Jonah 1 - Rebel

Chapter 1 - Rebel

The book of Jonah – some introductory comments

The book of Jonah is probably the most criticised book of the Bible. It is hard enough to believe Jonah was swallowed by a whale (though the Greek = a great sea monster) but even harder to believe that the whole city of Nineveh actually repented. So is it just a parable (like Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15)? Is it the “Achilles’ heel” of the Bible?

Those who deny that the story is historical have come up with various theories. For example:

1. Jonah had a dream while asleep during a storm, and the book is simply an account of that dream.

2. Jonah did take a ship to Tarshish and was shipwrecked but was picked up by another ship which had a fish for its figurehead. If Jonah was unconscious it is feasible that he imagined being inside a fish, but once he recovered surely he knew he was on a ship and not inside a fish?

3. It is just a story to show that God loves everyone, even people as wicked as those living in Nineveh.

There is mention of “Jonah son of Amittai” (2 Kings 14.25), a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II (around 780-740 BC) Very few scholars question the historicity of Jeroboam II who reigned for 41 years (2 Kings 14.23), so why not accept that Jonah was a real person? Could there have been two different Jonah’s whose fathers were Amittai and who were both prophets? Of course the real issue is not whether Jonah actually lived, but whether the story recorded actually happened.

But we then have the testimony of Jesus to consider (Matthew 12.39-41). If we question the historical story of Jonah do we have to question the historicity of Jesus?

If we accept that Jonah was a prophet, the book named after him is not a prophecy. It is a personal account of a major event in his life. The book is not about a fish, although a fish does become important. The fish is merely window dressing; the fish is part of the props and not the star performer. There are lots of incidentals – the fish, the gourd, the wind, the boat and the city of Nineveh. The ESSENTIALS are God and man.

At the time of Jeroboam II Assyria was the world power and Nineveh a great city.

So why study this book?

1. It looks forward to Jesus’ resurrection

2. It stresses the importance of salvation by faith and not works (2.9)

3. It shows that God’s purposes cannot be thwarted

4. It shows that faithlessness will not cause God to cast us aside – though he may not be able to use us. In a football game there are a lot of players sitting
   on the bench. They are part of the team but some will not be used on that occasion

5. It shows that God is good and gracious (4.2). There is no vengeful God in this book

6. God is the God of ALL people; salvation is open to all and he is in the business of saving sinners (Rom 3.29)

Opening prayer: Loving God, you speak to us in many different ways. Thank you for the gift of story that inspires us and moves us to know more about you and your vision for the world. AMEN.

 Some questions to consider:

What do we learn about Jonah’s character? You might like to look at all 4 chapters to get a fuller picture.

Is there anything significant about being sent to Nineveh?

And why Tarshish?

Anything significant about the command in verse 2?

Do we learn anything about prayer in this chapter?

What can we learn about the way the sailors reacted to the storm?

Do we really believe that our God is also in control of the created order?

Is there any evidence that Jonah eventually took responsibility (verses 12ff)?

What is the significance of verse 14?

PRAYER: A time for personal reflection

Is there anything in your life right now that is similar to Jonah’s journey to Tarshish? Are you avoiding God in any way? Own up to God and ask Him if he has a task for you.

Offer a prayer to God for the humility to learn from others – especially in regard to knowing how we might respond to God’s call.

Once Jonah starts running, he runs away from God, his home and family, and even from pulling together with the sailors at a time of crisis. It took a mighty shock to bring him back to himself, and to God. Once we start running away from God it is hard to stop. Is there a lesson/a challenge for you from the story of Jonah? And if so, what are you going to do about it?

 The following additional notes are intended for housegroup leaders, but are available to all.

What do we learn about Jonah’s character?

Impetuous – prepared to flee to Tarshish rather than obey God.
Strong ideas about what God should do.
Stubborn, inflexible and arrogant – yet God wanted to use him!
Down to earth, fallible and bad-tempered, and not afraid to express his feelings to God.

Is there anything significant about being sent to Nineveh?
A message to a nation far away. Shows God’s concern for all people, not just Israel. The people of Israel were God’s chosen people but he did restrict his attention to them alone. A healthy reminder that we might be called to a place that we least expect. Going to Nineveh involved a journey of over 500 miles, and assuming 15-20 miles a day (typical length at that time) would have taken over a month. A city known for its wickedness and violence, so lots of reasons not to go. Here people worship fish goddess Nanshe and Dagon, fish god who was half-man, half-fish. And a big fish is involved in the story! This is the only biblical record of a prophet refusing God’s commission.

And why Tarshish?
The attraction was not Tarshish – the attraction was that it was not Nineveh! The name derives from the word for “sea” and there were a number of places with the same name along the Mediterranean coast. Nineveh lies east of Israel and the only way to flee from Israel by sea is west. So this is a symbolic way of saying that Jonah did the very opposite of what God commanded him to do. We can easily criticise Jonah’s action but have you ever done the opposite of what God asked you to do – through fear, panic, inertia or confusion?

Anything significant about the command in verse 2?
Hebrew = “Get up, go to Nineveh.” First Jonah is to get up ready for action, and then he is to go where God commands him. Our service begins with a willingness for action by “getting up” but it is only fulfilled when we do what God asks us to do. Jonah got up, then went to Tarshish! We often start well with God but then do what we think is best, and not always what God commands.

Do we learn anything about prayer in this chapter?
A prophet’s role was to speak to the people on God’s behalf – and to speak to God on the people’s behalf. Jonah does neither. The fact that Jonah is still fast asleep suggests he is deeply depressed. His decision to leave everything behind, even his faith, had a great impact on him. His relationship with God seems to have broken down and he is unable to pray, as requested by the captain. We often look to people in the Bible as a model of how to behave – Jonah is a model of how not to behave but perhaps that is why he is so popular!

What can we learn about the way the sailors reacted to the storm?
Jonah refuses to acknowledge God’s power and authority, yet the non-believers get things right, even if they don’t really know what to do. Like the people of Nineveh later in the story, the sailors recognise the power of God and turn to prayer. Jonah knew of the power of God but refused to even acknowledge it. As Christians we are in a privileged situation, but it means nothing if it does not cause us to acknowledge and worship God in our daily lives. The “Christian” is put to shame by the unbeliever, and Jonah refuses to accept and follow their example.

Do we really believe that our God is also in control of the created order?
Most nations at that time believed in a variety of gods who had control over different areas In Canaanite religion, El was creator of earth and humankind; Baal was a fertility god and controlled the weather; Mot controlled the underworld and Shaphash was the goddess of the sun. However Jonah’s God – and our God – controls all things. Even sea creatures responded to God, but not Jonah.

 Is there any evidence that Jonah eventually took responsibility (verses 12ff)?
Only now does Jonah accept his part in this calamity (12). He had become selfish and self-centred but things change – did his faith become real once again? The sailors are reluctant to do what Jonah asks, though verse 14 gives us a clue as to their real motive. Once more they show great understanding in the power of this great God. And as soon as the sailors realise they have no alternative …. (15).

 What is the significance of verse 14?
A subject much discussed by theologians – and many answers given. But perhaps we need only to focus on the words of Jesus (Matthew 12.40).