Jonah Bible Study Guide

5 Studies

www.stphils.org.au

INTRODUCTION

The story of Jonah and the “whale” has undoubtedly fascinated generations of children. It provides all the elements necessary for a gripping story that captures the imagination. Yet, the great fish is really only a minor supporting actor in the story (his existence only counts for 3 verses!). There is a much greater story being told.

In terms of history, the book of Jonah contains no precise statements about when the events recorded actually occurred. However, there are some clues. One such clue, is the name “Jonah son of Amittai” (1:1). In 2 Kings 14:25 we read of a prophet of the same name who prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II (782-753 BC) and it is reasonable to assume these could be the same Jonah.

During this time, the promised land has already been split, between Israel in the north and Judah (with Jerusalem) in the south. Assyria to the North East (and its capital city, Nineveh), is the dominant world power; although at this time she was not without her troubles. There were some domestic rebellions, a plague, and a famine. All these, together with a solar eclipse in 763BC, may have caused much fear and apprehension amongst the people. This could explain why Jonah received the response he did upon his arrival in Nineveh.

The book of Jonah can be structured into two main sections:

1. The Great Sea (1:1-2:10)

2. The Great City (3:1-4:11)

At the beginning of each of these two sections is a call from God to Jonah to be his mouth piece to the people of Nineveh.

As mentioned above, the “whale” is only a minor part of the story of Jonah. The book is first and foremost a didactic work. That is, it is designed to teach us something about God and being his people. It is our view, the book is designed to teach us about God’s gracious pursuit of those who are lost, whether that be a wayward prophet or a wicked city. His mercy and compassion can extend to anyone. As we reflect on these attributes of God in this series, it is our prayer that, by his Spirit, and through his word, God will lift up our hearts and motivate us to be people who likewise pursue the lost (whoever they may be) with grace and compassion.

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Baker, D, Alexander, TD, and Waltke, B; “Obadiah, Jonah and Micah in TOTC.” Downers Grove: IVP, 1988.

Bruckner, J, “Jonah/Nahum/Habakkuk/Zephaniah in Niv Application Commentary Series.” Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.

Stuart, D; “Hosea–Jonah (Vol. 31 in WBC). Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2002.

Thomas Nelson; “Nelson’s complete book of Bible maps & charts: Old and New Testaments (Rev. and updated ed.).” Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1996.

JONAH 1: “I WON’T GO!”

INTRODUCTION

• What do you know about the Book of Jonah?

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• In your life, have you ever felt like “running away”? What was the situation and result?

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READ JONAH 1:1-3

❖ What do the opening verses teach us about Jonah (cf. 2 Kings 14:23-25)?

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❖ What is Jonah called to do and what was his response?

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• Why do you think Jonah ran away?

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➢ Where do you find God’s word/instructions difficult to follow?

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➢ Have you ever felt like running away from God? Why? What situation?

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READ JONAH 1:4-17

❖ What was the result of Jonah’s disobedience?

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• What do these verses teach us about the consequences of sin?

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• What do these verses teach us about God? (cf. Psalm 139:7-8)

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❖ What was the attitude of the Mariners to the situation they were in?

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❖ What was the attitude of Jonah to the situation?

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❖ What terrified the Mariners in v10?

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➢ When people ask you what do you believe? How do you respond?

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• Why do you think Jonah requested to be thrown into the sea?

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❖ How did the mariners respond to Jonah’s advice?

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❖ What happened after Jonah was thrown overboard?

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• What do the Mariner’s actions reveal about one of the normal human reaction to dealing with the problem of sin? Where have you seen this? How effective is it?

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• What does this narrative reveal about how sin can only be dealt with?

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➢ As Christians then, what should we be truly thankful for? How do we show it?

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JONAH 2: “ I WILL GO!”

INTRODUCTION

• At what points in your life, have you been very conscious of God’s mercy? How did that feel?

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READ JONAH 2:1-10

• How can we believe that Jonah was swallowed up by a big fish and survived for 3 days?

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❖ How would you summarise the content of Jonah’s prayer?

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❖ Why is Jonah so distressed?

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❖ What phrases/words/ideas are repeated in the first half of his prayer?

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❖ What picture forms in your mind from Jonah’s description of his experience in v3-7?

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➢ Where have you seen moving away from God lead to a downward spiral in someone’s life?

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➢ This is the first time we hear of Jonah praying - why do you think it’s often only at the lowest points in life that people cry out to God?

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➢ What does this passage teach us about prayer and our own prayer life?

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❖ How does Jonah describe God in his prayer?

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❖ Having gone “down” to the point of death what happened after Jonah prayed?

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❖ What is the “grace” that is talked about in v8?

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❖ How is Jonah’s response to God going to be similar to the sailor’s response in chapter 1?

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• By describing the response of the sailors and Jonah in similar terms - what might the author be trying to tell us?

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• How can Jonah pray such a confident prayer of thanksgiving & deliverance whilst inside a fish?

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• In what ways is Jesus burial in the tomb for 3 days similar to Jonah’s ordeal in the fish? How is it different?

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• Can you still see any unresolved tensions in the story / life of Jonah so far?

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➢ In what way is our Christian life now - a bit like Jonah’s life in the belly of the fish?

