Jonah An Overview
SERMON OUTLINE:
KEY POINTS:
(1). Fact or Fiction?
(2). Unique or Unremarkable?
(3). A Fish or Forgiveness?
(4). Dead or Alive?
OUTLINE:
Chapter 1: Jonah runs from God.
Chapter 2: Jonah runs to God.
Chapter 3: Jonah is now running with God.
Chapter 4: Jonah runs against God.
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Two guys from Portland, Oregon IN THE USA,
• Liked the Greek word for victory so much.
• That in 1971,
• They named their new tennis shoe company after it.
• You might have heard of them…
• Nike.
• In 1988, Nike first used the slogan ‘Just Do It,’
• It has become one of the most successful advertising slogans,
• In marketing history.
• TRANSITION: God some very similar words to Jonah,
• Jonah, “Go! Just Do It.”
• Jonah replied, “No!”
• And so, begins one of the best-known stories from the Bible.
Ill:
• The story of Jonah,
• Is one of the very first Bible stories children learn,
• And not just Christian kids but Jewish kids as well.
• It would probably have been true for Jesus!
• That this was a story,
• He was told by Mary when he was a young child.
• You remember that Jesus grew up in Nazareth.
• According to, 2 Kings chapter 14 verses 25.
• Jonah came from the nearby village of Gath Hepher,
• Which was located about three miles north of Nazareth.
• In modern days, it is now known as Mash Had.
• e.g. Warwickshire has their local hero, William Shakespear.
• e.g. Nottingham has the local hero, Robin Hood.
• I wonder in the past if Jonah was the local hero of Nazareth?
• I would imagine all the children grew up knowing his story!
• And being warned not to behave like him.
Note:
• According to the Jewish Talmud,
• (The Talmud is the link between Scripture & Jewish practice.)
• The Talmud say there were 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses.
• Some of these prophets are called, ‘writing prophets’,
• That means they were primarily known,
• For their written message/words,
• Rather than their spoken message/preaching.
• Jesus during his earthly ministry mentioned 4 of them by name,
• Question: Can you name the other three?
• Answers: Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah.
Now Jonah received more than just a mention from Jesus.
• Jesus actually identified himself with the prophet,
• Using Jonah’s three-day stay in the belly of the great fish,
• As a foreshadowing of his own death,
• When Jesus would spend three days
• “…in the heart of the earth,” before his resurrection.
• (Matthew chapter 12 verses 39–41).
(1). Fact or Fiction?
• Many people dismiss this story as merely fiction.
• A nice story with a moral.
• A lesson to learn.
• I believe that Jonah was a real person in history.
• And not fictional character in a dramatic & entertaining story.
• Several reasons why.
(a).
• Jonah is mentioned as a real historical person in the book of Kings.
• We can date exactly when he lived from the information given.
• He lived during the reign of reign of Jeroboam II.
• He lived around the 8th century BC (800 years before Jesus).
(b).
• Jonah had a real biological father named as Amittai,
• Both Jonah and his father are treated as a real people,
• In the historical books of the Bible.
(c).
• Jesus treated Jonah as a real person.
• He believed in Jonah and the great fish.
• Jesus on one occasion said,
• “One greater than Jonah is now here.”
• (Matthew chapter 12 verse 41).
(d).
• When Jesus does mention Jonah,
• He mentions him in context of other historical people.
• e.g. the men of Ninevah,
• Will have something to say on the day of judgement.
• e.g. Jesus mentions the Queen of the South,
• (Joke: That's not the Scottish football team,)
• It's the Queen of Sheeba, again a historical person.
• e.g. Jesus talks about Solomon:
• And once again Jonah is placed alongside people in history.
• People who existed,
So, I believe,
• Jonah was a real person in history.
• And not fictional character in a dramatic & entertaining story.
• And that is how I will be teaching the book.
(2). Unique or Unremarkable?
Jonah is a short story, a very short story.
• Only four chapters, 48 verses, just over 1300 words.
• You can read it in 15 minutes.
• Here is what makes Jonah is unique:
• Most Bible books of the prophets contain very little biography,
• They are all about the prophets message,
• But Jonah is different,
• It contains very little message and is almost all biography.
