Jonah, Series Preview

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Book of Jonah

Pastor Gabriel Render 10/19/24

With the sizeable undertaking of the Book of Daniel now complete, I will be taking us through a short series from one of my favorite minor prophets- Jonah.  

While Jonah and the big fish might be one of the most popular and well known Bible stories, it is infrequently preached expositionally and with proper care.

Many come away from reading or hearing about Jonah and think it’s simply a tale of a rebellious prophet and of God’s forcing him to do as he’s told. Many also come away seeing the Ninevites as repentant victims of Jonah’s sin and tend to think the book ends at chapter 3.

Indeed, the VeggieTale influenced children’s stories seem to neglect chapter 4 all together.

“Like Jonah, you may lose 

  your guard, but you cannot       

  lose your God.” 

     -Charles Haddon Spurgeon

So is Jonah simply about a rebellious prophet, and the gospel proclamation in Old Covenant times? Did Jonah survive in the fish, or did he die and resurrect? Is it about God’s power over the sea and death?

Or is it more about God’s grace towards gentile and pagan nations? 

Or does God simply like to spare cattle from harm?

This book may certainly have all of these elements, and even the storybook moments have their proper place in the narrative and application for believers-  but if we do not read the prophet Jonah with a lens towards seeing Christ, then we have failed. It is by no mistake, or happenstance that Jesus promises the sign of Jonah as a proper testimony to his lordship as the Messiah of God.

Few devote enough time to reading the “Book of the Twelve” or the minor prophets as we know these books (minor meaning smaller, not less important). For that reason, many are not familiar with Nahum and the ultimate outcome of the city of Nineveh after the events of Jonah.

The Book of Jonah is a timely lesson in God’s Sovereign will to save whom he pleases, by whatever means he deems most glorifying to himself, for the edification of the body, the sanctification of the saints, and as a beautiful foreshadowing of the greater Jonah, who triumphed over the grave in his own trial in the belly of the Earth for a span of 3 days. 

I pray this sermon series will be encouraging and convicting and that Jonah will earn a more respected position in your Bible reading by series end.

-Grace and Peace-

_____________________&____

Jonah Outline

Chapter 1: Jonah’s Flight from God’s Command

  • God’s Command (vv. 1-2)
  • Jonah’s Rebellion (v. 3)
  • God’s Response (vv. 4)
  • The Sailors’ Plea (vv. 5-11)
  • Jonah’s Solution to the Storm (vv. 12-15)
  • The Sailors Salvation (v. 16)
  • The Great Fish (v. 17)

Chapter 2: Jonah’s Prayer from the Depths

  • Jonah’s Prayer of Repentance? (vv. 1-8)
  • Jonah’s Deliverance (v. 9)

Chapter 3: Jonah Preaches Nineveh Unto Salvation

  • Jonah’s (Begrudged?) Obedience (vv. 1-3)
  • Jonah’s Message of Destruction (v. 4)
  • Nineveh’s Repentance (vv. 5-9)
  • Gods Mercy on Nineveh (v. 10)

Chapter 4: Jonah’s Bitter Displeasure

  • Jonah’s Angry Prayer (vv. 1-3)
  • God’s Question (v. 4)
  • Jonah’s Grumbling and God’s Lesson (vv. 5-8)
  • God’s Questioning of Jonah and Final Indictment (vv. 9-11)

Questions For Consideration:

  1. Is Jonah ignorant or rebellious? 
  1. Does Jonah die or remain alive within the fish? Why is this important?
  1. If Nineveh ultimately would be destroyed, what is the purpose of Gods mercy upon the generation before Jonah?
  1. Is God being sarcastic, and unnecessarily harsh on Jonah? What lesson is God desiring to teach?

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