Jonah & Christ

Jonah & Christ

Introduction: The Book of Jonah is unique in it is the only book in the Old Testament dealing exclusively with a Gentile Nation.

I) Background 780 BC

A) Jonah mentioned in 2 Kings 14.23-28 (v. 25)

1. During the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel

2. Jonah was from Gath Helpher, a city four miles from Nazareth of Galilee.

B) Nineveh

1. The capital of Assyria

2. Assyria the world power, eventually conquered Israel around 700 BC

3. Times were good in Israel but bad in Assyria.

II) Chapter 1 Jonah Runs Away From God

A) God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh, a city 250 miles away

1. Jonah gets on a boat to go in the opposite direction.

a. Was Jonah really trying to run away from God or simply reject the will of God?

b. No one can escape the presence of God, Psalm 139

c. Jonah may have been giving up his office as prophet.

d. If Nineveh is destroyed they can not conquer Israel.

2. God causes a storm to come up, the crew go to their gods. They go to their gods while Jonah is running away from his God, v. 5

3. They cast lost to find out who is responsible for their happening, v. 9-10

4. Jonah is cast into the sea, v. 15

B) Lessons

1. God is everywhere, Psalm 139.7-10

2. Man can not circumvent the will of God.

3. The heathen rebuked Jonah for not serving his God. "Jonah was the only atheist on board" – Homer Hailey

III) Chapter 2 Jonah Returns to God

A) Jonah is swallowed by a really big fish, 1.17

1. God "prepared the fish", Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days

a. A difference between an act of God and a miracle

b. The storm was an act of God, the fish swallowing Jonah was an act of God; living three days in the belly of a fish is a miracle.

2. Jonah could nothing but pray to God, he was totally helpless, v. 5

a. Jonah understood why this happened

b. He acknowledges God – to acknowledge God means to acknowledge the will of God and one’s responsibility to God. , v. 9

B) Lessons

1. Jonah was in this situation due to his decisions

2. Sin and rebellion leads to bad things

3. When we acknowledge God we also must acknowledge our responsibilities

IV) Chapter 3: Jonah Runs with God

A) Jonah goes to Nineveh to preach

1. A great city, v. 2-3

2. He preaches the message of God, v. 4

3. The listen and repent, vv. 5-9; Matthew 12.41

4. God shows mercy and allows Nineveh to stand, v. 10

V) Chapter 4: Jonah Runs Against God

A) Jonah is angry due to God’s mercy, v. 2

1. He ask God to kill him, v. 2

2. God demonstrates His mercy with a plant, a worm, and some wind, vv. 5-8

a. Jonah is more concerned with a plant than a city of people

b. Jonah knew the people would repent, he wanted the city destroyed

B) Lessons

1. God was dealing with the Gentiles in His own way

2. The word of God can and will have results when it is preached and taught

a. We need to expect results

b. The results we get may be the problem

3. The great concern God has for mankind may be greater than man’s concern for his fellowman, Matthew 9.36-38

VI) Christ in Jonah; As Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, Christ would be in the grave three days, Matthew 12.40

A) The death of Christ was an "act of God" the resurrection was a "miracle"

B) This is referred to as the sign of Jonah, Matthew 16.4

Conclusion: Two important points: Jonah had a second chance, and the people repented at the preaching of Jonah. Now is our opportunity to obey the will of God. Are we more righteous than the people of Nineveh?

D.T. @ Westside Church of Christ 04.22.07

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