• i.e. Jonah only speaks 5 words (chapter 3 verse 4).
• Making it the shortest prophecy in the Bible.
Something else that makes the story of Jonah unusual is.
• At each key point in the story,
• The thing that happens is often the opposite,
• Of what you might expect.
• e.g. Instead of Jonah obeying God,
• He disobeys God.
• e.g. The pagan sailors in chapter 1 are really the good guys,
• And Jonah the prophet of God is revealed as the bad guy.
• e.g. Instead of drowning in the sea as the sailors expected,
• Jonah is rescued by a great fish.
• e.g. Instead of the city of Ninevah ignoring Jonah,
• They repent and believe!
• e.g. That includes the most powerful tyrant king,
• Who also humbles himself and repents!
• e.g. Instead of rejoicing over their salvation
• Jonah sulks under a vine.
• The book of Jonah is unique and unusual,
• In so many ways.
Note:
• The name of this prophet of God,
• Is also comical.
• Jonah means, ‘dove.’
• Now when you think of a dove, at least as a symbol,
• You think of gentleness, submission.
Ill:
• Do you remember Jesus said (Matthew chapter 10 verse 16),
• “Be wise as a serpent and gentle or harmless as a…lion.”
• Of course not, he said,
• “Be wise as a serpent and gentle or harmless as a dove.”
• TRANSITION:
• Jonah is the very opposite of what his name suggests,
• He is very hard -hearted, extremely bigoted,
• And very harsh in his treatment toward other people.
• Anything but dovelike!
• There is no other prophet in the Old Testament,
• That was so nationalistic, patriotic toward the Jewish people,
• And who had such a hatred of non -Jews, Gentile people.
Ill:
• A joke/story.
• Jonah is sitting on a clifftop,
• When a bus load of Ninevites drive over the edge.
• Jonah suddenly bursts into tears, and somebody asks him,
• “Jonah what is the matter, I thought you hated the Ninevites?”
• Jonah replied, “I do but there were two empty seats.”
• Now that is the kind of hatred Jonah had for the Ninevites.
• TRANSITION:
• When the call of God came to him,
• Jonah was blinded by his own selfish bigotry,
• His only desire was for God to punish the Assyrians.
• Jonah wanted these people dead!
Now, when we read the story of Jonah.
• You might ask the question,
• Why would God want to use someone like him,
• Why not use another prophet,
• To take a message of mercy to the Ninevite people?
• For me it would seem that,
• God must have a terrific sense of humour.
• He chooses a Jewish racist & bigot,
• And sends him on a mission to save the very people he hates!
(3). A Fish or Forgiveness?
If you asked most people about the book of Jonah,
• And what is the first thing that comes to mind,
• Many people would instantly say, “a whale.”
• Or if they know their Bible they might say, “fish.”
But as I said earlier, don’t get side-tracked by the fish.
• Did you know that there are 10 miracles recorded in the book,
• Not one but ten.
• (1). Unusual storm (Jonah 1:4)
• (2). Selection of Jonah as guilty by lot (Jonah 1:7)
• (3). Sudden subsiding of the storm.
• Storms don’t just stop (Jonah 1:15)
• (4). Great fish: at the right time and place. (Jonah 1:17)
• (5). Preservation of Jonah (chapter 2)
• (6). Ejection Safe and Sound on dry land (Jonah 2:10)
• (7).The fast growing leafy plant (Jonah 4:6)
• (8). The worm at the right time and place. (Jonah 4:7)
• (9). scorching east wind – God provided (Jonah 4:8)
• (10). Repentance of an entire city Nineveh! (Jonah 4:11)
Note: in my opinion.
• The fish is not the biggest miracle in the book,
• The worm is (Jonah 4:7)!
• I say that because we train whales,
• We train dolphins & sea lions etc.
• You may have been to a show and seen the perform.
• But you cannot train a worm!
• You never see a performing worm show.
• For God to get the worm to behave on command,
• Is a bigger miracle than for him to get the great fish to perform.
Note: Jonah is not primarily about a fish it is about God.
• The fish is mentioned 4 times.
• The city is mentioned 9 times.
• Jonah is mentioned 18 times.
• God is mentioned 38 times.
