Conference Notes

Jonah's commision, disobedience, and consequences Read Jonah chapter 1

Jonah is mentioned in 2 Kings 14:23-25 as a prophet during the reign of Jereboam II in Israel. He is one of the earliest prophets to have a book with his name. In this book, he is used to speak to Israel's enemies.

The prophets in general have an important place in the work of the Lord. In Ezra 5:2, the prophets were helping those who built the house of God. Jonah, however, seems to lack any appreciation for the word of the Lord at this time in his life.

At least Peter listened to the Lord's lesson and went, but Jonah intended to go in exactly the opposite direction. Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, was about 500 miles northeast of Israel in present-day Iraq. Jonah planned to sail to Tarshish, probably a city in Spain, about 2000 miles west!

Jonah probably knew he could not really hide from God. Psalm 139 had already been written, describing God's all-seeing and all-knowing character. But Jonah likely thought he could leave behind the influences around him in Israel, hoping he would hear less from God in another place.

Ships did not sail to Tarshish often (cp. 2 Chronicles 9:21), and perhaps Jonah rationalized that the circumstances were in his favor since a ship was ready to leave just as he arrived in Joppa. But circumstances do not overrule God's word.

By contrast, the Lord Jesus slept during a storm as well (Mark 4:35-41). However, the wind of that storm came from the enemy, whereas this wind came from God. Moreover, Jesus slept as one who was doing the will of God, not running from Him.

When Jonah did stand before the mariners, he described God's mercy and truth, His forgiveness and righteousness-- lessons he would have learned from God's message to Moses (Exodus 34:7). These truths should not be kept to ourselves! But Jonah also had to admit that he was fleeing from his God. By contrast, the apostle Paul was a testimony for God during another storm in Acts 27. "I believe God," he declared, giving thanks in the presence of everyone on board (Acts 27:25, 35).

When Jonah spoke to the sailors, he included his confession about attempting to flee from God. Confession is a necessary part of restoration. The cost of sin has always been death (Romans 3:23), and Jonah no doubt expected to die as a result of his sin. The seamen valued his life and try to avoid throwing him overboard, but the storm is too great. Spiritually, we could say that people do not like the way of death as a payment for sin-- they would rather give their best efforts instead. But the death of Christ is the only means by which atonement for sin can be made.

Jonah's prayer, deliverance, and preaching; Nineveh's response Read Jonah chapters 2 & 3

This fish is one of five "great" things in the book of Jonah. It is also the first of four things God "prepared" in this book. Just as God prepared the fish, the body of the Lord Jesus was laid in a tomb prepared by Joseph and used specifically for the Lord.

Jonah had learned that God was at work in his life. He said, "You cast me into the deep" (2:3), even though it had been the sailors.

The sailors realized that God is a judge; Jonah also knew that God is merciful. The word of God was in his heart, and it was used in his restoration. When we feel we are in the belly of the fish in despair or contrition, is the word of God our meditation as well?

Jonah obeyed God's second commission. "It's better to obey than to sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22), even though we find that he didn't really have his heart in the obedience.

Jonah's message was, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" This is only five words in Hebrew. It's a nice connection with Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 14:19 that five words from the Lord which are understood are better than a much longer message. We learn later that Jonah didn't even like delivering the message, so the impact of his words is not because of his style or forcefulness. It's the power of the word of the Lord, applied to the heart by the Spirit of God.

The authority of God and the opportunity to repent are not even part of Jonah's message. Yet the people of Nineveh felt that a God great enough to destroy their strongly fortified city would also be great enough to show mercy if He would choose.

If all this took place after Jonah's disobedience, how much better if he had been a willing servant from the beginning!

God takes account of every act towards Himself. He responsd to His creatures. It's not that He has made a mistake or that He ever acts capriciously or dishonestly. He is all-knowing, the only wise God, and is always true. Instead, God always acts according to His own principles, and one of His principles is that disobedience will bring judgment but repentence will bring mercy (Jeremiah 18:7-10).

Jonah's discontentment and correction Read Jonah chapter 4

It's a sad situation when we think ill of others. Jonah felt so strongly antagonistic towards the Ninevites that he wished for their destruction. Jonah knew God was merciful, which is more than the wicked servant of Luke 19:21 knew. Yet Jonah did not share the merciful heart of God. It's serious when we know the Scriptures that tell us God's character but those Scriptures have no impact on our lives.

There are a number of people in the Bible who say they are weary of their lives (Rebekah, Job, Elijah, and others). It's usually an extreme expression of selfishness!

God still didn't abandon Jonah. Instead, He took him to school. God intends to teach Jonah through object lessons. Jonah made a booth for shade; all through the book, we find how resourceful he is (finding a ship, making a booth, and so on). But God's provision is an improvement on the limited booth-- the full shade of a natural plant.

Additionally, we see how self-centered Jonah is-- the shade is only for him, and as long as his need is met, he is happy.

Despite Jonah's weaknesses, even suffering from the instabilities of his humanity, God is resourceful enough to meet him in his present need.

Compare the sorrow of the Lord Jesus unto death and the sorrow of Jonah. The Lord was sorrowful because He would bear our sins; Jonah was only thinking of himself.

In chapter 1 God had exposed the wickedness of Nineveh; now we learn that God has tenderness towards them, as well.

It's helpful to remember that Jonah himself is no doubt the one used to write this book. God's mercy must have impacted Jonah, and we can feel confident that he must have learned this lesson. Jonah allows God to have the last word in this book, and His question about mercy should impact us as well.