciful dealings with Jonah mirror His slowness to anger and restoration of Israel.

Jonah's account of this story was written from a repentant heart...this is how it was shared with Israel, calling them to the same desired response to God's rebuke.

Over viewing the book of Jonah left me warming my heart next to the fire of His love for me:

~His faithful message of salvation to all people - including gentiles - me!

~His redemption of me. His relenting of what I do deserve, and merciful outpouring of what I don't deserve.

~His righteous punishment of my sin. Just like Jonah - it's the belly of the whale that draws me to repentance. I praise Him for His chastening.

~When I run, He stops me. When I repent, He gives me another command to obey. This is grace.

~He causes me to face questions that reveal my heart, so that I can change. "Do you do well to be angry?" He is so patient to not just zap me then and there.

~He allows me to be a part of His glorifying work despite my utter unworthiness. This I do not deserve, nor ever will.

Historical details obtained from Cook's Bible Knowledge Series