This book is about God and how great his heart is toward lost people.
• Compassion surrounds this narrative,
• And is the main theme, and purpose of the book.
Ill:
• In 1865 William Booth founded of the Salvation Army.
• (Named among the 100 Greatest Britons in a 2002 BBC poll),
• He worked among the very poor of London.
• Among drunkards, morphine addicts, prostitutes, and the poor.
“We saw the need,” Booth said. “We saw people starving, we saw people going about half-naked, people doing sweated labour, and we set about bringing remedies for these things. We were obliged, there was no compulsion. How could you do anything else?” he asked.
• He set out to reach them with what he called the 3 S’s:
• Question: Anyone want to guess what they were?
• Answer: Soup, soap, and salvation.
• William Booth believed you must show compassion to people.
• Soup – you feed the hungry – meet their physical needs..
• Soap -you wash the dirty - give them dignity.
• Salvation – you give them Jesus.
• TRANSITION:
• Unlike William Booth Jonah had no compassion,
• He wanted the Ninevites judged and destroyed.
The primary theme in the book of Jonah,
• Is that God’s compassion is boundless,
• Not limited just to just the Jews
• But also available to the Gentiles.
This is clear from the flow of the story and its conclusion:
• Jonah experiences God’s compassion throughout the book,
• His life is spared, and God continues to use him.
• The pagan sailors experience God’s compassion,
• In that the ship is spared and also their lives.
• And in chapter 4 (spoiler alert) the wicked Ninevites,
• Are also the benefactors of this compassion.
• The story ends with God asking Jonah a question,
• “Should I not pity Nineveh?” (Jonah chapter 4 verse 11)
• Jonah is the only book in the Bible that ends with a question.
• And it is an open question,
• In that we are not told Jonah’s reply!
Ill:
• Before the days of modern navigational aids,
• A traveller crossing the Atlantic in a boat,
• Would take two compasses.
• One was fixed to the deck where the man at the wheel could see it.
• The other compass was fastened up on one of the masts,
• And would need a sailor to climb up the mast to view it.
• Onetime a passenger asked the captain,
• "Why do you have two compasses?"
• The captain answered him.
"This is an iron vessel, and the compass on the deck is often affected by its surroundings. Such is not the case with the compass at the masthead; that one is above the influence. We steer by the compass above.”
• TRANSITION:
• The events in the book of Jonah are all steered from above.
• These events happen to reveal the forgiveness,
• And compassion of a great God.
(4). Dead or Alive?
• You may or may not know that Christians are split,
• Regarding whether Jonah died or was kept alive.
• I used to believe that Jonah was kept alive in the whale,
• And that was the miracle.
• Today, I have changed my mind!
• I believe Jonah physically died,
• And the miracle of chapter 2 is resurrection.
• So, in a few weeks’ time,
• When Kevin Walls speaks on chapter 2.
• He may have a different understanding than me.
Note:
• Either interpretation,
• Will not affect the main teaching of the book.
• So, draw your own conclusion.
• When the fish vomited Jonah up on to the beach.
• You have a choice.
• He was a very weak and bedraggled resuscitated man,
• Relieved to be out of the fish.
• Or was Jonah was a resurrected man.
• A kind of Lazarus (John chapter 11),
• Dead and raised back to life.
The reason I believe that Jonah died and later rose again is because of his prayer in Jonah chapter 2 verse 2:
• NIV: “From deep in the realm of the dead.”
• KJB: “Out of the belly of Sheol.”
• GNB: “You answered me. From deep in the world of the dead”
• The use of the Hebrew word, Sheol, for “the grave,”
• Implies that Jonah died.
• Though others say the phrase
• “the depths of the grave,” is a poetic turn,
• And could easily refer to an agonizing or horrifying experience.
What also really swings the argument for me:
• Is that Jesus used this story,
• To illustrate his death and resurrection:
• (Matthew chapter 12 verse 40).
Jesus said, “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”.
• Jesus’ death and resurrection were actual, they were real.
• Therefore, for Jonah to be a solid illustration,
• He too must also have died and later returned to life.
• Now like I said earlier,
• For most of us you can hold either view,
• And it will not affect the narrative or your faith.
