Jonah 1:1-6 | Part 1
Jonah (dove)
Amittai (my truth)
Born about 800 years before Christ
What we will see is the most evident decision of Jonah’s life is to disregard God and do what he wants to do
His prophecy is so disregarded, that the Pharisees of Jesus day didn’t even recognize him (John 7:52)
Jesus uses Ninevah as an example of repentance to the same group of pharisees (Matthew 12:38)
Born in a town Gath-Hepher
This town was close to Nazareth
Jeroboam II (793–753 BC)
- Rich King, lot of material wealth in the kingdom, not much worship of the one true God
Jonah had seen firsthand the mercy of God
Jonah’s life was a good one because of this mercy
Jonah hated the Ninevites (Assyrians)
The Ninevites as we shall see repent, and two generations of them are allowed to live. The city is completely destroyed 150 years later because of their return to sin
- Who were the Ninevites?
Nineveh was the capital of Assyria
The whole city was wicked
Assyrians were the most hated and violent people group on the planet at that time
It was not hard for Israelites to hate Ninevites
It was actually easy to look down on them, and see themselves as spiritually more superior
Jonah 1:1-2 | Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, [2] “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”
- God commanded Jonah to go
Get up
Go to Ninevah
Call them out
Jonah 1:3 | But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
- Jonah flees from God
Jonah runs away
Purchases a ticket in the opposite direction
He goes down into the ship to hide
- Why does Jonah run away?
Jonah 4:1 And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.
What this looks like in your life:
God is calling you to get up, go, and speak
If your response to your calling is to run away and hide or not listen, it is sin
In your denial, and in your hiding, God goes with you. This is the non-believer's worst nightmare and the Christian’s greatest blessing
Jonah 1:4 | But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.
- God raises up a mighty wind to cause a storm
- The ship was about to break apart
Jonah 1:5-6 | Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. [6] So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”
- The sailors were so scared, they cried out loud for help
- Out of desperation, they threw all of their cargo overboard
- Jonah was in such denial that even a storm that scared sailors so much that they cried out, could not wake him
- The captain is disgusted with Jonah.
- The non-believer (captain) calls the believer (Jonah) to prayer
What this looks like in your life:
God will have his way in your life. Stop running
What areas in your life do you think God doesn’t know about or understand?
The key to any resolve of pain, hurt, unforgiveness, bitterness, or anger is communication with the one who understands. Who went through temptation and never sinned.
how are we praying?
Who do we think we are talking to?
Hebrews 4:15-16 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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