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➢ Where can you see specific tensions in your Christian life - especially between praising God with your lips and honouring him with your life?

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➢ How is Jonah’s experience an encouragement to us today?

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JONAH 3: “I’M HERE!”

INTRODUCTION

• What do you love and hate the most about living in Sydney?

READ JONAH 3:1-3

❖ How is Nineveh described in this chapter?

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• Why is Nineveh great and important?

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• Why do you think the city required a 3 day visit?

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➢ How similar / different do you think Sydney today is from Nineveh?

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READ JONAH 3:4-10

❖ What was the message that God gave Jonah to preach? How would you describe it?

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• The key point of the message seems to be that the city will be “overturned” - what do you think this might mean? How do you think Jonah and Nineveh understood it?

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❖ If you were Jonah what response might you expect?

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❖ How would you have responded if you were a Ninevite?

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❖ How long did it take Jonah to get a response?

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❖ What was their response?

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❖ What was the King’s response?

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• What is the deal with the sackcloth and sitting in the dust? Why the animals?

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• What is similar between the King’s response to God’s judgement and the sailor’s response in chapter 1? What is different?

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• How would you describe the city of Nineveh now?

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❖ What did God see? What was God’s response?

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• What does this passage teach us about God? (cf. Ezek 18:32, Phil 1:4-5)

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• What does this passage teach us about a relationship with God? (cf. Isa 66:2, Luke 18:9-14)

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• How can God forgive and remain just? Cf. Romans 3:21-26.

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➢ If we were to preach to our city today what comfort could Sydney know that the Ninevites could only hope for?

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➢ Can you see areas in your life where you need to humble yourself before God and turn away from certain things?

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➢ Why do we find repentance so hard and the Ninevites found it so easy?

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➢ What can help our repentance become more enduring?

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JONAH 4 - “I SHOULDN”T HAVE COME!”

INTRODUCTION

❖ Can someone summarise the story of Jonah so far?

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❖ What have we learnt about God and ourselves so far?

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READ JONAH 4:1-5

❖ How does Jonah’s response here compare with God’s response to the Ninevites in the previous chapter? What does this indicate to us about the attitudes of God and Jonah?

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❖ In the context of the story so far - what is so ironic about Jonah’s statement, “It is better for me to die than to live”?

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• Why is Jonah so angry? Does he have any right to be so angry (cf. v4)?

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• What is significant about Jonah’s response to God’s question?

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• Why did he sit and wait outside the city?

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➢ What do you get angry at God about?

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➢ How do you express and deal with that anger?

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READ JONAH 4:6-11

❖ What is significant in God’s action to “provide” a vine for Jonah?

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❖ Again, what is ironic in Jonah’s response?

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❖ After God sends the worm - Jonah decides he wants to die again - what is different in his reasons this time?

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• What is Jonah/we meant to understand about God in this incident?

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• What are some of the big difference between Jonah and God?

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• What do we learn about the heart of God in this whole story?

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• Where do we see the full revelation of God’s heart for the lost in the world? (cf. Luke 5:27-32, Luke 19:1-10)

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• Where should we see the best expression today of God’s world-wide purpose? (cf. Eph 2:11-22).

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➢ How can we be like Jonah in our attitude to others?

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➢ What comfort can we take from Jonah’s experience for if/when we fail?

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➢ How can we develop and practically express God’s heart for others? (personally, socially, nationally).

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THE SIGN OF JONAH: BONUS STUDY!

INTRODUCTION

❖ What have been some of the major themes/ideas of the book of Jonah?

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❖ Do you think Jonah is a positive book or a negative book? Why?

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READ MATTHEW 12:38-42, MATTHEW 16:1-4, LUKE 11:29-32

Break into 3 groups (for the 3 passages):

❖ What comparisons does Jesus draw between himself and Jonah? ❖ Is it positive or negative? ❖ What do you think the “sign of Jonah” is referring to?

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Come back together:

❖ What are the similarities and differences between the three references to Jonah?

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• What do you think is the “sign of Jonah”? Why?

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❖ What is the immediate context of these passages? (i.e. what is Jesus dealing with at this point in his ministry?)

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❖ What is similar between the Ninevites of Jonah’s time and “the generation” of Jesus’?

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• Given this extra context - what do you think now is the “sign of Jonah”?

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• Is a warning sign a positive or negative thing? Think of examples.

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• How is the 3 days of Jonah in the fish - and hence the 3 days of Jesus death - part of this sign? (cf. Acts 17:24-31)

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• How is Jesus resurrection from the dead proof of God’s judgement? (cf. Dan 7:13-14, Dan 12:2, John 5:24-30)

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• How does this passage shed light on how Jesus is greater than Jonah (cf. Matt 12:41)?

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• What conclusion does Jesus draw from the book of Jonah and apply to his “time”?

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➢ If the “sign” has already been given - how should we view our “time?

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➢ How would like Jesus to find you when he returns? What would you like to be / should be doing? (Cf. 2 Peter 3:10-13).

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➢ Why do we find talking to people about Jesus so difficult? What can alleviate some of these problems?

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➢ Who are the Ninevites amongst your friends/family that need to heed the “sign”?

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➢ Spend time praying for one friend, who doesn’t know Jesus!

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