Ill:
• But be warned, Moslems love this story.
• They say Jonah swooned or fainted in the fish,
• Likewise, Jesus also swooned or fainted in the grave.
• But that is a poor argument,
• Because types and illustrations are just that.
• They are shadows and not the substance.
• Analogies do not require absolute agreement in every detail.
• This story illustrates Jesus’ death and resurrection,
• Whichever view you hold.
• One final thing.
• Resurrection is a greater miracle than recession.
• So, believing Jonah actually died is not an easier option,
• For it would take an even great miracle to bring him back to life.
Note:
• This morning, we are having a quick overview of the book:
• To prepare us for our verse-by-verse study,
• That will take place over the next few weeks.
• So let me give you a headline,
• And a theme for the four chapters.
Chapter 1 - Jonah runs from God:
• The story starts off in a very normal way (vs 1):
• "The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai".
• "The word of the Lord came to Jonah".
• God spoke to his messenger.
• That messenger is identified for us. "Jonah son of Amittai".
Then we are informed of two things.
• #1: What God told Jonah to do (vs 2a).
• "Go to the great city of Ninevah".
• #2: Why God was sending Jonah (vs 2b).
“…preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
In chapter 1 Jonah is running from God and the key thought is disobedience.
• God said, “Go” and Jonah said, “No!”
• WHAT – prophets did not do that!
• God said, “Go east.”
• Jonah said, “I’m going west.”
Ill:
• Roy Keane is an Irish football pundit,
• Former coach, & former professional player for Manchester United.
• For United he won.
• 3x Footballer of the Year
• 1x Champions League winner
• 7x English Premier Titles.
• 4x English FA Cups
• 4x English Charity Shields
• Roy Keane DVD Clip.
• As a pundit he has a very well-known saying.
• If a goalkeeper makes a great save and everyone is praising him.
• Keane calmly just says, “That’s his job!”
• TRANSITION:
• Jonah, “That’s your job!”
• You don’t say no instead you just go!
Application:
Ill:
• On a hot sunny day, a dad was fixing his car,
• As he was working under the bonnet (hood),
• His young son walked by.
• He looked up and said,
• “Could you please get me a glass of water.”
• His son said, “Of course,”
• And a few minutes later returned with an apple.
• The dad said,
• “I really like apples but what I need is a glass of water.”
• Off the son went and a few minutes later,
• He returned with a bar of chocolate.
• Once again, the dad said,
• “I really like chocolate but what I need is a glass of water.”
• TRANSITION:
• Now what the son did was good but…
• It was not what his dad had asked!
• So often we can do that with God,
• He asks us to do something and we so something else instead.
• What we choose to do is not sinful or evil,
• But…it is not what God asked us to do!
Note:
• The word 'obedience,' comes from the Latin obaudire,
• Which means 'to hear.'
• By contrast the Latin word for 'deaf' is absurdus,
• From which we get our word 'absurd.'
• To truly hear Christ is to obey him.
• And not to hear and obey,
• Is the way of absurdity, or very foolish living.
Chapter 2 - Jonah runs to God.
The key thought for this chapter is prayer.
• Chapter 2 verse 1:
• "From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God".
• What a strange place to pray:
• But God is not limited,
• We can pray to him anywhere.
• To think you can only pray to God in a church,
• e.g. Is to say you can only eat in a cafe,
• e.g. You can only play football on a football pitch,
• e.g. You can only sleep in your bedroom.
Most of us in Jonah's situation:
• Would probably pray instantly,
• Even if it was only, "HELP!".
• Now notice that Jonah took three days and three nights.
• (chapter 1 verse 17).
• Before he prayed this prayer.
• So that tells us he was stubborn and hard hearted.
• God had to break him to make him!
Ill:
• Ian Barclay,
• Was a was a well-known evangelical minister and author.
• (I think he died in 2022).
• He served in several churches including St Helen’s Bishopsgate.
• He often preached at events like, Spring Harvest.
• At one of those type of events,
• A group of Christians asked to speak with him.
• He agreed and they met up.
• The spokesperson for their group said to him.
“We are really worried about our Pastor, we think he is getting himself into a situation that is unbiblical, it could ruin him and cause a scandal at the Church. What should we do?”
• Ian Barclay replied, “Have you tried praying about this?”
• To which the spokesperson said,
• “No, but you don’t understand this is series!”
• TRANSITION:
• We often say we believe in prayer,
• But so often when pressed we don’t!
• Maybe the lesson from chapter 2 is,
• Don’t wait until things get desperate.
• Before you start praying.
Ill:
• Did you know that in one region of Africa,
• The first converts to Christianity,
• Were very diligent about praying?
• In fact, the believers each had their own special place,
• Just outside the village where they went to pray in solitude.
• The villagers reached these prayer places.
• By using their own private footpaths through the brush.
• When grass began to grow over one of these trails,
• It was evident that the person to whom it belonged,
• Was not praying very much.
• Because these Christians were concerned,
• For each other’s spiritual welfare,
• A unique custom sprang up.
• Whenever anyone noticed an overgrown “prayer path,”
• He or she would go to the person and lovingly warn,
• “Friend, there’s grass on your path!”
• TRANSITION:
• How is your path?
Chapter 3 - Jonah is now running with God:
In chapter 3 he is speaking for God and the key word for this chapter is grace.
• Chapter 3 verse 1.
• “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.”
• What a great verse:
• Our God is the God of the second chance!
• He doesn't hold grudges.
• He is patient and gracious towards us,
• He is a God who is rich in mercy, delights to show love.
ill:
• If you are studying,
• Wouldn’t you like a second chance to do any failed exam?
ill:
In football,
So many players would love a second chance to retake a missed penalty.
ill:
• In life,
• God gives us another chance i.e. 2nd, 3rd, even 99th chance!
• The Bible calls that grace!
• Quote: Grace a definition
“Grace is everything for nothing
to those who don’t deserve anything!”
• God acted in grace towards Jonah,
• And he acted in grace towards the Ninevites.
Note: That is not an excuse to go on sinning!
• You would not jump off a high building,
• Just to show how good a surgeon might be.
• That would be presumptuous and reckless.
• But if you fell over and had an accident,
• Then you would call on the medical services.
Chapter four - Jonah runs against God:
In chapter 4 he is learning about God and the key word for me is mission.
• The story yet again takes another turn:
• All through the book, everything seems to take,
• The opposite response to what you expect.
• i.e. Jonah running away instead of going.
• i.e. Sailors not throwing Jonah overboard.
• i.e. Ninevah repenting and not being destroyed.
• i.e. Now Jonah is miserable instead of rejoicing!
As you read chapter 4:
• There is something deeply disturbing,
• Even un-satisfying about how it ends.
• It seems to be an anti-climax.
ill:
• If you were making this book into a Hollywood movie:
• You would finish at chapter 3.
• Nineveh repents and they all live to face another day.
• There would have been no losers, only winners.
• But this is real life and not a fairy story!
And when you read chapter 4:
• It takes the edge off it, it’s a spoiler.
• It cast a dark shadow over the story.
• And it is meant to!
• When you study chapter 4,
• There are some great lessons to discover,
• And apply for our lives.
Now I am glad to say that the book of Jonah:
• Does not end with Jonah, but with God,
• Focussing on his everlasting love for people.
• What a contrast:
• The cold-hearted anger of Jonah.
• The warm-hearted love of God.
Questions:
• How is your heart tonight?
• Do you have a burden for the lost?
• The concept of a "burden for the lost."
• Refers to the deep, spiritual concern and responsibility,
• That Christians feel for those,
• Who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
• It is a call to evangelism and intercessory prayer,
Ill:
• Jesus Himself demonstrated a profound burden for the lost.
• In Luke chapter 19 verse 10, He declares,
• "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost"
• His ministry on earth,
• Was characterized by reaching out to people.
• He prayed and he even wept for the lost.
• e.g. Luke chapter 19 verses 41-44.
• Jesus weeps over Jerusalem because of its spiritual blindness,
• And rejection of his message.
• TRANSITION:
• How is your heart tonight?
• Do you have a burden for the lost?
Quote:
“Everybody is either a missionary or a mission field!”
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=2L48aStxjm8YiSdurr9lnlm13ZXm2jog
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/q6bo_XH-7hc
